Village Square Leisure Centre repairs and upgrades
Village Square Leisure Centre repairs and upgrades
Village Square Leisure Centre (VSLC) has been a vital hub for people across Calgary for over 40 years. It serves a diverse community where barriers to accessing recreation are more common. We are investing in essential upgrades and improvements to this aging facility to ensure it remains a safe and functional space for people to swim, be active, play, practice and gather.
Project update
Village Square Leisure Centre will close for a service cycle upgrade and other required repairs beginning Aug. 31, 2026. It is expected to reopen by the end of 2027.
The facility will be closed to the public and City-run programs will not be available, except for:
- Calgary Public Library and the Alberta Health Services Community Health Centre will remain open, except for a short closure period. Timing to be confirmed.
- The arenas will close from April 2027 to mid-September 2027.
We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we undertake this important work to extend the life of the facility.
Project background
Village Square Leisure Centre is one of the busiest City-operated recreation facilities, welcoming over 300,000 visits per year. The facility is also a hub for important community services providers like Fair Entry, Calgary Transit, Alberta Health Services, Calgary Public Library and Centre for Newcomers. We are working closely with these providers to plan alternative access to services where possible.
Many of the facility’s mechanical and electrical systems that are critical to keeping the facility running are original to the building and past their useful life. They need to be replaced and upgraded to reduce the risk of breakdowns and keep the facility available for the community.
Completing this work will take time and requires active construction throughout the building. A longer closure will allow crews to access critical systems and complete the work properly.
While we are planning to keep some tenant spaces open for much of the work, there will be ongoing construction activity that may affect the experience inside and around the facility. This could include noise, dust, temporary access changes or unexpected work.
Project timeline
Benefits
This work will address some end-of-life components and enhancements to areas around the facility. These include:
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Extend the facility’s lifespan
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Reduce risk of unplanned shutdowns
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Reduce annual maintenance and operating costs
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Lower energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
We are finalizing the project scope based on the available funding. These may include:
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Thunder Run slide upgrade
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Enhancing the customer service areas
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Improving accessibility throughout the facility
Questions you might have
Why is this work necessary?
These repairs are essential to reduce the risk of unplanned closures and costly emergency repairs.
Why does the facility need to close for so long?
Village Square Leisure Centre is a large, aging facility with many building systems that are original and at or beyond the end of their useful life. The work involves major repairs and upgrades that need to be completed in phases and in a specific sequence, some of which cannot be done safely or effectively while the facility is fully operating.
Completing this work takes time and requires active construction throughout the building. A longer closure allows crews to access critical systems, address issues as they are uncovered and complete the work properly.
What should tenants and customers expect while parts of the facility remain open during construction?
This is a complex project involving major repairs and upgrades in an aging, multi‑use building, with active construction taking place throughout the project.
While we are planning to keep some tenant spaces open for much of the work, there will be ongoing construction activity that may affect the experience inside and around the facility. This could include noise, dust, temporary access changes, short‑term service interruptions or unexpected work if issues are uncovered as construction progresses.
We will communicate updates as early as possible and work closely with tenants to reduce impacts, but customers should expect some level of disruption while this essential work is underway.
What will happen to the other tenants at the facility?
We are working closely with Calgary Transit, Fair Entry and Centre for Newcomers to plan alternative access to services where possible. More information will be available in the coming months.
Will the arenas close?
The arenas will open for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 ice seasons, but will close from April 2027 to mid-September 2027.
What will happen The City’s programs and bookings during the closure?
During the closure, City-run programs normally offered at Village Square will not be available. While we are looking at options to offer some programs at other City facilities, there is not enough space elsewhere to replace everything that happens at Village Square.
How is this project supporting the community?
Village Square Leisure Centre serves a diverse community where barriers to accessing recreation are more common. This project supports continued access to public recreation and other essential services, while helping to reduce barriers, improve accessibility and sustain programs that support health, wellbeing and community connection over the long term.
Project budget
The project budget is $49.8 million and is funded through The City’s 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets.
GamePLAN
These upgrades are necessary investments to keep Village Square Leisure Centre operational, safe and accessible. GamePLAN is The City’s long-term plan to improve public recreation by stabilizing aging facilities and deliver newer, modern spaces that expand access and reliability for Calgarians.
Learn more about GamePLAN
Contact us
If you have any questions about the work being completed, please contact the project team at VillageSquareUpgrades@calgary.ca.
For questions regarding recreation programs and venue bookings, please visit the Contact Recreation page.