Compiled by students and staff at Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Graduate students can maintain a healthy lifestyle with access to recreational facilities and outdoor activities. Whether you are a varsity athlete or a student looking to free your mind from academic work through exercising, these facilities provide many activities to help you stay physically active and engaged. In this blog post, we will explore the recreational opportunities available at UBC and beyond to help you find your perfect fit for a healthy and fulfilling university experience.
On campus options
Sports facilities
In general, graduate students pay a recreation & athletics fee annually that provides them with unlimited access to the UBC Aquatic Centre and Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre for ice skating, as well as reduced rates for gyms on campus, the Tennis Centre, varsity sports leagues and games.
UBC Aquatic Centre is located in the heart of UBC at the bus loop, offering drop-in swimming, fitness classes and various lessons. For drop-in sessions, you will need to register online and scan your student ID at the entrance. Showers, changing rooms and lockers are also available.
- Vibe: family friendly, has designated areas for beginners and more intense swimmers
- Cost: free for single visits as UBC students, review pricing chart for membership details or instructional programs
UBC Thunderbird Sports Centre offers an ice-skating rink that is friendly to all skill levels. Participants have access to public skating, figure skating, and drop-in-hockey throughout the year. Like the Aquatic Centre, you will need to pre-book these sessions online through the UBC website.
- Vibe: chill and friendly, good hangout or even date spot for public drop ins. Does not offer figure skating skates (only hockey skates)
- Cost: varies depending on facility, review pricing chart for more details.
Activities and Recreation Centre (ARC) is a beautiful complement to the existing campus fitness facilities. Its classrooms and studios offer rentals and various group classes depending on the schedule. These classes include spin, yoga, Pilates, boot camps and more.
- Vibe: contains an open concept, on the quieter side, and has dedicated spaces for women, 2SLGBTQIA+, transgender and non-binary individuals, as well as an area for bouldering.
- Cost: $50/ term for students, membership pricing details.
Student Recreation Centre (SRC) is one of the most popular gym facilities offered by UBC, with a triple-court gymnasium that can accommodate various sports like basketball, volleyball, and badminton.
- Vibe: popular and usually very packed, but great friendly environment especially for intramural sports
- Cost: free drop-in sessions for UBC students
Birdcoop Fitness Centre offers more intense fitness and weight room equipment.
- Vibe: for serious fitness buffs, often very loud and packed with heavy lifters. The area is open and may be less appealing for beginners and body sensitive audiences
- Cost: $50/ term for students, membership pricing details.
UBC Tennis Center is a great stop for tennis enthusiasts! Located near the Wesbrook Village end of campus, the courts can be booked for a small fee.
- Vibe: great friendly place, good for beginners and professionals to train!
- Cost: ranges from $12.25 to $33.00 for UBC students depending on time and facility, review court booking chart for more details
Osborne Centre Gymnastics drop-ins
- Vibe: For beginners and family-friendly; open to participants of all ages
- Cost: $5/person for 13 years old and below; $10/person for 14 years old and above. Check the School of Kinesiology website for more details
Residence
UBC residences provide students convenient access to fitness facilities and game rooms in residence common blocks open 24/7. The equipment may not excite professional fitness buffs, but provides basic level options that are mostly stationary, i.e., a few free weights. They eliminate the need for students to commute to other recreation centers on campus, ensuring they can be active at convenient times for them. Additionally, UBC offers an impressive range of free Fitness in Residence programs. These include group fitness sessions, yoga classes, and the newly introduced Zumba and Bootcamp sessions. By participating in these programs, students can fully enjoy the benefits of living on campus while staying fit and active.
University Neighborhood Association (UNA) facilities
Old Barn Community Centre
- Cost: ranges from $4 to $80 for UNA residents and $7 to $126 for the public, depending on the type of plan you choose
- Vibe: An ideal place for anyone looking to fit more exercise into a busy schedule
Westbrook Community Centre (UNA facility) Wesbrook Village)
- Cost: ranges from $7 to $120 for UNA residents and $10 to $150 for the public, depending on the type of plan you choose
- Vibe: Family friendly, suitable place for younger kids programming as well as adults
Remember that the cost for UNA residents and non-UNA users of the two facilities is different, and non-UNA users need to pay a higher price to access them. Students living in UBC housing in Wesbrook Village or University Village may automatically be part of the UNA. For more information about UNA facilities, or to check if you qualify as a UNA resident, visit their website.
Intramurals
One wonderful way to meet new friends and enjoy UBC recreational facilities is by joining UBC Intramurals! They offer various events like Storm the Wall, Day of Longboat, Gladiator, Gutter ball Bowling and many more. Moreover, UBC Intramurals organizes Fall and Winter term leagues, featuring an extensive range of sports such as Badminton, Ultimate, Basketball, Volleyball, and Pickleball, just to name a few. You have the option to sign up with friends and club members, as a free agent or even become a staff or volunteer – it is truly a place for something for everyone.
Club-based fitness
There are many key clubs that fall into this area, such as UBC Varsity Outdoor Club.
Many clubs at UBC provide students with opportunities to engage in physical activities. Here are some examples of fitness-based clubs:
- UBC Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) organizes events including hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, back-country skiing, paddling, bike-touring and other self-propelled outdoor adventures.
- The AMS Swim Club welcomes swimmers of all skill levels. They organize practice sessions at the UBC Aquatic Centre and hold club social events.
- The UBC Sailing Club offers activities including sailboats, kayaks, windsurfing, and stand-up paddleboards. They are located at Jericho Sailing Centre, which is off campus
- The UBC Dance Club offers a full year of lessons (16 weeks) in which you can learn a wide range of International Style Ballroom and Latin dancing.
You can find more fitness-based clubs on the AMS website, or under the Student Clubs section of the Graduate Student Community site.
Outdoor options on campus
There are many places for various physical activities at UBC. You can find outdoor facilities like soccer fields and basketball courts across campus, and indoor facilities in the Student Recreation Centre (SRC) and residences. Check out this map for the locations of different sports facilities:
- Skate Park
- Basketball courts
- Sports fields (track & field, soccer etc.)
- Table tennis (Orchard Commons)
- Training bars (Fairview)
Close to campus
Pacific Spirit Park
Pacific Spirit Park offers an extensive route of hiking trails within walking distance from Wesbrook Village. Dog-friendly and family-friendly, there are many trails for walking, hiking, biking, and running, and places for viewing wildlife.
Visit the website of the Pacific Spirit Society for a trail map and other park information.
Wreck Beach and Foreshore Trail
The most famous clothing-optional beach in Vancouver, Wreck Beach, is on the west end of the UBC campus. It can be accessed through Trail 6, the most accessible trail next to the student residences and the only stairway meant for tourists. The stairs leading down to the sandy beaches are filled with hundreds of stairs and rocky terrain, making it a popular exercise spot for the UBC community. Why go to the Grouse Grind when you can do it on campus? You can find trail information on the Vancouver Trails website.
Jericho Beach
A popular spot for locals and tourists alike, Jericho Beach is a great destination for watersports and hiking. The Jericho Beach Sailing Centre is a water sports-based community center with tons of various clubs to choose from, ranging in activities from sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, rowing, paddleboarding to surf skis and others. If you are into hiking with views of the water, check out the trails that run around Jericho Beach for a well-rounded hike.
Off campus options
- ClassPass: affordable credit-based app to access fitness centers, gyms, beauty, and wellness avenues (and first-month trial is free!)
- Core community (Pilates studio): 1926 W 4th Ave #103, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M5
- RIDE Cycle Club: (multiple locations): 2173 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1N7
- YYOGA: (multiple locations): 1915 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M7
- PureBarre: (multiple locations): 1907 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M7
- MODA yoga: (multiple locations): 2083 Alma St #242, Vancouver, BC V6R 4N6
Local Community Centres are also a viable choice for affordable and a wide variety of fitness classes. There should be a community center in every city, and Vancouver has multiple community centers that offer fitness classes. For example, the Kerrisdale community Centre contains a gym that allows badminton, basketball, and volleyball classes. Also, there is a swimming pool at Kerrisdale that is affordable for the public to attend classes and enjoy a regular swim at your own pace. Be sure to do your research and figure out where you can find affordable and communal classes or fitness events.
We hope this blog post can be a useful guide for you to navigate different recreational options both on-campus and off-campus. Keep in mind that staying fit is not just about improving physical well-being but is also about refilling your energy for academic success and enriching your life at UBC. Wherever you engage in physical activities, seize every moment to enjoy yourself!