Maple Ridge, B.C., Nov. 7, 2024 – Enhanced and more responsive fitness offerings are planned for Maple Ridge residents, with a service delivery change in 2025.
Following a comprehensive service review, effective Jan. 1, 2025, the City will take over delivery of all drop-in and registered fitness classes from its current contractor. This includes all fitness classes at Maple Ridge Leisure Centre, Whonnock Lake Centre, Albion Community Centre, and Aquafit at the Leisure Centre and Hammond Outdoor Pool.
The change aligns Maple Ridge with the rest of Metro Vancouver, where most cities deliver their fitness program in house. The City is actively taking steps to create a seamless transition, including kicking off a recruitment drive for instructors this Friday, Nov. 8.
“This is a big change, and we didn’t make this decision lightly. We’ve spent many months reviewing our services and feedback from residents and considering what our community needs now and, in the future,” Mayor Dan Ruimy said. “Moving these services in-house will allow us to expand and improve our recreation services as the community evolves and grows. It’s part of a broader City-wide effort to provide the types and level of services expected for a community of our size.”
Participants can expect enhanced service starting in Spring of next year, including:
- More timeslots and variety in classes,
- Increased accessible programming, and
- Opportunities to provide input that influences service delivery.
For the City, the change will provide opportunity to:
- Be more responsive to community needs
- Enhance the quality and accessibility of services
- Expand program offerings
- Provide more flexibility and program choices on the types and variety of classes
“We thank Curtis Health for its service to our residents since 2018, and we’re looking forward to building on that groundwork as we transition to bringing fitness services in-house,” said Cidalia Martin, Director of Recreation Services. “We appreciate the community’s patience as we work through this transition. Our team is committed to continuing to deliver high-quality services that align with the needs of our growing community.”
Recruitment Campaign Begins Nov. 8
The City will start actively recruiting qualified, experienced fitness instructors this Friday, with the goal of retaining familiar faces whenever possible while welcoming new talent. To provide continuity, the City is welcoming current instructors to apply for the postings while also looking for opportunities to hire internally.
More information is posted at MapleRidge.ca/Careers.
User Impact
An estimated 1200 people use Maple Ridge’s registered fitness and Aquafit classes, and close to 35,000 drop-in participants each year.
The City is working hard to limit any impact on program participants as the transition occurs over the coming weeks. If there are any unavoidable disruptions, the City will provide those affected with clear instructions about the impact on programs and memberships.
There will be no planned increases to fees or taxes as a direct result of the transition to in-house fitness services. However, a fee increase in 2025 had been previously planned based on a regional review that showed Maple Ridge’s fees were below average. The fee increase will reflect market rates and inflationary increases.
Stay Informed
The City will continue to roll out information to the community about the change over the coming weeks. Residents are encouraged to review information posted at MapleRidge.ca/Fitness and follow the City’s social media channels @yourmapleridge for updates.
Residents with specific questions and concerns can email recreation@mapleridge.ca.
FAQs
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For additional information, contact
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T: 604-466-4319 C: 778-955-4249