The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) proudly promotes healthy, active lifestyles by maintaining the Comox Valley Sports Centre, Comox Valley Aquatic Centre and the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds. Each year, the facilities are home to multiple programs, services and events to serve the community’s recreation needs.

Follow along to learn more, ask questions or share your input about the Comox Valley recreation facilities, programming and plans. Welcome!

Celebrate Recreation - Aquatics

Swimming for Exercise and Community


Swimmer at edge of pool

Judy Cowan always loved swimming as a child – and she knew when she retired, she’d want to spend more time in the water.

“You know, your muscles change and you need to get out and do something in retirement and so we tried the pool one day,” said Judy about she and her husband Steve. In the water, she met a 92-year-old swimmer named Patricia, who introduced her to others and made her feel welcome. More than 12 years later, Judy and Steve are still swimming seven days a week.

She didn’t realize what a lifeline that pool time would become – for her physical health, and her mental health.

Their exercise in the water has helped with health issues. Judy recovered from knee surgery with the pool and no longer takes arthritis medication. She’s 73 years old and moves well. But – the real draw is the community she gets to be a part of.

“That’s what continues to bring us to the pool – it’s not just the exercise, it’s the camaraderie.”

Regular swimmers get to know each other as they swim, and those friendships translate to dry land. During COVID, when the swimmers couldn’t get together in person, Judy kept many connected by sending a daily email with jokes, updates, birthday notes and more. She never stopped – and now has an email contact list of informal swimmers 150-names long.

Judy sees the benefit of investment in the Comox Valley Aquatic and Sports Centre pools for many of these ‘family members’ each day to get active and make friends along the way.

The Comox Valley Regional District owns and operates the Comox Valley Aquatic Centre and Sports Centre. Investing in recreation facilities to benefit the community is a priority for the CVRD Board. This article is one in a series celebrating recreation.

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🏊‍♀️Facility Improvements

AQUATIC CENTRE

The Comox Valley Aquatic Centre slides have received a complete refurbishment and are ready to slide! Roof work to be completed through the months of September/October.


SPORTS CENTRE

The Sports Centre updates include an exterior and parking lot painting completed, tile work within the pool completed, as well as a new dehumidifier is currently in progress.


ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELD PROJECT

A new multi-sport artificial turf field is planned for G.P. Vanier Secondary School, measuring 8,790 m². This initiative, identified in the 2023 Sports Fields Strategy, aims to meet the growing recreational needs of the Comox Valley. The field will support various sports and include amenities like washrooms, player shelters, and lighting.

The project will start site construction in September 2025 and run through until December 2025, with the artificial turf and shock pad being laid in the spring of 2026.


🔒2026 Facility Closures

The Comox Valley Aquatic Centre and the Comox Valley Sports Centre require yearly maintenance, so there will be a summer shutdown to give staff time to repair and maintain our Recreation facilities:

  • The Sports Centre pool will close for annual maintenance in 2026. During this time, the Aquatic Centre will remain fully operational.
  • The Aquatic Centre will close for annual maintenance in 2026. During this time, the Sports Centre pool will remain fully operational.

The dates once confirmed will be posted.


Our Recreation Facilities

The Comox Valley Sports Centre has something for everybody. It includes two full-size ice surfaces, a six-lane, 25-metre pool, a wellness centre/weight room, sauna, whirlpool, 400-metre outdoor sports track and field, meeting/multi-purpose rooms, and is fully wheelchair accessible. For more information on schedules, programs, operating hours, admissions and memberships, and booking information, visit https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/sportscentre.

The Comox Valley Aquatic Centre is fully wheelchair accessible and features a wave/leisure pool with two waterslides, an eight-lane, 25-metre pool, sauna, whirlpool, steam room, and a Fitness studio/weight room, meeting/multipurpose rooms and swim shop. For more information about drop-in schedules, registrations, and hours of operation visit https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/aquaticcentre

The Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds (CVEG) consists of 40 acres of developed areas and natural park settings and is a major hub for many types of activities, including equestrian events, dog shows, curling bonspiels, community fairs and musical events. For more information visit https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/exhibitiongrounds