Registration opens Tuesday for Sarnia adult recreation programs

Staff at Sarnia’s Strangway Center are ready for lineups on Tuesday when registration opens for spring and summer adult recreation programs.

Article content

The city parks department has organized new sessions of day trips, sports, fitness, arts, special interest and hobby programs at the community center and other locations around Sarnia.

Article content

While the more than 50 programs can be booked online at www.sarnia.ca/RecRegistrationin-person registering remains popular.

“We still get lineups here in person and the phones ringing through the day,” said activities programmer Mike Neely.

“We do try to advise and recommend that those who are able to go online to register,” he said. “They will be able to avoid the lineups.”

Registration opens that day at 8:30 am, both online and in-person at the Strangway Center on East Street, as well as City Hall, or by calling 519-332-0656.

Article content

Neely said registration remains open through the spring and summer as long as there are openings but “there are some popular programs we will see fill up within that first week and even on that first day.”

They often include Build Your Bones, Stretch and Soft Yoga and Pilates, and outdoor pickleball.

“Those seems to be the three we see have a high demand, high registration on that first day,” Neely said.

Many of the recreation programs are offered year-round and the winter season, now coming to a close, was busy with “200 to 250 people through the doors each day,” he said.

Seasonal programs about to startup include adult walking soccer – a version of the game without running or tackling on the field at Norm Perry Memorial park – as well as two-pitch and slow-pitch, tennis and pickleball at parks in the city.

Article content

While many programs are at the Strangway Centre, some are held at other locations around the city.

That includes an Aqua Energy program at the Pathways Health Center for Children therapeutic pool.

“We’re looking forward to reintroducing Qi Gong,” Neely said about one of the new programs for spring and summer.

“It was popular once upon a time,” he said about the movement, breathing and meditation program. “I think that one will take off well.”

Also new is a Latin Groovz dance class that is already generating “some word-of-mouth and chatter here,” Neely said.

A ceramic painting workshop is also new, along with Community Connect, a new free drop-in program at the center where individuals are invited to bring their own refreshments for an informal social time.

Also new are the fitness programs Pumped up Strength and FitFusion.

The online registration system, as well as printed recreation guides available at the center and City Hall, list costs for the individual programs.

The city also offers annual memberships for the Strangway Centre, which runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 and is $64 for the full year.

Members receive a discount when they register for programs.

[email protected]

Article content