Hillcrest Community Centre

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2025-02-17

Important info for parents booking a party here 👇 No guaranteed access to the swimming pool, even if you plan ahead (know the risks and plan accordingly): We booked a party room at the community centre for two hours (1-3 PM), planning to follow it with a swimming session. Since the facility does not allow advance ticket purchases for the pool, we were advised to buy them right before entry. At 12:30 PM, when there was no line, we attempted to purchase 15 tickets in advance but were told that entry is only permitted at the moment of arrival. To avoid delays, my husband lined up at 2:40 PM, purchased the tickets, and informed staff that our group would arrive in 10 minutes. However, when we arrived at 2:50 PM, we were denied entry because the pool had reached capacity in the meantime. Despite having already purchased tickets, we were told to join the back of the line, making timely entry impossible. While we tried to resolve the issue for 30 minutes, people were leaving the pool, yet no new visitors were allowed in. This raised concerns about how capacity is managed. Staff responses varied—some attempted to assist, while others strictly enforced the rules. The manager ultimately confirmed that no exceptions would be made. While every facility has its own policies, there is a fundamental flaw in how the reservation process is structured. This feedback is for other parents to be aware that there is no reliable way to book a party room here and ensure it aligns with a swimming session. If having a predictable and seamless experience is important to you, another venue may be a better option. For the facility management: This issue should not occur in the first place and could be easily prevented with one of the following: • A booking option for pool access at the time of party room reservation. Families booking a party room typically know how many guests will be using the pool, making this a simple and logical step that mitigates capacity risks. • A clear disclaimer at the time of booking, explicitly stating that (1) pool access is not guaranteed and (2) participants must purchase tickets the moment they enter the pool. This would allow families to make informed decisions and plan accordingly. Currently, the process creates unrealistic expectations and leaves families in an impossible situation with no way to plan ahead. Implementing either of these solutions would significantly improve the experience for future visitors. Deeply disappointed, as this had been our favorite place to swim for years.

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2025-03-11

Love the pool! It has a lazy river and lots of toys to play with. 3 diving boards and the life guards are really present. My daughter loves swimming here

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2024-12-23

Parking has always been a challenge but as of recently, they closed down a whole section of their parking lot due to future Nat Bailey stadium upgrades (construction projected to continue until February 2026), making parking even more of a challenge. The facility itself is quite nice and offers a library, an aquatic centre, a fitness centre, a games room, a skating rink, a curling rink, gymnasiums and rooms used for both classes and birthday parties. They also have a cafe with a ton of food offerings - a lot are made in-store.