Courtenay councillors have directed City staff to look into the options and implications of a regional recreation pass for the Comox Valley — something that many B.C. regions have in place. Victoria, for instance, offers one fee to access 12 facilities.
The CVRD’s aquatic and sports centres offer the only public year-round indoor swimming and skating options in the Valley. Comox and Cumberland offer similar recreation programs as Courtenay.
“Each municipality has their own pass,” recreation director Dave Snider said at committee of the whole Jan. 28.
Some B.C. municipalities that offer a local pass will charge a factor more to access other facilities. For instance, Oak Bay charges $385 for a pass, but a Victoria-wide pass costs $492, Snider said.
At the Lewis Centre in Courtenay, an adult wellness drop-in pass is $360, which gives access to the fitness centre and a certain number of drop-ins for squash, basketball and other activities. There are also free swims.
Snider notes that Courtenay does not offer a seniors discount.
“The Evergreen Club is our partner that we work through for that, but in Comox, they do have a seniors discount,” Snider said, noting the need for policy decisions cross-jurisdictionally.
The committee voted to have staff report back about a regional recreation pass pilot project after gathering information from each local government in the Valley.