Calgary leisure centre built in the '80s closing for a massive $51M makeover
Village Square Leisure Centre in Calgary is closing its doors for more than a year as the aging facility undergoes $51 million in repairs and upgrades.
The northeast Calgary recreation centre closed its doors on Aug. 31, 2026, and the City expects it to remain closed until the end of 2027.
The more than 40-year-old facility welcomes more than 300,000 guests each year and is one of the busiest city-operated leisure centres in the city.
The major project will replace and upgrade critical mechanical and electrical systems that have been in the leisure centre since its opening and have become outdated.
The work is expected to extend Village Square Leisure Centre’s lifespan, reduce the risk of unexpected shutdowns, lower annual maintenance and operating costs, and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Village Square Leisure Centre/Facebook
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While the facility is now closed, some services will continue to operate. The Calgary Public Library branch, Fair Entry, and Alberta Health Services Community Health Centre will remain open, although a short closure period is planned at some point during the work.
The two arenas at Village Square will also remain open until March 2027 before closing for construction. They are expected to reopen in mid-September 2027.
The Calgary Transit customer service location on the site permanently closed on Aug. 17, and the Centre for Newcomers will be closed throughout construction.
Another closure includes the centre’s iconic Thunder Run waterslide, which will be replaced once it reopens in 2027.
The major upgrades are part of the City of Calgary’s GamePLAN, a long-term strategy focused on stabilizing aging recreation facilities and improving access to modern, reliable spaces for Calgarians.
You can learn more about Village Square Leisure Centre online.