Older adult activities

Swim, dance, learn a new game or hobby, or join a fitness class.

Find season-long programs and courses customized to older adults on Register Ottawa, the City of Ottawa’s registration site. You’re welcome to join any adult or family program but if you prefer, there are sessions tailored specifically for the 50-plus age group.

Older adult programs are easy to find using the search tool on Register Ottawa but for your convenience, a list of search results is below. If you’d like to do a more specific search, start by selecting older adults from this list and then narrow the results by selecting your preferred activity category.

• Adults 50+
• Older adults
• Active Living Club
  • Cycling
• Dance
• Fitness and wellness
• Hobbies and interests
• Theatre arts / drama

For more information about registered programs, see Courses and Camps.

Ottawa residents 50+ can enjoy a variety of virtual programs designed to promote learning, wellness, and community engagement—all from the comfort of home! Programs cater to a wide range of interests, including fitness classes, educational workshops, and creative arts. Whether you're looking to stay active, develop new skills, or connect with others in the community, there's something for everyone. Best of all, these programs are funded, making them accessible to all. If your preferred class isn’t available right away, simply join the waitlist for updates on new openings! For a full list of virtual programs available, visit register.ottawa.ca. Enjoy your class!

Drop-in to a nearby recreation centre for fitness, skating or swimming sessions or join in recreational games at a seniors' centre or community-run seniors' program.

Find schedules for City of Ottawa seniors' centres and recreation centres on their individual pages. Advanced registration may be required.

Call, stop in, or visit the websites of community-operated seniors' programs to find out what games and activities are being offered. 

Drop-in descriptions

• Sports and fitness  
• Skating 
• Swimming 

Recreational games for older adults

• Billiards: Sign-up for this strategic game on our billiard-snooker table. Please bring your own cue, balls will be provided.
• Book club: Do you enjoy reading and discussing books with others - then come join our monthly club.
• Carpet bowling: Take the outdoor game, indoors and enjoy this sport.
• Canasta: A popular family favourite card game.
• Contract Bridge: Come and enjoy playing this strategic card game while keeping score.
• Craft club: Our drop-in activity provides you an opportunity to socialize while working on your own craft project. Bring your own supplies.
• Cribbage: Fun and challenging card game for all.
• Discussion group: enjoy a wide variety of topics brought forward by participants, gaining different points of view.
• Dominoes: a great game to enjoy and meet others.
• Duplicate Bridge: Play duplicate-style bridge in a relaxed, non-competitive setting. This event is non-ACBL sanctioned and great for those new to Duplicate Bridge.
• Euchre: Enjoy this fun card game, and meet new friends.
• Fun bridge: meet new friends while enjoying this strategic card game.
• Instructional Bridge (Grant Standards): enjoy learning this strategic card game with our volunteer instructors. Learn as you play!
• Learning / Lecture series: We will offer a variety of topics through presenters, online video or open discussion. Please call the centre you wish to attend for topic details.
• Mah Jong: Enjoy this ancient game a bit like rummy, using tiles of wind, flowers, seasons and dragons, adding to the fun and challenge.
• Meditation: Meditation is a simple practice available to all, which can reduce stress, increase calmness and clarity and promote happiness.
• Movies: Looking to enjoy the latest movies? Sign up today. Please note that our movies are subject to availability and shown in Closed Captioning (CC).
• Scrabble: Enjoy the company of others and exercise your brain with this ever-popular game.
• Short mat bowling: played on a mat made of foam and is 40 to 45 feet long with a width of 6 feet. A wooden block sits in the centre of the mat. Players must avoid their bowl contacting the block on their way down the mat. The 'jack' is the target that sits near the end of the mat. All levels are welcome!
• Shuffleboard: Bring a friend and get into the “shuffle!” this disc type game is lots of fun and easy to learn.
• Sixty-Six: is a trick-taking game is which each trick consists of two cards.
• Teddy bear club: Our drop-in activity provides you an opportunity to socialize while working on your own craft project. Bring your own sewing supplies.
• Walking club: Join our friendly walking group for low-impact exercise. Good for your bones, tones your bones, tones your body and improves your overall fitness. Walking may take place indoors or out.
• 500 Cards: a trick-playing game mixing elements of euchre and bridge.

Drop-in fees for seniors ages 65 and older - 2024

Fees shown do not include HST. Applicable taxes will be added during the payment process.

• Fitness: $7.86 
• Multi-visit fitness:     
  • 10-visit pass $68 
  • 20-visit pass: $125.83 
• Sport: $4.16 
  • Multi-visit sport:  
  • 10-visit pass: $37.01 
• Skating: $2.88 
• Senior centre: $2.08 

Membership fees for seniors ages 65 and older - 2024

The all-inclusive membership includes weight and cardio, aqua fitness, swimming (including wave swims), group fitness, squash and racquetball, indoor cycling, public skating, and drop-in activities (Kindergym, badminton, basketball, open gym, pickleball, soccer, table tennis, volleyball).

Where to get a membership

Fees shown do not include HST. Applicable taxes will be added during the payment process.

All-inclusive memberships

Class A facilities

• 1 month: $70.55 
• 3 months: $139.01 
• 6 months: $257.21 
• 1 year: $443.65 

Class B facilities

Youth, student or senior

• 1 month: $67.31 
• 3 months: $133.23 
• 6 months: $245.18 
• 1 year: $443.65 

Pick one membership

The pick one membership allows you to participate in one of the following fitness programs:

• Weight/cardio
• Group fitness/indoor cycling
• Squash/racquetball

Pick one membership for Class A facilities

• 1 month: $53.89 
• 3 months: $106.63 
• 6 months: $194.99 
• 1 year: $352.97 

Pick one membership for Class B facilities

• 1 month: $24.74 
• 3 months: $47.42 
• 6 months: $87.43 
• 1 year: $157.98 

Facility categories

Facilities are categorized as either "A" or B" based on the number of amenities and programs. In general, class "A" facilities offer a higher number of amenities and programs.

Class A facilities 

• Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orléans
• François Dupuis Recreation Centre
• CARDELREC Recreation Complex Goulbourn
• Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool
• Minto Recreation Complex-Barrhaven
• Nepean Sportsplex
• Plant Recreation Centre
• Ray Friel Recreation Complex
• Richcraft Recreation Complex-Kanata
• St-Laurent Complex
• Walter Baker Sports Complex

Class B facilities

• Champagne Fitness Centre
• Jack Purcell Community Centre
• Pinecrest Recreation Centre
• Greenboro Community Centre (no pool)
• Heron Road Community Centre (no pool)
• Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre (no pool)

The Active Living Club promotes outdoor activities in a group setting for adults aged 50+ and seniors. Activities include cycling and hiking in spring, summer, and fall, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Our leaders will take you to locations throughout Ottawa and Gatineau to enjoy the trails, pathways, and landscapes that our region has to offer!

Active Living Club is not an instructional program. Participants must provide their own transportation to the starting locations. Schedules are e-mailed to the participants after registration.

Annual membership

Access all Active Living Club activities within a one-year cycle for $170.47 (ages 50 to 64) or $153.59 (age 65 plus). Please contact activeliving@ottawa.ca for more information or to register!

Cycling

Get out and get active on our local bike paths with Tuesday or Thursday bike tours. Browse and register.

Hiking or Snowshoeing

Get out and get active on the trails around Ottawa and Gatineau. Enjoy the fresh air and scenery while getting fit on the trails around Ottawa and Gatineau. Browse and register.

Active Living Club Try It

Free trial memberships are available through the Try It program. Visit a participating facility to sign up for a free Try It pass for the Active Living Club. 

Visit a participating facility to sign up for a free Try It fitness pass. No appointment needed. Your free pass gives you three visits to participating facilities.

Access

• Weight and cardio rooms
• Squash and racquetball courts
• Aquafitness classes
• Indoor cycling classes
• Public skating sessions
• Group fitness classes

Details

• Passes begin on your first day of use and must be used within 30 days.
• Passes can only be used at participating locations.
• Users must not have been a member of the City of Ottawa fitness within the past six months.
• Users must be 13 years or older. 

Participating facilities

• Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orléans
• Brewer Pool and Arena
• Canterbury Recreation Complex
• François Dupuis Recreation Centre
• CARDELREC Recreation Complex Goulbourn
• Greenboro Community Centre
• Heron Road Community Centre
• Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre
• Jack Purcell Community Centre
• Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool
• Minto Recreation Complex-Barrhaven
• Nepean Sportsplex
• Pinecrest Recreation Complex
• Plant Recreation Centre
• Ray Friel Recreation Complex
• Richcraft Recreation Complex-Kanata
• Sawmill Creek Community Centre and Pool
• Splash Wave Pool
• St-Laurent Complex
• Walter Baker Sports Centre

City-operated seniors centres

• Churchill Seniors Centre, 345 Richmond Road
• Heron Seniors Centre, 1480 Heron Road
• Kanata Seniors Centre, 2500 Campeau Drive
• Nepean Seniors Recreation Centre, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue

English community-operated senior centres

• Abbotsford Senior Centre, 613-230-5730
• Gloucester Senior Adults’ Centre, 613-749-1974
• Gloucester South Seniors Centre, 613-822-0020
• Hobbs Seniors' Club, 613-462-4082
• The Good Companions, 613-236-0428

French community-operated senior centres

• Centre de services Guigues, 613-241-1266
• Centre Pauline Charron (Vanier), 613-741-0562
• Centre Séraphin-Marion d'Orléans, 613-830-6436
• Le Patro d'Ottawa, 613-789-7733
• Rendez-vous des aînés francophones d'Ottawa, 613-834-6808
• Hobbs Seniors' Club, 613-462-4082