Village Square Leisure Centre closes until end of 2027 for $51 million upgrade

Village Square Leisure Centre in northeast Calgary closed its doors August 31, for more than a year of major repairs and upgrades. The City expects the facility to reopen by the end of 2027.

The more than 40-year-old recreation centre welcomes over 300,000 guests annually and is one of the busiest city-operated leisure centres in Calgary. The $51 million project will replace and upgrade critical mechanical and electrical systems that have been in place since the facility's opening in the mid-1980s and have become outdated. The work is expected to extend the centre's lifespan, reduce the risk of unexpected shutdowns, lower annual maintenance and operating costs, and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

While the main facility is now closed, some services continue to operate. The Calgary Public Library branch, Fair Entry, and Alberta Health Services Community Health Centre will remain open, though a short closure period is planned during construction. The two arenas at Village Square will stay open until March 2027, then close for construction before reopening in mid-September 2027.

The centre's iconic Thunder Run waterslide will be replaced once the facility reopens. The Calgary Transit customer service location permanently closed August 17, and the Centre for Newcomers will be closed throughout construction.

The 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 residents.