FAIR Play Program

Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Culture’s Financial Assistance and Inclusion for Residents (FAIR) Play Program replaces the Recreation Credit Program. The FAIR Play Program provides eligible Burnaby residents with benefits to help them access Burnaby’s Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) activities and services.

Research has shown that providing subsidized recreation and culture services to people who have low-income has many positive outcomes including improved health and wellbeing. This makes Burnaby a better place to live, work and play.

The FAIR Play Program has been implemented since March 2024 with the approval of Burnaby City Council, in response to feedback from residents and agencies about the challenges of the former Recreation Credit Program. The FAIR Play application process has been simplified to better reflect the needs of applicants and improve access to PRC activities and services.

• Applicants must be Burnaby residents.
• Applicants can be individuals or families.
  • Family is defined as a single adult or 2 legally married/common-law adults, and their legal dependents aged 18 years and younger living in the same home. Extended family or children over the age of 18 years living in the same home must apply separately.
• Applicants must meet the criteria* of one of the following 5 options to apply:
  1. They are receiving federal or provincial income assistance.
  2. Their combined family income is within the FAIR Play income scale.
  3. They are a child with a disability (parent applies on behalf of the child).
  4. They are in the Canadian-Ukraine Authorization Emergency Travel (CUAET) program or a privately sponsored refugee.
  5. They are referred by one of our trusted partner agencies (application form NOT required).

*See SECTION B “Method of Application” on the FAIR Play Program application form for more details and accepted supporting documents. 

• A no-cost FAIR Play 10 visit Try-It Pass for applicants who meet the Try-It pass eligibility criteria.
• A no-cost annual Be Active Pass per person for admission to:
  • public swimming, aquafit, family swims, lap swims, sauna, and whirlpool and loonie swim
  • public skating, family skating and toonie skates
  • weight rooms including strength and cardio equipment
  • fitness, yoga and pilates classes including specialized drop-in classes (Zumba®, indoor cycling)
  • drop-in gym sports and table tennis
• A FAIR Play recreation credit of $500 for each child up to 14 years of age and $250 for each youth 15-25 years of age, plus adults and seniors to use for registered activities and non-Be Active Passes (i.e. seniors’ membership, Burnaby Village Museum membership, skate and helmet rentals and childminding).
  • Please note: The Fair Play recreation credit cannot be used for facility reservations including birthday parties, personal training, golf or merchandise (except supplies/equipment required for a registered activity).

The FAIR Play Be Active 10 visit Try-It Pass is specifically intended to welcome applicants who do not have access to Be Active drop-in activities, while we are processing your application for the FAIR Play Program. Not every applicant to the FAIR Play Program will be eligible for a Try-It Pass. If any of the following applies to you or any of the family members on your application, then that person is not eligible for a Try-It Pass:

• You received a recreation credit within the last 12 months.
• You have used up all the recreation credit you received within the last 12 months. 
• You have current recreation credit which can be used to give you access to activities.
• You have a Be Active Pass that is valid for the next month or longer. 
• You have a Be Active Visit or Legacy Visit Pass with 10 or more visits remaining.
• You have received a Be Active Try-It Pass within in the last year (Note: only one Try-It Pass will be issued in a year).
• If you or any family member on the application is suspended from any PRC facilities/services that person is not eligible.

It will take approximately 2-4 weeks from the time of application to receive FAIR Play benefits. Applicants will receive a welcome letter by email or mail when your benefits have been issued. If your application is incomplete, you will be contacted by the FAIR Play Program staff with information about how to complete the application. Applications found in-eligible will be advised by the FAIR Play Program staff.

By email: 

Submit the application and copies of supporting documents to [email protected].

By mail:

Submit the application and copies of supporting documents by mail to:

FAIR Play Office
#2301-3713 Kensington Avenue
Burnaby, BC, V7B 0A7

In-person:

Pick up a paper copy of the FAIR Play application from any City of Burnaby recreation or culture facility, or fill out and print this application form. Bring the completed application and copies of supporting documents to the front desk of any recreation or culture facility

Referral from a trusted partner agency: 

Request a referral from your trusted partner agency worker directly. An application is NOT required, instead your trusted partner agency will email or mail a FAIR Play referral form directly to the FAIR Play Office. More information on our trusted partners to come. Please check back.