Adapted Activities

The Access Services team provides one-on-one support for participants with diverse abilities to fully participate in a variety of activities offered by PRC. Access Services aims to reduce barriers to participation by providing individual participant support in PRC activities for people who cannot participate on their own, including summer camps, preschool, afterschool, outdoor and culture activities. Access staff create adaptations by working collaboratively with program staff to meet participant needs and create an inclusive environment allowing accessible opportunities within our activities.

To request support for your child, during registration in the activity of interest, please indicate that your child requires support to participate and contact the Access Coordinator at least 2 weeks prior to the activity start date to arrange for support with Access Services. This is dependent on the availability of qualified staff.

Phone: 604-294-7904
Email: [email protected]

Each person requesting support currently receives up to 4 weeks or 120 hours of support per calendar year, with no additional cost to families for this support. 

You can also find program descriptions using the glossary below:

Our Access Services team is excited to pilot a new registration process for 1:1 Support in day camps. This pilot process will start January 2, 2025.

With personalized 1:1 Support, campers can fully participate and thrive in our programs. Families will now register for the date they want to attend and the Access Services team will contact you to determine a camp location. Children will be placed into camp based on support needs and availability. Campers can also choose to register for camps and provide their own external support workers—please notify Access Services in advance of the start date if you are providing their own support services.

After registering, the Access Services team will contact you to determine the preferred camp locations and interests. Best efforts will be made to place children in requested camps based on availability and individual support needs. A 1:1 Program Support Package is required to be completed prior to the activity start date. The support package reviews your child’s strengths, needs and strategies to set your child up for success in our activities. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis; please register early. If the activities are full, please register for waitlists as families on the waitlist will be contacted when space becomes available.

Learn more about our registration process

Please note: we do not offer personal care such as toileting, feeding or administering medication. If your child requires personal care, please contact our Access team to review their needs.

This is a pilot program and your feedback is appreciated. 

Phone: 604-294-7904
Email: [email protected]

Taking part in recreation and arts programs and activities are important for your child or the person in your care who has allergies. They’ll be in the company of others who may not be aware of or understand the practices to follow to keep your child safe—or how serious an allergic reaction can be.

Our Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) staff are committed to keeping all participants at our facilities safe. That's why we're so careful about ensuring we have important information about severe allergies. If we know about it, we can take the steps necessary to help them enjoy their class as safely as possible.

Step 1: Contact the recreation facility or arts and cultural facility that has the program you're interested in and ask to speak with the program supervisor so you can share information to ensure your child is set to participate as fully as possible.

Step 2: After speaking to the program supervisor, register your child for the program as early as possible.

Step 3: Complete and submit to the program supervisor 1 of following documents at least 2 weeks before the program starts

We have adapted equipment at our recreation facilities to ensure you can participate safely and enjoyably in sports and leisure activities. Each rec facility page includes information about accessible amenities and equipment, so you'll know before you go.

Here's a sample of the type of adapted equipment we have:

Pools: Our pools have various accessibility features, including graduated access, ramps, aquatic wheelchairs, lifts and portable stairs.

Arenas: We have ice sledges at Bill Copeland Sports Centre, Burnaby Lake Sports Complex and Kensington Complex.

Weight and cardio rooms: Our facilities offer adapted equipment.