Toronto to expand early registration for free recreation programming. Here is who will get access

The Toronto sign in Nathan Phillips Square is shown at city hall in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler

Torontonians who live near dozens of community centres offering free programming will soon be able to register ahead of the general public, as the city expands a program meant to ensure local residents don’t get squeezed out.

Last summer, the city began letting residents in neighbourhoods surrounding six community centres register one week ahead of time for in-demand recreation programs and camps.

In a report that will be considered by the city’s economic and community development committee next week, staff now recommend extending the initiative to all 37 community centres in time for the fall registration period.

Staff say that its findings to date indicate that the early signup opportunity has “improved access to registered programs for local residents and residents from lower-income areas” while “resulting in an expected reduction in access for some non-local clients.”

“In spring 2026, the proportion of local registered clients at ELR Free Centres increased from 36 per cent to 65 per cent, while registrations by residents from lower-income areas increased from 57 per cent to 65 per cent,” the report notes.

Staff say that eligibility for registering ahead of the general public will be limited to a catchment area of approximately 34,000 residents surrounding each community centre that offers free programming.

They add that while registrations by non-local clients in the neighbourhoods with early registration did decline from 63 per cent to 35 per cent, many of those who previously attended centres with free programming returned to city-wide recreation programs.