PERIOD REPORT
DATE: May 26 2026 Report No. P&R-26-007
TO: Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Steve Knoke, Director Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT:TITLEParks and Recreation Services- 2026 Period Report
Body
The following is a report on the activities pertaining to the Parks and Recreation Services from January 1, 2026 to April 30, 2026.
I. DIVISION ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
1.Parks
BC Hydro has granted $10,000 towards our annual tree planting initiative.
Publicly owned trees
• Trees pruned - 20
• Trees removed - 9
• Trees planted - Blvd trees - 44
• Natural area trees planted - 7
• Total trees planted - 51
Invasive Removal
• General parks maintenance - 55 cubic meters of invasive plants removed from parks - 320 square meters of land were cleared.
• Earth Day - 249 shrubs went into the ground on Earth Day.
Privately owned trees (tree permit/developments)
• Trees approved for removal - 14
• Trees denied for removal - 13
• Trees approved for pruning - 8
• No permit required (not protected tree) - 14
• Number of tree cutting permits waiting for more information or cancelled - 4
• Number of tree permits in progress - 2
• Total tree cutting permits applied for - 33
Parks Highlights
• Mulch applied to all major parks (Gorge, Memorial, Saxe, West Bay, Adventure) 160-180 yards of mulch moved.
• All the traffic islands on Esquimalt Rd., Admirals Rd., Craigflower Rd., rain gardens were maintained and mulched with wood chips - 40 yards.
• Japanese garden paths renovated and topped up with path mix, Saxe pt. Park trails topped up with path mix.
• Successful Gorge Rhododendron Garden mulching with a group of volunteers - 30 yards of wood chips moved.
• Camosun Student work placement with horticultural department for two weeks.
• Approximately 1,520 bulbs, corms and rhizomes are planted for summer and fall displays.
• Playground with new woodchips added:
o Memorial - 90 yards
o Lampson - 60 yards
o Gorge - 20 yards
• Esquimalt welcome sign refurbished Craigflower and Admirals.
• 20 blocks of curb clearing for painting.
• Bench pads + 2 new picnic tables at Denniston.
• New post installed and painted at Forshaw plus new bench.
• All pathways at Japanese gardens at Gorge Park topped up and leveled.
• All grass areas fertilized for spring.
• Final grades on new pathway at Lampson Forest.
Park Bookings
• Saxe Point Park - 5 weddings.
• Esquimalt Gorge Park - 2 (1 picnic & 1 wedding).
• Macaulay Point Park - 1 (filming).
• Bullen Park - 17 (Gorge soccer, Victoria Slo Pitch).
• École Brodeur - 28 (Youth and Adult Soccer Club).
• Anderson Park - Community Garden.
• Highrock Park - 1 (1 special event).
• Memorial Park - 9 (Farmers Market, Picnics, DND Memorial Service).
• Lampson Park - 54 (53 Lions Minor Baseball 1 Central Saanich).
Gorge Park Pavilion
• There were 281 bookings at the Gorge Park Pavilion in this reporting period compared to 266 bookings for the same period last year.
• The Township Community Arts Council Hosted Sculpture Splash at the Gorge Park Pavilion on April 17 - April 19, 2026. This event showcased a variety of art pieces in collaboration with the Vancouver Island Sculptors Guide that brought inspiring 3-D works from Vancouver Island artists.
2. Maintenance
Sports Centre
• Curling ice was removed on March 16th.
• Hockey ice was removed on April 7th.
• Serviced all air handling units throughout the building.
• Pressure washed all outside staircases.
• A new bike shelter installed.
• All storage rooms were tidied and reorganized.
• All event equipment was set up, cleaned, dried, and put away into storage for the upcoming event season.
• The maintenance team set up and provided ongoing support to multiple community events.
Recreation Centre
• Serviced all air handling units throughout the building.
• All tile floors were thoroughly cleaned and waxed.
• All epoxy floors and the Jubilee Hall floor were scrubbed thoroughly.
• The reception desk safety enclosure project was started and will be completed in May.
• Electrical upgrades were completed in the filter room, including new breakers and plugs.
• Staff began re-upholstering all classroom style chairs.
Pavilion
• Serviced all air handling units throughout the building.
• New dimmer switches were installed on all lights in the lower hall.
• Replaced all cedar trim throughout the building.
• Installed ‘wall protection’ plywood in all storage rooms.
• Lower hall partitions walls were steam cleaned.
• All the cloth banquet seats were steam cleaned.
• New kitchen taps were installed.
• Child safety steps were installed in the lower bathrooms.
3. Recreation Services
Fitness and Sports
• Wellness Centre had 33,027 from Jan 1 - April 30, 2026, compared to 36,202 of last year.
• Drop-in Fitness continued to offer 33 classes per week, there was 8,988 from Jan 1-April 30, 2026, Compared to 8,138 attendees from January- April 2025.
• From January- April 2026, 40 registered fitness classes a week were programmed, with 1,463 registered fitness participants compared to 921 participants in the first period of 2025.
• Adult Drop-in Sports continue to be popular, with almost all sessions fully booked. During the first period, there were 3,027 drop-in sports spots filled compared to 2,665 in the same period last year.
• New Personal Training Clients up to 43 new clients.
• 25 people participated in the 60 Day Challenge which went with a more virtual challenge in 2026.
• The 17th Annual Esquimalt 5km had 341 participants and 244 Kids in the 1km Fun Run, compared to 432 and 244 in the 1km of 2025. This year the date was later than normal due to Easter break, there were also other local races happening the same day. Participants engaged in a variety of pre and post run activities and received great support from local businesses.
Aquatics
• A service level of 119 weekly hours of operation was maintained in the pool. This was the same service level in 2024 and 2025.
• 13 lifesavings, lifeguarding and swim instructor training courses included 119 registered participants, compared to 9 courses included 104 registered participants during the same period in 2025.
• 20 water fit classes were offered per week with an average of 30 participants compared to 20 water fit classes per week with an average of 29 participants during the same period in 2025.
• Hired 8 new Aquatic staff which increases the team to 81 staff
• Ran 39 registered private lessons with 59 participants compared to 64 participants in the same period in 2025.
• Ran 191 community lessons with 892 participants in 2026 compared to 190 community lessons run with 898 participants in the same period in 2025.
Memberships/Swim Shop Sales/Drop-in Admissions/Registrations
|
|
Child/Youth |
Student |
Adult |
Senior |
Family |
|
Jan-April |
2026 |
2025 |
2026 |
2025 |
2026 |
2025 |
2026 |
2025 |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 Month |
36 |
43 |
41 |
43 |
251 |
170 |
65 |
66 |
1 |
3 |
|
3 Month |
26 |
19 |
41 |
35 |
187 |
242 |
90 |
96 |
5 |
11 |
|
6 Month |
9 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
56 |
59 |
31 |
32 |
8 |
8 |
|
1 Year |
13 |
15 |
16 |
20 |
153 |
153 |
167 |
154 |
27 |
35 |
|
10 Admissions |
59 |
49 |
47 |
48 |
513 |
459 |
341 |
300 |
12 |
17 |
|
25 Admissions |
6 |
7 |
16 |
16 |
124 |
119 |
216 |
178 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total Sold |
149 |
143 |
172 |
172 |
1,284 |
1202 |
910 |
826 |
54 |
75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total scans |
3,018 |
2,952 |
3,819 |
3,619 |
28,444 |
27,039 |
32,527 |
30,664 |
4,024 |
5,237 |
|
Total Memberships sold |
2026: 2,426 |
2025: 2,414 |
|
Total Membership scans |
2026: 71,832 |
2025: 69,511 |
|
|
2026 |
2025 |
|
Regional memberships sold |
37 |
55 |
|
Regional memberships scans |
3426 |
3017 |
|
Products sold (goggles, swim caps, towels etc) |
708 |
694 |
|
Single admissions sold |
34,322 |
35,290 |
|
Number of program registrations |
6356 |
7400 |
Marketing
• Esquimalt Parks & Recreation social media platforms continue to have a strong following with 8,081 on Facebook (up from 7,520 last period), 3,238 on Instagram (down from 2,855 last period), and 4,041 on X (down from 4,094 last period).
• Our Facebook followers are up 41.2% and our Instagram interactions are up 8.7%
• The use of the website has been successful, and the Parks & Recreation section continues to be the most predominantly viewed content.
Facility Rentals
• 350 contracts were issued for rentals at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre compared to 385 for the same period last year.
• 390 contracts were issued for rentals at the Archie Browning Sports Centre compared to 283 last year.
Preschool - Children and Youth Services
• Our Licensed Preschool M/W/F program ran with 16/16 spaces filled.
• Nature Preschool program ran Tue/Thu with 13/14 spots fill up from 6 spots filled in 2025.
• Music Together ran at full capacity with 36/36 participants.
• Our new Whisk it Up: Youth Baking Class ran at 12/12 participants.
• We increased our youth leadership program by offering a year-long program that runs once a month. The year-long leadership course is running at capacity (15 youth).
• Added a new program called Community Kids Night, which was well attended each week with an average of 9 kids each Friday.
Licensed Out of School Care
• Before School Care had 50/78 participants compared to 49/78 last year.
• After School Care remains at capacity with 79 participants, with a significant waitlist by the end of April 2026.
• Our early dismissal day on April 30th had 37/40 participants.
• Our Pro-D Day on Jan 26 had 36/40 participants and our Pro-D Day on Feb 13 had 31/40 participants.
Spring Break Camps
• We offered 8 of our own camps (4 per week). Each camp ran at capacity providing care to 160 participants.
• We had 80/80 participants in our licensed camps (2 each week). This is compared to 74/80 last year.
• We had 80/80 participants in our playground camps (2 each week). This is compared to 76/80 last year.
• The Esquimalt Youth Leadership program ran the 2nd week of Spring Break. The program ran at full capacity with 15/15 participants.
Teen Centre Programs
• Tuesday LGBTQIA2S+ program saw a weekly increase to 20 this year compared to 12 last year.
• Raven’s Club was moved back to Rock Heights Middle School this year. This program averaged 19 participants each week compared to 4 during this period last year.
• Thursday Teen Nights: 30 participants compared to 27 last year.
• Friday Teen Nights: 84 participants compared to 67 last year.
• Saturday Teen Nights: 60 participants compared to 69 last year.
• New drop-in lunch programs were offered to L’Ecole Victor Brodeur students. The programs made use of their school space and provided:
o Tuesday (soccer): average of 18 participants
o Wednesday (board games): average of 7 participants
o Thursday (dodgeball): average of 16 participants
Sports
• MIJO Taekwondo ran 13 programs a week compared to 7 last year.
• Badminton Parent and Kid Shuttle Time ran with 10/22 participants, Youth Upgrade to Competition ran with 21/22 participants, Intermediate Elite and Adult Performance ran with 17/22.
• KATS Tennis ran a 9-11 yrs program with 16/16 participants and a 5-8 yr program with 16/16 participants.
• Play Beyond Expectations ran 1 program a week during this period.
• Soccer 3-5yrs class had 11/12 participants, the 6-8yrs class had 12/12 spots filled the 9-12yr class had 5/12 spots filled all increasing in numbers from last year.
• Vic City Basketball ran 5 programs with 33 participants. This is compared to 26 participants during this period in 2025.
• Island Rhythmic Gymnastics ran with 8/12 spots filled.
Arts, Culture, Social & Special Interest Programs
• We ran another successful Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, with our one volunteer filing taxes for 100 community members, free of charge.
• This winter saw high registration in many new and returning programs, such as:
o Kids Music Classes: Music Together ran 9 sessions for 106 children and School Age Guitar was full with 10 children registered
o Kids Cooking ran two sessions with 35 children registered
o Beginner’s Watercolour ran two sessions with 16 people registered total
o New Martial Art Shoshinkai Iaido had 19 participants
o Adult Guitar had 11 participants
o Preschool dance had 8 classes run, with a total of 60 participants
• We ran a variety of one-off painting classes, including Alcohol Ink Plant Pots, Spring Gnomes, and Crushed Glass, Seashells & Resin Art which were popular, with a combined attendance of 51 participants.
• We added a new 50+ Drop-in Program - “500” on Wednesdays and Drop-in Painting began displaying their artwork in the Display Case by the Front Desk of the Recreation Centre.
Community Development and Events
• Our annual Family Day event was held at the Rec Centre & Sports Centre again this year with a free family swim, kinder gym, Family Skate and a BBQ hosted by the Lion’s Club. In addition, we hosted 6 community groups that offered information and free activities (Esquimalt Farmers Market, Theatre al Dente, Gorge Waterway Actions Society, VicPD, Steve’s Poke Bar). Lila’s Events offered facepainting. In addition, we offered a free Family Friendly Music Bingo event in the Jubilee Hall hosted by the Original Music Bingo.
• Around 500 people attended the Family Day Celebration throughout the day with 150 attending the Family friendly Music Bingo.
• The Annual Esquimalt Lions’ Easter Egg Hunt returned to Bullen Park and was very well attended with an estimated 1,200 participants throughout the day.
• We hosted our second annual Earth week pop-up series in the Rec Centre and Sports Centre from April 21-24. We partnered with local community groups to offer various recycling stations and activities to help our community members reduce their environmental impact.
o 14 volunteers removed a 120 square meters of invasive ivy at Saxe Point Park with our Parks Team.
o $180 worth of bottles were collected at the Lions’ Club bottle drive for the Gorge Waterway Nature House.
o 540lbs of Electronic Recycling was diverted from the landfill at the ERA recycling station.
o 232lbs of fiber waste was sent to Debrand for repurposing through the Green Thimble.
o 5 people learned visible clothing member techniques with the Tsgui Hagi Project.
• The Gigantic Garage Sale returned to Archie Browning Sports center this year in the Curling Rink. We hosted 56 vendors and over 1,000 people attended throughout the day. Country Crepes and the Lions Club joined the event and offered a variety of foods and beverages to patrons. Big Brothers Big Sisters brought their truck to collect donations after the event. There were reduced vendor numbers this year due to the Hockey Arena construction project.
• The Esquimalt Farmers’ Market has returned to Memorial Park as of April 2nd and will operate until September 24th. The Gorge Park Market will open on June 15th and continue until Sept 21st.
• During Fraud Prevention Month (Mar 13) we supported the VicPd and Victoria Community Response Network to host info stations and seminars at the Esquimalt Rec Centre. They were joined by Scotiabank and Out Smart the Scammer who helped community members learn how to protect themselves from serious attempts to steal money through fraud and scams.
• Our Social Saturday Lounge events continue to be popular with the 19yrs+ community.
• January: 59 people attended Music Bingo hosted by the Original Music Bingo.
• February: 100 people attended Pub Quiz night with Benji Duke.
• March: 39 people attended the Murder Mystery night with Enigmatic Events.
Ice and Arena
• The Esquimalt Curling Club continued to operate with both men’s and women’s leagues. This year they ran 9 curling bonspiels that were well attended in both the arena and lounge, this is up from 6 in 2025.
• Our Learn to Skate program continues to grow with 107 participants, compared to 78 in 2025. This includes a full class of 10 participants in our new Adult Group Skating Lessons. We also had 37 participants waitlists for our youth skating lessons.
• Each week we ran 10 public skating sessions, which includes drop-in hockey, Cougars Pond Hockey, adult skates, and public skates that follows the schedule from the previous year. 10 additional skates were held during spring break that were attended by Esquimalt Recreation Spring Break Camps and the public. The drop-in hockey programs including Stick and Puck continue to be well attended.
• The Wednesday and Friday drop-in hockey program continues to have a waitlist. Stick and Puck continued this year to capture youth who may not have access to a general hockey program.
• Cougars pond hockey continues to be popular with the community through our partnership with the Cougars Junior ‘A’ team.
• Special events like the ‘Family Day’ and ‘Spring Thaw’ skates were well attended with over 75 participants at ‘Spring Thaw’ and over 200 participants at ‘Family Day’.
• We continue to engage with the local schools in offering school skates 5 days a week, with 8 different Victoria schools registering.
• The weekend Birthday Party skating rentals continued to be popular on both Saturdays and Sundays, both days often having a waitlist.
• The SD61 Career fair ran in the Curling Arena on April 23. This event hosted 83 different businesses and organizations for youth to come and ask questions and learn about future career paths.
II. COMMITTEES
• The Environmental Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee met on January 28, 2026 and April 22, 2026.