The University of Lethbridge has finalized its latest reopening plans for shared University-community spaces, including the Community Stadium, the Centre for Sport & Wellness and summer camps.

Alberta entered Stage 2 of its relaunch strategy on June 12. While provincial guidelines now allow for use of sport and recreation spaces, the province’s Guidance for Post-Secondary Institutions continues to direct universities to limit in-person attendance on campus as much as possible.

The University of Lethbridge recognizes that, in addition to serving its students, staff, and faculty, its many spaces and activities also serve the larger local community. As we continue to ready and ease access to our spaces for academic and community use, we do so in accordance with all applicable public health guidelines (balancing our responsibilities across sectors) and continue to prioritize the health and safety of all uses.

Working within provincial guidelines for both facilities and types of activities, the University is working to ease access to shared community facilities (Community Stadium and the Centre for Sport & Wellness) and offer summer camp programming as possible. 

Community Stadium

As a primarily outdoor facility that is operated in partnership with the City of Lethbridge, the U of L’s Community Stadium will open on June 24 for drop-in use only. Visit the stadium website for more details. As of July 6, group bookings will be accepted by contacting Sandy Williston at sandy.williston@uleth.ca.

Summer Camps

Balancing post-secondary facility restrictions alongside recreation guidelines that continue to advise that, where possible, sport and physical activities be relocated to outdoor settings, Horns Recreation will offer a select number of summer camps outdoors at the Community Stadium. These include the soccer and multi-activity camps.

In-person Destination Exploration summer camps will be cancelled for the month of July. Live activities will be available on Tuesdays on the Destination Exploration website. Destination Exploration is also offering programming through the mini uLethbridge platform.

Registrations for all Horns Recreation and Destination Exploration August camps will remain open. We anticipate that, as provincial health guidelines continue to shift, we will be in a position to offer summer camps in August.

The Conservatory of Music has cancelled in-person summer programming, but will continue to offer mini uLethbridge virtual camps through the summer and is offering an online Piano Intensive camp.

Understandably, these decisions which minimize the number of in-person camps is frustrating for parents who are trying to plan activities for their children over the summer. However, indoor summer camps require non-recreation-based campus space, which is limited by adherence to the current post-secondary guidelines as outlined by the province. Parents who have registered their children in a camp that cannot be offered in July will be notified by email.

U of L Centre for Sport & Wellness

Following the province's announcement about entering Stage 2 of relaunch, which moved Recreation Facilities into an earlier phase than initially indicated, the team at Horns Recreation has been working hard behind the scenes to welcome members back to the U of L's fitness facilities as soon as possible. While the way the facilities operate will change slightly, the team looks forward to helping its members reach their fitness goals in its state-of-the-art facilities, through a variety of programming and training options. Specific reopening plans are being developed and updates will be posted online at Sport & Recreation and through social media accounts @hornsrec.