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UVic CARSA: Student Gym Memberships, Hours and the Pool
UVic students who pay the athletics and recreation fee get base access to CARSA free: drop-in sports, the squash courts and the Active Space. The CARSA Fitness Weight Centre isn't included. You add it with a Fit membership, $108 a term for fee-paying students. CARSA is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. McKinnon Pool has been closed since September 2024.
Sources checked October 2, 2026. View sources
What's included with your student fees
If you paid the Athletics and Recreation fees with your tuition, you automatically get these base benefits:
- Drop-in recreation: basketball, volleyball, badminton, ping pong, squash, tennis, pickleball and open recreation.
- The CARSA squash courts and the CARSA Active Space.
- Access to lockers and towel service, CARSA equipment rental and Vikes outdoor equipment rental, each for an extra fee.
- Regular-season Vikes home game tickets, when available.
Gym memberships for students
| Membership | Fee-paying student | Student not assessed the fee |
|---|---|---|
| Fit (Fitness Weight Centre) | $108 a term, $216 for 2 terms, $259 for 12 months | $210 a term, $420 for 2 terms, $504 for 12 months |
| Fit + Climb | $173 a term, $346 for 2 terms, $415 for 12 months | $275 a term, $550 for 2 terms, $660 for 12 months |
| Fit + Yoga | $214 a term, $428 for 2 terms, $514 for 12 months | $316 a term, $632 for 2 terms, $758 for 12 months |
- Buy online or in person at CARSA Membership Services, 250-472-4000.
- The Alumni Association Bursary for Active, Healthy Living gives undergraduates with financial need at least $200 toward a CARSA membership. Apply through the scholarships and bursaries section of UVic's Online Tools.
CARSA and its hours
The Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA) opened in 2015 and has over 190,000 square feet, including a 2,100-seat performance gym, a multipurpose fieldhouse and a two-level Fitness Weight Centre with platforms, squat racks, free weights and cardio machines.
| Facility | Monday to Friday | Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| CARSA and Fitness Weight Centre | 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. | 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| CARSA Climbing Centre | Monday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday to Friday 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. | 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. |
- On reading break (November 9 and 10) and holidays (September 30, October 12, November 11), CARSA runs 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the climbing centre is closed on holidays.
- The climbing tower is 55 feet with over 500 holds, the tallest at any Canadian university, plus a 14-foot bouldering wall.
- The Ian Stewart Complex has a skating rink, booked by request.
McKinnon Pool is closed
UVic closed McKinnon Pool on September 15, 2024. A 2025 evaluation estimated $5.1 million plus GST to reopen it for three to five years, and UVic says it doesn't have the resources to do so given other priorities. It has said it would explore an interim reopening only if the community funds the upgrades and operating costs.
If swimming matters to you, plan on using pools off campus.
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Sources and updates
This independent guide summarizes the official information linked below. Availability, access rules and application cycles can change; check the relevant university page before making a decision.