Western Student Recreation Centre: Facilities and Access

Western lists a fitness centre of about 20,000 square feet with more than 200 pieces of weight and cardio equipment across two levels. The pool is an eight-lane, 50-metre tank with two bulkheads, a one-metre diving board and an accessibility lift. Three hardwood gyms sit on the first floor and three multi-purpose gyms on the upper level.

Space in the building is scheduled. Fit lanes, recreation swims, drop-in sports and squash all follow posted times, and squash needs a reservation. Check the schedule for the activity you want before you go.

The Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre (TRAC) shares its front entrance with the WSRC. It has an NHL-size ice rink, the Mustangs' Thompson Arena, ringed by a 200-metre indoor track. Campus Recreation members can jog and skate there at scheduled times. The rink also hosts an 80-team intramural hockey league.

Alumni Hall and Western Alumni Stadium are mainly varsity and event venues. Western renamed its stadium from TD Stadium to Western Alumni Stadium in 2021, after a $1.4 million gift from the Alumni Association. In fall 2026, members could jog on its outdoor track from September 14 to October 2 before jogging moved indoors to TRAC.

Western says registered students receive a WSRC membership funded through a small recreation fee within their activity fees. That is why the published rate is $0 for students who paid the ancillary fee. Some Western students don't pay that fee: exchange students, part-time graduate students and students on an internship or co-op term are examples. They can buy a monthly or term membership instead.

Western's 2026-27 undergraduate ancillary fee schedule, still marked draft, shows where the money comes from. Full-time lines include Recreation ($115.70), Sport ($96.01), Spirit and Connection for Thompson Recreation ($22.38) and the Student Recreation Centre Fund ($102.15). Western's fee descriptions add that your student card gets you into Mustangs home games free. Huron says all Huron students get a free membership too.

Scan your Western ID card at the gate on every visit. Western allows two free look-ups per term if you forget it, then charges $3 for each extra look-up. A lost card is replaced at the Registrar's Office in the Western Student Services Building.

Your membership covers facility access and drop-in programs. These services are sold separately, so budget for the ones you'll use.

Intramurals open for registration each term. Fall 2026 registration ran from September 9 at 8 a.m. to September 22 at 11:59 p.m., first come, first served. Leagues started the week of September 27. You can register as a free agent in most sports if you don't have a team. Every player must pass a short rules quiz on IMLeagues before joining a roster.

Tap in with your Western ID card at the front gate. The locker rooms are on the second floor, one floor down from the main entrance. Bags, coats, boots and outdoor shoes aren't allowed on the fourth floor, so lock them up first. Wear athletic clothing and clean indoor shoes, and bring a lock or buy one at Membership Services. The Equipment Desk on the second level lends basketballs, volleyballs and fitness equipment when you show your card.

Western doesn't guarantee fixed hours in advance, so use the live schedule page. The WSRC closes on Western holidays. Reading Week and exam periods have their own hours, and the building closed August 31 to September 4, 2026 for staff training. A three-phase renovation of the WSRC front desk began in 2026; follow posted signs for the temporary entry route.