Join IAKS Canada for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of two of Edmonton’s most innovative recreation facilities: Borden Natural Swimming Pool, and Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre.
© Nic Lehoux
Why join?
Participants will gain firsthand insight into the planning, design, and operation of distinctive aquatic and community recreation environments, including the opportunity to tour Canada’s newest velodrome.
Engage directly with the facility teams, project stakeholders, and the architects, and fellow recreation professionals. Explore leading-edge approaches to aquatic design, sustainability, community wellness, and facility operations. The tour will provide valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, discuss lessons learned, and build connections across the recreation and sport infrastructure sector.
Whether you are involved in facility planning, operations, programming, design, or municipal recreation services, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn from innovative projects, gain practical insights, and connect with peers from across Western Canada.
Facilities to be visited
© Raymond Chow
Borden Natural Swimming Pool
Borden Natural Swimming Pool is Canada’s first municipally operated natural swimming facility, showcasing an innovative approach to aquatic recreation through biologically filtered water treatment rather than traditional chemical systems. Located within Edmonton’s river valley, the pool combines recreation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable design. During the tour, participants will learn about the facility’s development, operations, water treatment processes, maintenance requirements, user experience, and key lessons learned since opening, offering valuable insights for communities exploring alternative aquatic solutions.
© Nic Lehoux
Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre: Edmonton Velodrome and Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre
Coronation Park is one of Edmonton’s premier recreation destinations, bringing together aquatics, fitness, rehabilitation, sport, and community spaces within a modern recreation campus. The tour includes a rare opportunity to visit the newly developed Edmonton Velodrome, showcasing a unique facility supporting high-performance sport and community programming. Participants will explore key design, operational, and sustainability strategies while hearing directly from project representatives about the vision, planning process, challenges, and successes behind this significant municipal recreation investment.
Itinerary | |
|---|---|
| 12:45 PM | Arrival and sign-in |
| 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Borden Natural Swimming Pool – Facility tour and presentation
|
| 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Travel to Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre |
| 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre: Edmonton Velodrome and Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre – Facility tour and presentation
|
| 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Networking & social gathering
|
| 5:30 PM | Event concludes |
Who Will Join?
The event is intended for:
- Recreation and parks professionals
- Municipal facility owners and operators
- Architects and designers
- Engineers and specialist consultants
- Aquatic facility operators
- Accessibility and sustainability professionals
- Industry suppliers and manufacturers
- Students and emerging professionals
- IAKS Canada members and guests
Representatives from the City of Edmonton and project collaborators are participating.
Register here: tbc
Attendance Fee: FREE
For any further questions please contact Benjamin Ellah: BEllah@mcw.com