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child swimming in a pool

As a pilot project for summer and fall 2024, Port Moody residents will have priority access to register in any City of Port Moody recreation programs where advance registration is required, including ice sports, camps, and aquatics. Drop-in recreation activities will continue to be delivered on a first-come, first-served basis for residents and non-residents alike. 

“We know that many of our recreation programs are in high demand – with participants coming from within our city and from neighbouring municipalities – and that Port Moody residents make up more than half of those wait-listed when programs are oversubscribed,” said Mayor Meghan Lahti. “Recreational activities help our residents stay active, learn new things, and make social connections. Our goal with this pilot project is to help more Port Moody residents enjoy the benefits of our recreation programs and civic facilities.” 

The pilot project gives residents the opportunity to sign up for registered programs 48 hours before non-residents. It will be in effect starting at 8am on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, when registration opens for summer programs. Non-residents will be able to register starting at 8am on Thursday, May 16, 2024. 

Priority access for Port Moody residents will continue in the fall. Following the registration period for fall programs, City staff will report back to Council with an assessment of the pilot project. Council will then consider whether to continue with priority access on a permanent basis. 

The pilot project aims to increase residents’ chances of securing enrollment in registered programs that are oversubscribed. City staff’s report to Council on the topic of priority access for Port Moody residents included the following information:

  • for the period between January 1 and December 31, 2023, 70 per cent of the City’s registered recreation programs were fully enrolled, with Port Moody residents making up 52 per cent of total registrations;
  • within those programs that had waitlists, 52 per cent of participants on the waitlist were Port Moody residents;
  • with nearly half of the registrations coming from non-residents and a significant number of Port Moody residents on waitlists, there is a demand from residents for recreation programs that is not supported through the current registration process; and
  • the data indicates that priority access would likely improve the probability of residents securing enrollment in registered programs. 

In neighbouring municipalities, it is common practice to give residents priority access for recreation programs. Port Moody’s pilot project is in keeping with registration processes that prioritize residents in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Burnaby, and New Westminster.