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Facilities and hours

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UVic students are above-average users of their athletic facilities when compared to students across Canada. To accommodate their needs, UVic offers a wide range of athletic and recreation facilities, also available to faculty, staff and the Victoria community. These include the CARSA facility, McKinnon Gym, Pool and Weight Room, outdoor playing fields, as well as the Ian Stewart Complex ice rink.

Rentals

If you are interested in facility rental and availability, please visit our rental page for more information and pricing.

Rentals page.

Maps and parking

Find out where Vikes Athletics and Recreation facilities and fields are located on campus.

View UVic campus map.
View fields and facilities map.
Parking information and locations.

Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA)

The Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA) is the home of the University of Victoria Vikes. This world-class facility opened in May 2015 and boasts over 190,000 sq. ft. of floor space. CARSA includes a 2,100-seat performance gym, a multipurpose fieldhouse, a two-level fitness weight training facility, the CARSA Climbing Centre, dance space, dedicated TRX and spin classrooms, yoga studios, squash courts, a rowing ergometer centre, and a sports injury clinic. It is also home of CanAssist, which develops technologies, programs and services that help people with disabilities improve their quality of life.

Contact

For information contact: 250-472-4000 or vikesrec@uvic.ca

Hours

Winter 2024

Monday to Friday: 6:00AM–11:00PM
Saturday and Sunday: 7:00AM–9:00PM
Reading Break*: 6:00AM-9:00PM
Holidays: 7:00AM–9:00PM

*Reading Break: Feb. 20-23
Holidays: Jan. 1, Feb. 19, Mar. 29, Mar. 31, Apr. 1, May 20, Jul. 1, Aug. 5

CARSA Fitness Weight Centre

The CARSA Fitness Weight Centre is a two-level training facility with platforms, squat racks, free weights, machines and every cardio machine you could need including treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, spin bikes, Concept 2 rowers, bike and ski ergs, Assault Bikes, Rogue Echo bikes, recumbent bikes, Arc trainers and more. It also boasts dedicated TRX and spin classrooms, yoga studios, stretch space, squash courts, and a rowing ergometer centre.

Contact

For information contact: 250-472-4000 or vikesrec@uvic.ca

Hours

Winter 2024

Monday to Friday: 6:00AM–11:00PM
Saturday and Sunday: 7:00AM–9:00PM
Reading Break*: 6:00AM-9:00PM
Holidays: 7:00AM–9:00PM

*Reading Break: Feb. 20-23
Holidays: Jan. 1, Feb. 19, Mar. 29, Mar. 31, Apr. 1, May 20, Jul. 1, Aug. 5

CARSA Climbing Centre

The iconic climbing tower is the tallest of all Canadian universities and has over 500 holds between the 55-foot tower and 14-foot bouldering wall. The CARSA Climbing Centre (CCC) focuses on learning and practicing climbing skills in a safe and fun environment. There are two main types of climbing available: bouldering and route climbing. There are also a variety of instructional courses, team building programs, as well as birthday parties that are all options for the community and on-campus population to enjoy.

Contact

For information contact: 250-472-4000 or climbing@uvic.ca

Hours

Winter 2024

Monday to Friday: 12:00–9:00PM
Saturday: 4:00–8:00PM
Sunday: Closed
Reading Break*: 12:00-9:00PM
Holidays: Closed

*Reading Break: Feb. 20-23
Holidays: Jan. 1, Feb. 19, Mar. 29, Mar. 31, Apr. 1, May 20, Jul. 1, Aug. 5

View the climbing schedule for details about programs and open climbing times.

McKinnon Building, Gym, Pool and Dance Studio

The McKinnon Building is the former home of the UVic Vikes athletic department offices and Vikes basketball teams. It houses the UVic Sports Hall of Fame inductees from 2002–2015, an indoor pool, a 2,500-seat triple gymnasium and a dance studio. The basketball court itself was named Ken and Kathy Shields Court in 2002, honouring UVic’s legendary basketball coaches. McKinnon hosted the 1993 CIS women’s basketball national championships, a 1999 Vancouver Grizzlies NBA intra-squad game, and continually ranked near the top of attendance totals in the Canada West conference. The 25-metre indoor pool is one of the training venues for the Vikes swimming team. As of May 2015, the UVic Athletics and Recreation department moved offices, the varsity team rooms, athletic therapy clinic and Vikes basketball competition to CARSA.

Contact

For information contact: 250-472-4000 or vikesrec@uvic.ca

Hours

Winter 2024

McKinnon Building (incl. pool and weight room)

Monday to Thursday: 6:00AM–11:00PM
Friday: 6:00AM–11:00PM
Saturday 7:00AM-9:00PM
Sunday: 7:00AM-9:00PM
Reading Break*: 6:00AM–7:30PM
Holidays: Closed

*Reading Break: Feb. 20-23
Holidays: Jan. 1, Feb. 19, Mar. 29, Mar. 31, Apr. 1, May 20, Jul. 1, Aug. 5

View the aquatics schedule for details about program times.

McKinnon Building

McKinnonPool

Ian Stewart Complex

The Ian Stewart Complex is home to UVic’s skating rink and the UVic men’s competitive hockey club. The Vikes hockey club participates in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League. The facility offers opportunities for drop-in hockey, skating as well as intramural hockey and is home to the Victoria Racquet Ball Club, community programs for minor hockey and figure skating.

Ian H. Stewart (1932-2017) was chair of the University of Victoria's (UVic) Board of Governors when the university acquired the sports complex in 1991. The facility was originally called the Gordon Head Sports Complex and was renamed in his honour in 2000.

Contact

For information contact: 250-472-5604.

Hours

Winter 2024

Monday to Friday: TBA
Saturday and Sunday: TBA
Reading Break*: Closed
Holidays: Closed

*Reading Break: Feb. 20-23
Holidays: Jan. 1, Feb. 19, Mar. 29, Mar. 31, Apr. 1, May 20, Jul. 1, Aug. 5

Vikes Athletics and Recreation offices

Administrative offices for all staff working with the Vikes Athletics and Recreation department.

Contact

Access administration offices via Level P3 of CARSA Parkade off Vikes Way at McKenzie Ave.

Vikes Active Living

Phone: 250-721-7282
Fax: 250-472-8956

Vikes Athletics (varsity)

Phone: 250-721-8409
Fax: 250-721-8956

Member Services

Phone: 250-472-4000
Fax: 250-472-4768

Hours

Monday to Friday: 8:30AM–4:30PM
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Reading Break*: 8:30AM–4:30PM
Holidays: Closed

*Reading Break: Feb. 20-23
Holidays: Jan. 1, Feb. 19, Mar. 29, Mar. 31, Apr. 1, May 20, Jul. 1, Aug. 5

Centennial Stadium

The 5,000 seat Centennial Stadium is one of the city’s best facilities for hosting high-profile sporting events. The stadium hosted the 1994 Commonwealth Games and has since hosted other major events including the 2000 BC Summer Games, the 2000 and 2004 Canadian Track and Field Olympic Trials, the 2003 FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Cup Tournament and the annual International Track Classic.

When not in use for events and programs the stadium track is accessible to the public for single use running/walking. All group activity must be booked through Vikes Bookings 250-472-4652 or atrsbook@uvic.ca.

Contact

For information contact: 250-472-4000 or vikesrec@uvic.ca

Hours

The track is open for public use from sunrise to sunset when it is not booked for special events. See the schedule: vikesrec.ca/stadium. Open Track indicates the stadium track is open to the public.

Fields

Field Hockey Turf

The field hockey turf is a water-based artificial playing surface of international standards. The current playing surface is regarded as one of the best of its kind in Canada. In May 2008, the turf hosted the World Hockey Olympic Qualifier tournament and later that summer hosted the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team pre-Olympic training camp. The field will be undergoing turf replacement in the summer of 2022.

Wallace Field

Home of the Vikes rugby programs, Wallace Field is a full-size grass rugby pitch with seating for 500. Named after former UVic President Robert Wallace, the field was reopened in the eighties and has hosted numerous national team try-out and training camps.

Artificial Turfs (Field 2A and 2B)

Vikes artificial turf fields are multi-sport, all-weather surfaces that have been home to field lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, ultimate and much more. Field 2A and 2B can each host a full-size soccer match, while a regulation FIBA soccer field can also span both fields.

Artificial Turf (Field 3)

Vikes artificial turf fields are multi-sport surfaces that have been home to various activities including field lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, ultimate and much more. Field 3 is often used as a secondary training ground for the varsity rugby programs as well as intramural sports such as ultimate and soccer. Field 3 is also lined for softball (see map).

Contact

For information contact: 250-472-4000 or vikesrec@uvic.ca

Hours

Fields are open during events and bookings.

CanAssist

CanAssist, located inside CARSA, is dedicated to helping people with disabilities improve their quality of life, with a focus on promoting independence and inclusion.

The CanAssist team develops innovative technologies and programs where there are gaps in existing services. We work with the exceptional students and faculty at UVic, along with partners in the wider community.

Contact

Access CanAssist offices via ground floor of CARSA through the main entrance on Gabriola Road.

Phone: 250-721-7300
Fax: 250-721-7299
Email: canassist@uvic.ca

Hours

Monday to Friday: 8:30AM-4:30PM
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Field updates

Updated: Mar. 6 at 2:57PM
Next update: Feb. 5 at 9:00AM

View UVic weather

Field Hockey Pitch

Field 1 - ✓ Open

Artificial Turf Fields

Field 2A - ✓ Open
Field 2B - ✓ Open
Field 3 - ✓ Open

Grass Fields

Field 4 - ✓ Open
Field 6 - ✓ Open
Field 7 - ✓ Open
Field 8 - ✓ Open

Centennial Stadium

Field 5 - ⊘ Closed
Track - ✓ Open


View fields map


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