BANFF – The Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre is welcoming back guests this July to its climbing gym and rooms for weight training and cardio as part of The Banff Centre’s reopening.
Renovations have been completed at the arts and creativity institute and after new staff are hired and trained, the rec centre's doors will open “as early in July as possible.”
“We are actively hiring and training staff; we will continue training as we hire more,” said Erin Brandt-Filliter, The Banff Centre’s director of communications.
“For our returning employees, they are receiving new training based on new protocols in the facility.”
Brandt-Filliter added how early in July is "fully dependent on if we can recruit and hire sufficient number of staff."
As part of the upcoming re-opening, many cardio machines and free weights are set up inside the entire gymnasium area to maintain proper social distancing and weight machines and other free weights remain in the second floor fitness area.
The second-storey running track above the gymnasium will be open, and steam rooms and showers inside locker rooms are anticipated to be ready for use.
Masks are dependent on provincial and local municipal bylaws at the time of reopening, as the Town of Banff continues to have their mask bylaw in place.
Other services, such as the 25-metre swimming pool, hot tubs, fitness classes, and wellness clinic will open over time.
Prices for gym memberships and day passes are under review.
The rec centre was closed for 16 months due to COVID-19 and renovations, which include new replacement air handling for the building; and retrofitting the gymnasium for fitness equipment including the required conduit, wiring, and power requirements to enable the switch.
