Edmonton Community Leagues: The Newcomer's Secret Weapon

Edmonton has something no other Canadian city has at this scale: 163 community leagues — volunteer-run neighbourhood organizations that have been operating continuously since 1917. The first community league in North America was founded in what is now Crestwood, Edmonton, on March 3, 1917. Over 100 years later, nearly every residential neighbourhood in the city has one.

If you just moved to Edmonton and haven’t joined your community league yet, you’re missing out on one of the best deals in the city. A family membership costs about $25 per year and gives you access to 20% off recreation centre memberships, free community swims, outdoor skating rinks, sports programs, community gardens, and — most importantly — a direct line to your neighbours.

What You Actually Get for $25

20% Off Every City Recreation Centre

The Community League Wellness Program gives members discounts at every City of Edmonton recreation centre — over 20 facilities including pools, gyms, arenas, fitness centres, and indoor tracks.

The discounts:

• 20% off annual or continuous monthly memberships

• 15% off multi-admission passes (5+ visits)

• 10–20% off additional services like personal training, swimming lessons, and registered courses

Participating facilities include Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre, Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre, Clareview Community Recreation Centre, Mill Woods Recreation Centre, The Meadows Community Recreation Centre, Bonnie Doon Leisure Centre, Kinsmen Sports Centre, Jasper Place Fitness and Leisure Centre, and many more.

How to use it: Present your valid community league membership card at any City of Edmonton recreation centre. Discounted memberships must be purchased in person to verify eligibility.

A family annual rec centre membership is normally around $900. With the community league discount, you save approximately $180 — more than seven times the cost of the league membership itself.

Free Community Swims

Each community league gets a designated free swim time at a nearby City recreation centre. You show your membership card at the door and swim for free. Examples:

• Terwillegar: Saturdays 5–7 PM at Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre

• Riverbend: Saturdays 4–5:30 PM at Confederation Leisure Centre

• Woodvale (Mill Woods area): Saturdays 3–4:30 PM at Mill Woods Recreation Centre

Your league’s website will list the exact time and location for your neighbourhood.

Over 100 Outdoor Skating Rinks

This is uniquely Edmonton. Volunteers from community leagues maintain over 100 outdoor skating rinks across the city every winter, typically from December through March. Your community league membership includes a skate tag that gives you access to your neighbourhood rink.

In the off-season, rink pads double as spaces for soccer, flag football, and off-leash dog parks.

Sports Programs

Leagues organize soccer, hockey, ringette, basketball, softball, tennis, karate, pickleball, and more. Many are affiliated with zone sports associations. Terwillegar and Riverbend, for example, run programs through the Terwillegar Riverbend Soccer Association. Registration fees are typically low — these are community programs, not private clubs.

Community Gardens

Many leagues operate community gardens with individual plot rentals (typically $30–$50 per year). Waitlists can be 2+ years at popular locations, so sign up early. Leagues with gardens include Terwillegar, Oliver (now wihkwentowin), Inglewood, Highlands, Strathearn, and Riverbend. City of Edmonton Community Gardens.

Events, Programs, and Social Connection

Leagues run everything from movie nights and board game nights to winterfests, mini folk festivals, yoga classes, French conversation clubs, playgroups, and babysitting courses. Some specific examples:

• Bonnie Doon: Book Club, French Conversation Club, Pickleball, T’ai Chi, Yoga, Family Movie Nights

• Strathcona: Winterfest (February), Mini Folk Fest (September), free playgroup

• Riverbend: PB&J Playgroup, Dungeons and Dragons nights, drop-in bridge games

• Terwillegar: Pizza and Movie nights, Ski Nights, community market days

Hall Rentals

Most leagues operate a community hall available for private events — birthday parties, weddings, meetings, cultural celebrations. Pricing varies by league but is typically $50–$500 depending on the space and duration. Most have kitchen facilities. This is often the most affordable event venue option in Edmonton.

How to Join Your Community League

Step 1: Find your league. Every neighbourhood in Edmonton has a community league. Use the EFCL League Search tool or the Communal platform to find yours by entering your address.

Step 2: Buy a membership. Three ways:

• Online through the EFCL website — there is a $5 service charge. You receive a digital membership card by email.

• Online through Communal — digital membership with a digital card you can show on your phone at rec centres.

• Directly from your league — at league events, meetings, or through their website. No service charge.

Membership costs: Typically $25 for a family/household, $15 for an individual or senior. Some leagues charge less. Membership runs from September 1 to August 31.

Important: You cannot buy a community league membership at a City recreation centre. You need to purchase it separately and bring your card with you.

Why This Matters If You’re New to Edmonton

Community leagues are arguably the single best way to meet your neighbours after a move. They provide low-barrier entry points — you don’t need to know anyone, speak perfect English, or have lived in the neighbourhood for years. Show up to a community league event, and you’ll meet the people who live around you.

The EFCL has developed a Community Leagues 101 presentation specifically for newcomers and English Language Learner populations. They also run a Supporting Inclusive Communities course series (Course 1 is free) designed to help leagues welcome diverse community members.

For newcomers to Canada, we wrote a comprehensive guide to settling in Edmonton — covering health care registration, SIN, banking, settlement agencies, and more: Moving to Edmonton as a Newcomer to Canada.

Beyond the Basics — Things Most People Don’t Know

Neighbourhood Resource Coordinators: Every single one of Edmonton’s 163 community leagues has an assigned City of Edmonton employee — a Neighbourhood Resource Coordinator (NRC) — who attends meetings, connects the league to municipal programs, assists with grants, and provides two-way communication between the league and City Council. To find your NRC, call 311.

Neighbourhood Watch: The Edmonton Neighbourhood Watch Program operates through community league boundaries. Leagues can run sign programs, door sticker programs, and safety ambassador programs. Edmonton Neighbourhood Watch.

Edmonton Tool Library: The Edmonton Tool Library (located at Bellevue Community Hall) lends hand tools, power tools, and garden tools. Some community leagues — including Garneau, Highlands, and Strathcona — sponsor free memberships for their members. Edmonton Tool Library.

Community League Day: Held annually on the third Saturday in September (September 20, 2025). All 163 leagues host open events — barbecues, bouncy castles, petting zoos, face painting, live entertainment, and more. This is the best day to discover your league, meet your neighbours, and get your membership. EFCL Community League Day.

Five new leagues in three years: The system is still growing. Five new community leagues were established in the last three years, reflecting Edmonton’s expansion into new suburban communities.

How Community Leagues Are Run

Every community league is an independent, volunteer-run, non-profit organization registered under Alberta’s Societies Act. They are governed by an elected board of directors. Common positions include President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Communications, Social Events, and Sports Coordinator.

How to get involved:

• Buy a membership (step one)

• Attend a monthly league meeting (they’re open to all members)

• Volunteer for events, sports coaching, rink maintenance, or other needs

• Run for a board position at the annual general meeting

Time commitment varies from a few hours a month to seasonal bursts (rink maintenance in winter is the biggest volunteer need). If you’re a newcomer building Canadian experience, volunteer board positions are excellent for your resume. EFCL Volunteer Opportunities.

Community leagues are one of the things that make Edmonton genuinely different from other Canadian cities. For $25 a year, you get financial savings, recreation access, and — most importantly — a community.

For more on what makes Edmonton unique for movers, check our full Edmonton location page. For neighbourhood safety data, see our EPS crime guide. Ready to plan your move? Get a free quote.