Check daily for more gym space and pool lanes over the holidays!

More gym space and open swim lanes will be available over the holidays. Please be sure to check our daily schedule often for additional openings!

Open Gym Space Available Saturday December 11th

We are pleased to offer some additional open gym times for Saturday, December 11th.

6am – 9am (basketball and Badminton)
9am – 11am ( Badminton 2 courts)
11am – 3pm (basketball and badminton)

Thank you!

Holiday Hours

TALISMAN CENTRE HOLIDAY HOURS:

December 24th 5:00am to 5:00pm
December 25th CLOSED
December 31st 5:00am to 5:00pm
January 1st 7:00am to 10:00pm

Enjoy the holidays!

Reduction in Parking November 26 – November 28 for crane removal

Please note that from Friday, November 26 to Sunday, November 28 our available parking will be greatly reduced to remove the cranes. We will open up more stalls as they become available and by end of day Sunday, November 28 all current parking stalls will be open.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Courtesy Pass Update

Starting January 1, 2011 only this pass will be accepted for free admission:



Please be sure to use up any older passes you may have by December 31, 2010.

Thank you!

GIve the Gift of Fitness...

... to someone on your list! Or get a head start on your New Year's Resolutions!

• 13 months for the price of 12 on all annual memberships
• 12 Days of Fitness Pass – 12 admissions for the price of 10
• Gift certificates in $50 and $100 denominations

For more information go to talismancentre.com/holiday2010

We're Hiring!

Serious about a career in sport and fitness?
Then we’re serious about you. Calgary’s sport and fitness historic landmark is re-opening, and we need to fill it with people like you! Over 1.5 million visitors train here every year, and we need a big team of dedicated professionals to make that happen. From frontline staff to leadership positions, fitness centre employees to lifeguards – whatever your passion, there could be a position for you at Talisman Centre.

Go to talismancentre.com/career for current opportunities.

Open Gym Space Available Saturday November 6th

We are pleased to offer some open Gym times for this Saturday, November 6th. Please check the daily schedule for available times.

Thank you!

Group Fitness Classes Cancelled - November 11, 2010

Please be aware that due to the Remembrance Day Holiday, all Group Fitness classes will be cancelled November 11, 2010. This includes the following classes:

• Yoga (6:30am)
• Cardio Kickboxing (10:00am)
• Group Power (12:05pm)Yoga (1:15pm)
• Cycling (5:00pm)
• Yoga (8:00pm)

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Early Closure November 27

Please note we will be closing at 5:00pm on Saturday, November 27th for our employee holiday event.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Remembrance Day Hours

Due to the Remembrance Day holiday on Thursday, November 11th, Talisman Centre will be operating under its "Holiday Hours" schedule:
7:00AM to 10:00PM

We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

50-metre open lanes now available

Effective October 21, 2010 we are pleased to offer 50-metre lane swimming open to the public Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5:00am - 8:30am.

Thank you!

Change to Sunday Yoga Time

Please note there has been a change to the start time of our Sunday Yoga Class. Starting Sunday October 24th Yoga will start at 11:15am (instead of 11:00am). This does not affect the times of any other Yoga classes during the week.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sandblasting and Painting: Sept. 28/29/30, 2010

Dominion Construction is sandblasting on September 28th in the construction yard starting around 8am. As we cannot predict the wind in advance we have closed off a larger portion of the parking lot. Once the crew is set up and the wind verified the closed section will reduce to a more reasonable space. Painting will take place outside on Wednesday, September 29th and Thursday, September 30th, and may also require a temporary reduction in available parking space.

The parking lot will return to its previous capacity by October 1st.

Basketball time reduction for remainder of 2010

Please note there has been a reduction in available basketball drop-in times for the remainder of 2010.  Click here for the most up-to-date schedule. We look forward to offering more much availability after re-opening the main three gyms in 2011.

Temporary aquatic schedule adjustment

We are unable to offer 50-metre swimming lanes from 5:00am – 8:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until after October 4th, 2010.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause!

Fall Registration Begins!

Fall registration has officially begun at Talisman Centre! So if you have been waiting to try ETS, or have been thinking about enlisting the help of a Nutritionist or a Personal Trainer (or both!), then head over to our online registration portal and take a look at what's coming up this fall.

Note: To register online, you will need a Client Barcode and an Account PIN. To get those things, just call customer service at (403) 233-8393 and they'll be glad to help you out!

Thanks for the Vote!

Fast Forward Weekly has published their annual "Best of Calgary" issue, and for the 12th time, Talisman Centre has been voted "Calgary's Best Fitness Facility"! Thank you to everyone who voted in FFWD's poll, we love you too!

We're Listening: Results of the Customer Pulse Survey

We’re Listening.

In March 2010, we asked you how we could be better. You told us, and we’ve heard you!

The five areas that were of most concern were:
Equipment in the Fitness Centre   •   Cleanliness of the facility   •   Prices   •   The Pool

Equipment in the Fitness Centre
Space: Due to our space restrictions in 2010, we have moved equipment closer together in order to accommodate our customers. The distance between equipment is now comparable to the standard spacing found in most facilities, which was unnecessary when we had the luxury of more space.

Variety: The selection of equipment that would be available during 2010 was carefully chosen after a study of usage patterns and a consultation with over 50 customers.

Cleanliness
Some concerns were dusty floors, wet towels, insufficient spray bottles, and general lack of cleanliness. The following steps have been taken:

• Extra custodial staff are on duty
• Additional spray bottles have been distributed
• Towel rotation has been increased significantly

Prices
Several customers have felt that with reduced space in the facility, the price of admission should likewise be reduced. However, many customers have not had their routine disrupted at all by the closure. Neverthelsess, we have offered a number of options (including temporary membership suspension) to anyone who felt they were not getting the value they wanted at Talisman Centre in 2010.

The Pool
In response to your feedback, the following measures have been taken:

• Additional tables on the pool deck by the showers
• Towel/clothing hooks near showers and beside hot tubThe dry (no-shower) change rooms are checked more frequently, and mopped if needed
• Hair dryer added to the women’s change room

Thank you for your feedback! Keep telling us how we can serve you better!

Congratulations Hailey!

Hailey Casper holding her award.

A big congrats to Hailey Casper, who was recognized as the 2009 Alberta Junior Female Athlete of the Year for diving! Our dive tank may be closed for 2010, but Hailey has always been a fixture on our dive tower. She belongs to Dive Calgary, one of Talisman Centre's valued Sport Partners.

The award was bestowed by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation, and is in recognition of the Hailey's many remarkable achievements in her sport. She distinguished herself in a number of national and international competitions last year, including a bronze medal in three-metre synchro diving at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, along with her synchro partner Mandy Moran. (The pair snagged another bronze medal in the three-metre synchro event at the FINA Canada Cup in Montreal.)

Hailey won the gold medal at the Junior Nationals in Victoria last July, and was the Team Alberta flag bearer at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island, where she won another gold medal and set a Canada Games record with 290.55 points. She placed an impressive fifth against the best divers from eight countries at the Junior Pan Am Championships held at Talisman Centre last year.

Hailey is an immensely talented diver, with her sights set on a spot on the Canadian National Team. We can't wait to have her back diving in Talisman Centre, and wish her continued success!

Temporary Hot Tub Closure: June 3rd 2010

Please Note: The Hot Tub at Talisman Centre will be closed on Thursday, June 3rd from 7:00AM to 4:00PM for routine cleaning and maintenance.

90 Days of Summer!

Summer has come once again to Calgary, and Talisman Centre is celebrating with a special 90 Days of Summer pass available from now until June 30!

Your Summer Pass will allow you access to Talisman Centre’s 25,000 square feet of cardio and weight training space, two gymnasiums (for basketball, badminton, volleyball, etc.) and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. You’ll also be welcome to attend any of Talisman Centre’s exceptional drop-in group fitness classes at no additional charge, like Yoga, Group Power, Cardio Kickbox, Deep-Water Fitness, and Power Cycling.

• Adult: $199
• Student/Youth/Senior: $159
• Couple/Family/Group Home: $359

Exclusive to this special 3-month pass is a 20% discount on Talisman Centre’s state-of-the-art Endurance Training Systems (ETS) testing*.

To get your 90-day pass, swing by Talisman Centre, or call (403) 233-8393.

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* Talisman Centre is equipped to perform blood lactate testing, an advanced method of assessing and monitoring your body's response to training. We will also determine your VO₂ Max aerobic capacity, which will tell you how your body transports and uses oxygen during a workout. The results of these tests can be used to create specific power and heart rate zones that will help you maximize your training program, and tell you what kind of training will be most effective for your physiology.

50 metre public lane swim M/W/F mornings!

From 5:00AM to 8:30AM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, one 50m lane is now available to the public for swimming!

Lane Size Alert: Olympic Water Polo Team at TC

The Canadian Men's Olympic Water Polo Team, who competed in the Olympics last year, are preparing for the upcoming Canadian Senior Nationals (May 27th to 30th) and for the Italian Open (July 20-26). To accommodate their requirement of a 30-metre pool, public swimming will be reduced to 20 metres on the following dates/times:

• Saturday May 15th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
• Saturday May 22nd from 5:30pm to 9:00pm

We regret any inconvenience, and wish our national Men's Water Polo Team the best of luck!

No admittance 30 minutes before closing

Talisman Centre closes at 11:00pm during the week, and 10:00pm on weekends and holidays. In order to ensure we are able to close the facility safely and on-time, there is no admittance to the building 30 minutes before closing. This means that no new customers will be admitted after 10:30pm on weekdays or after 9:30pm on weekends and holidays. We appreciate your cooperation!

Former TC badminton instructor best in Canada!

A former Talisman Centre badminton instructor, Simeon Samuel, recently placed 2nd at the 2010 Canadian Masters Badminton Championships in the 65+ age category! Simeon can still be seen during the week here at Talisman Centre honing his skills. (His son, Marlon, is also a skilled badminton player, and also a former instructor at Talisman Centre.)

Congratulations Simeon on your incredible achievement!

Eye on Construction

Keep an eye on construction on our construction camera page. Click the images below to see them super-sized! (The 'close' button for the large images is on their top right corner.)

Under the Tent:


From the Parking Lot:


Bird's-Eye View:

Holiday Hours on Good Friday!

On Friday, April 2nd, Talisman Centre will be operating under our "holiday hours" schedule.

Holiday Hours at Talisman Centre: 7:00AM to 10:00PM

Fun Fact: Talisman Centre is closed only one day per year, December 25th!

Night Times

Our closing time is staying the same: 11:00 on weekdays, 10:00 on weekends and holidays. Normally, we lock our doors fifteen minutes prior to closing; that is, no one else can come in after 10:45 during the week or 9:45 on the weekends. Starting April 1st, Talisman Centre's doors will lock fifteen minutes earlier (i.e. at 10:30pm instead of 10:45, and 9:30pm on the weekend), and all customers will have to be out by 11:30pm (or 10:30pm on the weekend). This will allow our employees to close the facility for the night in a timely fashion, and get the rest they need to be cheerful and bright-eyed the next day!

A peek behind the curtain...

Here's a picture of what it's looking like today under the tent!

Which way?

On March 1st, when the main tented building of Talisman Centre closes, you will need to choose which entrance to use based on what you want to do!

Starting March 1st, if you are looking for Dryland, (gyms, fitness centre, etc.), you will need to enter at the North end of Talisman Centre.

If you are looking for Aquatics, you will need to enter at the South end of Talisman Centre.

A tunnel will lead through the building from the dryland side to the aquatic side, so you will be able to get from one side to the other without going outside if, for example, you like to swim after lifting weights.

When in doubt, just follow the signs!

Booster Club Sportsman of the Year!

Talisman Centre joins the Calgary Booster Club in congratulating this year's Sportsman of the Year award recipient: Frank Sisson!

Frank Sisson is the latest in a long line of distinguished Calgarians who have been honoured with the title of Sportsman of the Year. 2010 marks the 57th anniversary of this prestigious award.

Tickets on sale now for the Sportsman of the Year Dinner, March 16. Email info@calgaryboosterclub.com for details.

New Policies Effective March 1st, 2010

New Policies Effective March 1st, 2010
We encourage all our members to familiarize themselves with the following policies and guidelines, which will go into effect on March 1st. (On that day, the tented portion of Talisman Centre will close for the remainder of 2010, while the two annex buildings will remain open.)

GENERAL

• Parking lot will be monitored, and proof of facility use will be required for entry (ie. Membership card or pass).
• Members must bring valid membership card to access the facility, otherwise a drop-in fee will be charged.
• Drop-in users must provide ID for admission. 
• There is no drop-in admission Monday through Thursday between 4:30 and 7:30PM only. Drop-in admission is welcome any time before 4:30pm or after 7:30pm Monday through Thursday, or anytime during the weekend (Friday to Sunday). Members (including 10-card pass holders) may continue to use the facility during these times. (This policy has been implemented during our 2010 construction project to ensure that our members have access to the pools, gyms and fitness centre equipment during times of peak facility use.)
• Spectator access will be limited to parents and guardians of underage sport partner athletes. 
• Quarter lockers will not be available. Please bring your own lock, or purchase one at the Customer Service Desk.

AQUATICS

• No outdoor footwear on deck. Shoe covers are available if necessary.
• No changing on deck. 
• Showers will be available on the pool deck and everyone must shower before entering pool. 
• The most up-to-date information is posted to the online Daily Schedule.

FITNESS CENTRE AND GYMS

• The free-weight area in the Profile Room will be unavailable 30 minutes before and after a Yoga class.
• Space is limited for Group Fitness classes. Access cards will be available on a first-come, first- served basis 30 minutes prior to the class. (Your membership card or other ID will act as collateral in exchange for the class access card).
• The most up-to-date information is posted to the online Daily Schedule.

Please note: The tunnel linking the Aquatics and Dryland areas may be closed for ten to fifteen minutes at a time during high-risk construction activities. Thank you for your patience during these times.

Please check our weblog regularly for the most up-to-date information that may affect the quality of your workout!

Extra Swim Lanes Available this weekend!

Occasionally there are more swim lanes available for public use than we anticipate, and we encourage our members to check the daily schedule and this blog for the latest scheduling updates and information. This weekend, the public swim times are as follows:


Saturday, Feb 20th
6:00am to 10:00am – 8 lanes
11:30am to 10:00pm – 8 lanes

Sunday, Feb 21st
7:00am to 4:00pm – 8 lanes
4:00pm to 10:00pm – 4 lanes

Auction Interruptus

The auction, with less than 30 minutes left to go, was struck down by a server error that is out of our control. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and will look into extending the auction another day once the issue has been addressed. We recognize that extending the auction another day is not ideal, but it is the only fair solution in light of the situation. In the meantime, rest assured that you will have the opportunity to bid again before the auction officially closes.

Again, we apologize for this unforeseen and regrettable technological malfunction.

Auction Items you may have missed...

There are 11 items in the online Fitness Equipment Auction that have not yet received any bids! Check them out below, and get your bids in before 10:00PM on Wednesday, February 17th (tomorrow!)

• Seated Calf Raise Machine – minimum opening bid: $150  (Estimated value, used: $600)
• Shoulder Press – minimum bid: $100  (Estimated value, used: $600)
• Pec Fly Machine (Seated Pec/Rear Delt) – minimum opening bid: $300  (Estimated value, used: $1200)
• Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100  (Estimated value, used: $750)
• Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100  (Estimated value, used: $750)
• Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100  (Estimated value, used: $750)
• Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100  (Estimated value, used: $750)
• Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100  (Estimated value, used: $750)
• Life Fitness Cable-Cross Machine – minimum opening bid: $1800  (Estimated value, used: $3000)
• Life Fitness Cable-Cross Machine – minimum opening bid: $1800  (Estimated value, used: $3000)
• Free Motion Cable Machine – minimum opening bid: $2200  (Estimated value, used: $3500)

There are dozens of other items that are currently going for a great price! Take a look, and may the highest bidder win!

Foundation Lounge Closed Today (Feb. 16)

Temporary Closure for Tuesday, February 16th:

The Foundation Lounge is closed today due to construction. We anticipate that it will reopen in the late afternoon.

ALERT - NEW Access Points as of March 1, 2010

As of March 1, 2010 access via the Main Building (aka Tent) will be closed.   Please watch for the signs directing you to the NEW access points:

North Entrance: Located around the corner from Lifemark Health

South Entrance: Located at the Foundation Lounge

Traffic Circle: The Traffic Circle will also be re-directed to facilitate construction

Upcoming FITNESS CENTRE Updates

Watch for the following changes as final preparations are underway for the March 1, 2010 switch over to the two annexes:

Wednesday February 17 - Athletic Training Zone closes at 11pm

Thursday February 18 - Team Training Zone closes at 11pm

Tuesday February 23 - 11pm the Main Weight Room & Cardio Deck (surrounding Gym 3) close for the move

Friday February 26 - Group Fitness classes cancelled in the Gym due to equipment moves & the Keiser Bikes move out of the Profile Room

Saturday February 27 - Group Fitness classes cancelled in the Gym due to equipment moves

Sunday February 28 - Yoga is in the Profile Room

Talisman Centre Fitness Equipment Auction is online!

You may now visit the auction site and view the items up for bid! The auction site requires that interested bidders register, so that they can log in, place bids, and keep track of their bid history.

The auction begins today, Wednesday February 10th, and will run for seven days, ending at 10:00PM on Wednesday, February 17th. Good luck!

Winning bidders will be contacted by email to determine when they will pick-up their item at Talisman Centre. (Payment will be handled through PayPal. Please note that a PayPal account is not necessary in order to bid or pay; winning bidders can pay with a credit card through PayPal without creating an account with them.)

If you have any questions, contact us!

Construction Alert!

Effective Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 12:30pm
The Foundation Lounge Washrooms & Lower Lounge will be closed temporarily to facilitate construction work. Alternative washrooms are located on the Main Concourse near the Customer Service Desk.

Effective Wednesday, February 10, 2010 from 8am to 9am
There will be intermittent tunnel closures on the Aquatic side to facilitate construction work. The closures will each last for up to 15 minutes. The closure may require customers to wait on the pooldeck or in the changeroom until the tunnel is reopened, and access through the tunnel is restored.

Gyms 2 & 3 are open

Gym 3 and Gym 2 have reopened following a brief closure today due to roof condensation causing moisture on the floors. We can hardly wait until the new roof makes announcements like this unnecessary!

Equipment Auction starts Wednesday

The Fitness Centre auction is set to begin at 5:00AM on Wednesday, February 10th, and will close at 10:00PM Wednesday, February 17th. There will be many items up for bid, and many will be available at a "buy now" price! In anticipation of the event, here is a list of some of the items that will be featured in the auction:

• Life Fitness 95ti Treadmills
• Yellow Lemond Bikes
• Black Body Cycle Bikes
• Dumbbells
• Life Fitness Cable-Cross Machine
• Free Motion Cable Machine
• Aerobic Step-up and Risers
• Squat Rack
• Magnum Multi-Gym
• Bench Press
• Chin-up and Dip Bar
• Seated Calf Raise Machine
• Shoulder Press
• Incline Bench
• Pec Fly Machine (Seated Pec/Rear Delt)

Get ready, because the fun begins on Wednesday!

Ripped-A-Thon

As many of you know, Talisman Centre's popular Get Ripped! group fitness class is going on hiatus during the 2010 facility enhancement project. (The classes will still be available elsewhere in Calgary, and details can be found here.)

To say goodbye, Talisman Centre is hosting a three-hour Ripped-A-Thon fundraiser on February 15th, from 9:00AM to 12 Noon!

The event will act as a fundraiser for "Inn From the Cold", and in addition to the $12.50 registration fee payable at the Customer Service Desk, we're asking participants to bring some canned goods to donate. In fact, those canned goods will act as your weights during the Ripped-A-Thon, so make sure you bring what you can lift!

See one of the friendly employees at the Customer Service Desk at Talisman Centre for more details, and to register to participate in the Ripped-A-Thon. See you there!

Construction Update Roundup!

Crane Technique: Preparations are moving forward for the placement of the construction cranes outside the building.

In Through the Out Door: Construction is underway creating the two temporary Customer Service Desk entrances in the Foundation Lounge and in the Fitness Centre.

Traffic Stop: The traffic circle on the south end of the building will be closed as of March 1st, 2010.

Go with the flow: The temporary showers for the pool deck are being designed and will be ready to flow on March 1st 2010.

Stay tuned to the blog to keep up-to-date with all the latest news and information about Talisman Centre!

Auction Action! Feb 10 -17!

Starting February 10th, and running through to the 17th, the Fitness Centre auction will go live on www.talismancentre.com! This online auction will allow anyone to bid on super-great (albeit slightly used) equipment that the Fitness Centre no longer requires. Get your bids in and your wallets out! (I'll warn you right now, though: No amount of equipment in your basement is going to give you that je ne sais quoi, one-of-a-kind "Talisman Centre Feeling" that you get from coming to the Fitness Centre.)

Stay tuned for dates and details, including a list of all the items up for bid, which will be posted soon!

Drop-in fee on Sunday donated to Haiti Relief

On Sunday, January 31st, from 7:00AM to 10:00PM, buy a drop-in admission at Talisman Centre and help relief efforts in Haiti. 100% of your drop-in admission fee that day will be donated to The Canadian Red Cross. If you come to Talisman Centre that day, you will be given the option of paying the discounted drop-in rate (part of our last-Sunday-of-the-month 1983 pricing promotion), or paying the full drop-in amount and having your donation to the Red Cross be that much more generous.

Invite your family and friends to Talisman Centre on Sunday, January 31st, and let's help The Canadian Red Cross with its important humanitarian mission.

Canadian Red Cross

The Red Cross emblem is universally recognized as a symbol of protection and neutrality. Use of the emblem is reserved in Canada by law for the exclusive use of The Canadian Red Cross Society and for the military's medical service during armed conflicts. All other uses are strictly prohibited, except with the express consent of the Canadian Red Cross.

Childcare winding up in February

The last day of childcare in 2010 will be February 15th. We anticipate that Childcare will return to Talisman Centre in 2011 after the tented portion reopens!

Parking Alert for the morning of Tuesday, January 19

Tuesday January 19th Dominion Construction will be extending their blue barricaded area. This will impact the parking on the North side of the main entrance towards Lifemark. Our parking will be reduced by approx 20 stalls. This will only be for tomorrow morning only and the parking should be back to normal by 1:00pm.

Track #2 will be unavailable through 2010.

Talisman Centre's main track, the one that circles Gyms 1, 2 and 3, is closing with the rest of the tented portion of Talisman Centre at the end of February.

Track #2 is located in the Dr. Neville Lindsay building, and it will also be closed effective March 1, 2010 until construction ends. Why is this happening, you may ask? Three reasons:

1. Activities are planned for gyms 4 and 5 (around which the track runs) that, for health and safety reasons, are not conducive to having runners/walkers on the adjacent track.
2. Equipment will be stored inside the track area, blocking the paths of would-be track-users.
3. Spectators and other participants in gyms 4 and 5 will require the space due to court lines.

Your Q and A's for the week of January 18

Q. Is the cost of a locker rental going up this year?
A. No. Lockers can be used for 25 cents for the remainder of 2010. We are expecting the new lockers that will be in place in 2011 to accept dollar coins.

Q. Where can we park other than the main parking lot?
A. There is no official offsite parking for Talisman Centre customers, although we encourage people to use public transit, if that is a viable option for them. The good news is that we're going to have more parking spaces available than we thought we were, so we don't expect parking at Talisman Centre to be a problem. We are finalizing an arrangement that would allow Talisman Centre employees to park elsewhere, which would further relieve any strain on our lot.

Q. Will we have to walk through the weight room to access the change rooms once the main entrances are closed?
A. Yes, if you enter on the "dryland" side of the building. Both the dryland and aquatic sides of the building will be accessible to one another via hoarding, but depending on the side you enter, you will need to pass through the weight room in order to get to the change rooms.

Email your questions to:  info@talismancentre.com

Extra Public Lane Swim this weekend!

Due to some cancellations, we are now happy to offer the following additional Public Lane Swim times this weekend:

Friday, January 15th

5:00am – 7:30am  -  2 lanes

7:30am – 4:00pm  -  4 lanes

5:30pm – 11:00pm  -  4 lanes

Saturday, January 16th

6:00am – 8:00am  -  8 lanes

10am – 11:30am  -  4 lanes

11:30am – 10pm  -  8 lanes

Always check our daily schedules for the latest information!

Your 2010 Questions Answered!

Q: What is happening with the water that is being drained from the aquatic side?
A: The project team worked with the City of Calgary regarding the water disposal from the pools. A number of recycling options were proposed and evaluated. The pool water prior to draining has been treated to lower the chlorine level. The pool water is being drained into the sanitary sewer system which then flows into one of the three City of Calgary Wastewater Treatment plants.

Q: How can I access the pooldeck from the Family Caregiver Changrooms?
A: Direct access onto the pooldeck from the Family Caregiver Changerooms has been closed off as the pool area is now considered a construction zone. To access the pooldeck, you will need to go through the Men’s or Women’s Public Locker Rooms. In cases where travel requires the accompaniment of a different gender, please contact the Customer Service Desk on the Main Concourse and we will be happy to assist you. In the near future, there will be a covered safety walkway constructed to provide you with direct access to the training pool.

Q: What is happening with the 10-card pass and drop-in admissions in 2010?
A: The 10-card pass is considered a "membership" category and yes we are still selling 10-card passes in 2010. The 10-card pass will permit access after 3pm. The “No drop-in admission after 3pm” and cessation of late rate applies starting March 1, 2010.

Q: What is happening with the Executive Locker Rooms?
A: The Executive Locker Rooms will close as scheduled on January 31, 2010 to begin preparation for the transition to temporary locker room space in 2010. The public locker rooms will remain open until it is time to start renovations.

Q: What is happening with Café Sante?
A: As of January 1, 2010, Café Santé is operating with reduced hours and operating hours may vary depending on the volume of sales. In addition, the Café Team is working to creatively utilize the food inventory so the menu selection may not always be available as posted. Café Santé is scheduled to close on Friday, February 12, 2010.

Send your 2010 questions to info@talismancentre.com!

Ripped! at Fitness Plus in 2010

As many of you are aware, starting on Monday, February 15th we are unable to offer our popular Ripped drop-in fitness class at Talisman Centre. This is due to our 2010 construction project, which means that Ripped will be on hiatus at Talisman Centre until 2011, but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy your Ripped workouts in 2010! To find out more about your options at Fitness Plus locations in Calgary, download the special PDF or visit our Ripped info page.

Childcare Hours for the Months of Jan/Feb

For the months of January and February 2010, childcare must be accessed via the doors outside the Riverview room on the north side of our building.

We will be observing all regular hours of operation for the month of January:

Monday to Friday 8:45am to 3pm
Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5pm-8pm (Last evenings Jan 25&27)
Saturdays from 10am-2pm
Sundays from 9:45am -2pm



Unfortunately, due to the approaching start of our renovations and a decline in demand, our evening hours will NOT be available during the month of February. We apologize for any inconvienence this may cause.

For the month of February, our hours of operation will be:

Monday to Friday 8:45am to 3pm
Saturdays from 10am-2pm
Sundays from 9:45am -2pm


Our Last day for Childcare Will be February 15 2010. This is a holiday and it is also the last day for the Ripped class. We anticipate it may be busy on this day so if you are considering coming in
we suggest that you prebook you child's spot to avoid any disappointment.



If you have any questions or concerns please contact our Customer Service Desk, or you may phone Childcare directly at 403-355-1273. Thank you!

The 2010 Fitness Centre Shuffle

Here is a brief summary of the most recent changes in the Fitness Centre:

Free Weights:
This area is now located mostly in the Fit Zone (lower level)
·         3 or the 4 racks of heavy dumbbells have been relocated to the fitness zone (lower level) beside the mechanical room

One rack of free weights remains beside the stairs in the main weight room (beside the gyms) leading to the cardio deck.

Plate Loaded & Weight Stack Machines:
·         We have moved a selection of machines into the fit zone (lower level) from the main weight room (beside the gyms).  There are specific chest, back, leg areas and the cable machines have moved to beside the stairs leading to the mezzanine.

Squat Rack / Smith Machines:
·         One squat rack & one smith machine have moved into the area where the blue stretching mats were located.  We hope to move another squat rack into that location in the next 6 weeks.

Stretching Area:
·         The main stretching area is now located in the main weight room (beside the gyms).  This is a temporary location and a permanent one will be in place in the Fit Zone in the next 6 weeks.
·         Adjustable mat – this is temporarily located by the elevator in the Fit Zone (lower level).  This will move in the next 6 weeks to beside the waterfall wall (currently beside the fitness centre desk).

Adapted Equipment:
·         Parallel bars – now located in front of the waterfall wall (beside the fitness centre desk)
·         Hand bike & hand/foot bike – now located in front of the waterfall wall (beside the fitness centre desk)
·         Adjustable mat – this is temporarily located by the elevator in the Fit Zone (lower level).  This will move in the next 6 weeks to beside the waterfall wall (currently beside the fitness centre desk).
·         Equalizer – this is now located beside the pillar by the stairs leading to the mezzanine.

Where to find answers about 2010?

Talisman Centre is looking different every day as our 2010 construction project continues to ramp up! Maybe your regular routine has been interrupted, or maybe you're barely noticing a difference. Either way, here's a refresher on the best places to get your 2010 info.

1. The Blog. First of all, the fact that you're reading this means you know about our blog. That's good, because the day-to-day updates and alerts about the project that may impact you will be posted here first. So if this is your first time reading the blog, keep coming back!
2. The Guide. Secondly, when it comes to programs and services, you should really take a look at our 2010 Guide. It has virtually everything you need to know about programs and services being offered this year.
3. The Site. Third, a great resource are our Q&A's. These are organized by topic, and can be found on our dedicated 2010 site: www.talismancentre.com/2010. (There's a tab for it at the top of this page, next to the "Blog" tab.) The Q&A's are updated frequently, and in addition to the blog, should answer all of the most frequently asked questions.

But what if you still want to know more? More details? More about the construction process, or even why it's happening? If you can't find satisfaction with any of the above methods, than this contact list is for you. These are the people, phone numbers, email addresses and websites where you may direct your questions and/or concerns, depending on their nature:

Questions about Talisman Centre's Facility Upgrade:
Call: 3-1-1
E-mail: 3-1-1contactus@calgary.ca
You can also visit the City of Calgary's Talisman Centre Page

Talisman Centre customer/operations inquiries:
Call: 403-233-8393
E-mail: info@talismancentre.com (or use our handy contact form)
Visit www.talismancentre.com/2010

Media inquiries on Talisman Centre operations:
Robin Mitchell
President & Chief Operating Officer of Talisman Centre
ph: 403-233-8393

Why is the Steam Room closed?

As of January 1, 2010, the aquatic side of the tent has been closed to the public to prepare for the facility enhancement project.

We have been asked why the steam room is no longer available.  The steam room is closed for three reasons:

1. As of January 1, 2010 there are no lifeguards scheduled in the competition pool area as it is now considered a construction zone.

2. Power to the steam room is being cut and redirected to accommodate the roof work.

3. We couldn't guarantee consistent and regulated heating, ie. the steam room would either be too hot or too cold.

Thank you for your understanding as we undergo this process.