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Rendering of a bright indoor gym with basketball hoops and wooden flooring, overlaid with white line-art figures playing various sports, including basketball, volleyball, tennis, and a seated workout.

South End Community Centre (SECC)

We’re planning programs and activities for the South End Community Centre and want to hear from you! Share your ideas on what programs you want to see and when you want to see them offered in the new recreation centre. 

Tell us about: 

  • What programs you would like to participate in 
  • How you might use the space beyond city programming 
  • When you would like to participate 
  • How we can make participation easier and more welcoming for you 


About the new community centre 

The South End Community Centre (SECC) is a 160,000 square foot facility with twin ice pads, aquatic centre with an eight-lane lap pool and leisure pool, double gymnasium, walking track, fitness centre and studio and multi-purpose rooms. Community members will also have access to outdoor recreation spaces, including natural play areas and community gardens. The community centre is located immediately south of Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School on Poppy Drive connecting with the existing South End Community Park and Larry Pearson baseball diamonds. 

How can I participate right now?

Complete our survey between November 26 and March 1 to tell us about: 

  • Registered and drop in programs you want to see 
  • What new or emerging recreation activities should we consider 
  • When is the best time to schedule programs to meet the needs of you and your household  
  • How can we make the space and programs more welcoming and easier for you to use 


We’ll also be out in the community talking with people in schools, other community spaces, at events and hosting meetings with users.  Watch for our team and visit us throughout December and January. 

Further reading

Phases

Phases overview
Survey
Focused conversations
Reviewing and planning program opportunities
Preparing to open!

Focused conversations

March 2, 2026 - April 10, 2026

Thank you everyone for sharing your experience, ideas and thoughts with us. We heard from over 600 people between our online surveys, workshops and community pop-ups!

While we review and understand what you've shared with us already, we are continuing the conversation with some focused groups. We want to make sure we hear ideas from communities across Guelph who did not already engage with us, so we are inviting some groups to conversations to fill in those gaps for us.

If you are not part of our focus groups but still wish to share information with us, please email recreation@guelph.ca with your thoughts.

We'll be combining all of the information from the first phase of engagement with these focused conversations to get a full picture of the programming needs for the South End community Centre. We'll be sure to share back a report on everything we've heard.