Book a school gymnasium

Schools Gymnasiums are available to rent outside of regular school hours to registered non profit organizations and not for profit groups. School gymnasiums are classified depending on the caretaking status at the school. Pricing will vary depending on the caretaking status at a school.

Please note: individuals are not permitted to book school gymnasiums for personal use, such as birthday parties, weddings, funerals, etc.

Step 1 – Review rental rates and payment terms

Rental rates for gymnasiums vary based on facility caretaking status, adult or minor bookings and day of the week.

What is caretaking status and why does it affect the weeknight rental rate?

Some schools have a regularly-scheduled evening caretaker and some do not.

Full caretaking: Schools with a regularly-scheduled evening caretaker.
Single caretaking (1-C): Schools without a regularly-scheduled evening caretaker. These require overtime to provide weekday evening rentals and, therefore, have a higher fee.

Rental rates

Weeknight rates

Gymnasium / Cafeteria	Minors	Adults
Full caretaking	$35.30/hr	$55.12/hr
Single caretaking (1-C)	$93.39/hr	$93.39/hr

*Classrooms & non-public spaces	Full caretaking	Single caretaking
Classrooms (each set of 1-7)	$46.92 /hr	$93.39 /hr
Specialty Non-Public Spaces: Library, Gathering Area, Teachers’ Lounge, etc.	$46.92 /hr	$93.39 /hr

*Classrooms, Cafeteria & Non-Public Spaces will require a Principal's Signature. These fees aren't differentiated by adult or minor

Weekend/stat holiday rates

(All Ages & Caretaking Status)	Weekend	Stat Holiday
Gyms recreational & non-recreational	$111.63 /hr	$115.37 /hr
Cafeteria	$111.63 /hr	$115.37 /hr
Classrooms (each set of 7)	$111.63 /hr	$115.37 /hr
Specialty Non-Public Spaces: Library, Gathering Area, Teachers’ Lounge, etc.	$111.63 /hr	$115.37 /hr

Summer/winter/spring break rates

Day Camps	Minors Only
Day Camps (Mon – Thurs, 8 am – 4 pm) School Board Approval Required	$45.87 /hr
Day Camps (Fri – Sun) School Board Approval Required	$102.87 /hr

Extra Fees - all bookings per space

Additional fees (in addition to rental rates)	Fee (per space)
*Food & beverage – single/full caretaking	$110.30
Chair setup – over 200 chairs	$83.94
Special event fee	$86.56
Direct overtime caretaking for special events	Determined by School Board on case-by-case basis

*Food & beverage require a principal's signature

A $4.75 risk management fee is applied to each permit.
_{*Effective Jan. 1, 2025, this fee will increase to $5.75.}

Step 2 – Browse school gymnasium locations and availability

Check calgary.ca/liveandplay for gymnasium availability.

Consider two or three potential dates and gym locations. You will need to identify your choices by the name of the school, date and time.

Elementary gymnasiums: Mon. – Fri. from 6:15 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Junior high school gymnasiums: Mon. – Fri. from 6:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
High school gymnasiums: Mon. – Fri. from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
All gymnasiums, weekends: 8:00 am – midnight.

It is the group’s responsibility to confirm that the gym size, ceiling height, courts, volleyball nets and standards and any requested school equipment are suitable for their needs. To view the gymnasium or rental space, call the schools main office to make an appointment.

Step 3 – Review conditions and regulations

Review the rental terms and conditions page.
Review the rules and regulations page.

Step 4 – Check booking timelines

Timelines

Booking applications can only be processed and confirmed for the current booking session.
For new request submissions, please allow for 30 days prior to the first booking, due to processing time.
Submissions for Public Day must be submitted beginning at 8:30 a.m. If you submit an application prior to 8:30 a.m. on Public Day, your request will be denied and closed.

Timelines 2024–25	Details
Jun 3 – Jun 7, 2024	Renewal permits for the fall/winter session will be emailed to qualifying groups.
Jun 14, 2024	Deadline for groups to make amendments/cancellations without incurring a $10.50 cancellation fee.
Jun 19, 2024	Minors-only Public Day (requesting weeknights 6:15–8 p.m.). One day only for the fall/winter session. Minors-only applications submitted June 20–24, 2024 will not be considered. Applications will be closed, and customers can re-submit on or after June 24, 2024.
July 9, 2024	Public Day for all groups booking during the fall/winter session.
Jul – Aug 2024	Summer break CBE, CSSD & French schools not available.
Sep 9, 2024	First day of bookings for the fall/winter 2024 session at all schools.
Nov 21, 2024	Deadline to request applications/amendments for fall 2024. Payments and cancellation requests require 30 days’ notice.
Nov 21, 2024	Deadline for applications/amendments for bookings that occur in Jan., 2025.
Dec 2–6, 2024	Renewal permits for the spring 2025 session will be emailed to qualifying groups.
Dec 2–13, 2024	Deadline for groups to make cancellations to the spring 2025 permits without incurring a $10.50 cancellation fee.
Dec 20, 2024	Last day of bookings for the fall 2024 session for all school boards.
Dec 20, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025	Winter Holiday Break (CCSD Schools Not Available)
Dec 21, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025	Winter Holiday Break (CBE Schools Not Available)
Jan 8, 2025	Minors-only Public Day (requesting weeknights 6:15 –8 p.m.). One day only for the spring 2025 session. Minors-only applications submitted from Jan. 9–15, 2025 will not be considered. Applications will be closed, and customers can resubmit on or after Jan. 15, 2025
Jan 15, 2025	All Public Day. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis for the spring 2025 session.
Mar 24- 28, 2025	Spring Holiday Break (CBE Schools Not Available)
Apr 18- 27, 2025	Spring Holiday Break (CCSD Schools Not Available)
May 21, 2025	Deadline to request applications/amendments for the spring 2025 session. Payments and cancellation requests require 30 days’ notice.
Jun 22, 2025	Last day of rentals for the spring 2025 session.
Jun 22 - Sep 2025	Summer break CBE, CSSD & French schools not available.

Renewal rights

A minimum number of bookings at the same location, time period and day of the week are required to obtain renewal rights:

10 days during fall/winter (Sept. – Mar.)
Six days during fall only (Sept. – Dec.)
Four days during either winter only (Jan. – Mar.) or spring only (Apr. – June)

Cancelled bookings may affect renewal rights if the total falls below the minimum requirement.

Renewals apply to the same session. Example: fall renews to fall, etc.

Renewals will automatically receive a permit the following session and applications are not required. Information on cancelling a renewal will be provided with the renewal permit.

Step 5 – Submit an application

To request a gymnasium rental, complete the online gymnasium application form.

Application requests for school rentals require a minimum of 30 days notice.

Special requests

What is considered special request?

Bringing in outside food or beverages.
Using non-public equipment (i.e., badminton nets, soccer nets).
Requesting times outside regular booking hours (i.e., school use nights, non-public hours, early start).
Requesting other school spaces (i.e., classrooms, gathering spaces).
Specific gym setup/accommodations.
Bringing in specialized equipment to support the use of events not listed on the online gymnasium application form.

Special requests require these additional steps before submitting the online gymnasium application:

Complete the Application/Approval for Use of School Facilities Form. Fill out only the sections on the form where you are requesting an approval.
Once the Application/Approval for Use of School Facilities Form. has been signed, fill out the online application form. Attach a copy of the approved Application/Approval for Use of School Facilities Form. to the completed online application and submit to our office for processing.
If you are adding an approval to an existing permit, please email a copy of the approved Application/Approval for Use of School Facilities Form. to facilitybooking@calgary.ca.

For questions contact Facility Bookings.

Ready-to-apply checklist

When you can mark each task completed, you’re ready to fill out the application form.

__ I've read and understand each of the terms and conditions for renting a school gymnasium:

__ I've selected a gymnasium and confirmed my preferred date and time is available.
__ I'm aware of the rental rates and when payment is due.
__ I'm applying on the correct date for a one-time rental.