Our building and park
Dovercourt Recreation Centre is located adjacent to the City of Ottawa’s Westboro Kiwanis Park, which features a wading pool, playing field, tennis court, and playgrounds for preschool and school-aged children. In the winter, a rink and puddle are available for skating. Free parking is available in our parking lot.
Our upstairs lobby
Everyone is welcome to visit and relax in our upstairs lobby, which features new, comfortable sofas, chairs, and tables, an electric fireplace and small bookshelf/ library. If your kids are in swim lessons, you can have a seat on stools that overlook the downstairs pool. Bring your own device and connect to our free public wifi. The Linda Street Art Gallery at Dovercourt features monthly exhibits by local artists. The lobby is well-used during the day by fitness clients, students from nearby schools and neighbours. Our downstairs lobby, located outside the changerooms, also has comfortable seating, a coffee machine, and beverage and snack vending machines.
Cafe
The Cafe is located upstairs in the lobby of the Dovercourt Recreation Centre. It offers a takeout counter with prepared foods, e.g. pasta, salads and sandwiches as well as confectionary favourites, beverages etc.
Cafe hours: Monday, to Friday: 10am – 5:00pm.
Our downstairs lobby has vending machines for snacks when the Cafe is closed. For coffee, see below.
Bean to Cup coffee machines
Craving a specialty coffee while at the ‘court? Check out our new Jiffy Barista machines in the upstairs and downstairs lobby, available whenever the Centre is open. They offer a range of hot drinks including hot chocolate, chai lattes, salted caramel, hazelnut, and espresso-based drinks like lattes, french vanilla with espresso, bold coffee (formerly Americanos, now Canadianos) and more. Tap to pay or use coins.
Battery recycling
We accept all types of batteries in our battery recycling bin, located just inside the downstairs entrance at Dovercourt.
Lost & Found
Lost something? Items that are left behind are tagged and dated, then placed in the bins or on hangers at our downstairs entrance. After 3 weeks, they are donated. Check for valuables (keys, phones, jewelry, glasses, watches etc) at the Customer Service desk.
Magazine Racks
Our upstairs and downstairs entrances have racks for local publications like Ottawa Parenting Times, Kitchissippi Times community newspaper, Ottawa Business Journal and more.
Pro Shop
Did you know we sell swim diapers and Vorgee swim goggles? Stop by our downstairs Customer Service desk and we’ll help you find the right pair. Bonus: we’ve recently lowered goggle prices.
AED devices & Naloxone
We have public access AED/ defibrillator devices at our upstairs and downstairs levels. Defibrillators are devices that apply an electric charge or current to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat. If the heart rhythm stops due to cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a defibrillator may help it start beating again.
Our first aid kits also have Naloxone for accidental overdoses.
Accessibility and Inclusion
All abilities are welcome! Dovercourt is committed to the inclusion of people with special needs in all of our programs and services. Please make us aware of any issues of medication, mobility, or other resources that you or your child may need to participate at the time of registration. Read more >
Free Wifi
For those with laptops and other devices that have wireless Internet capability, we offer a free hot spot for you at Dovercourt. Connect from almost anywhere in the centre!
Financial Assistance
As a registered charity, Dovercourt is committed to ensuring that its programs and services are available to all in our community. While we strive to make our programs affordable, sometimes families and individuals may need financial assistance to help cover program costs. Please see our Register page for the application.
Rentals
When our rooms are not in use by our programs, we make them available to the public or not for profit groups for meetings. See more info on our rentals webpage
Allergy Alert
Dovercourt is an allergy aware facility, so please identify any items that may cause an anaphylactic reaction for you or your child. While we will ask that these items not be brought to individual camps and programs, due to the number of people visiting our centre on a daily basis, we cannot ban substances that may cause allergic reactions from the centre as a whole. Staff is trained in the administration of epi-pens in the event of an emergency.
Emergency Reception Centre
Dovercourt Recreation Centre has been designated an emergency reception centre by the City of Ottawa. In the event of a major disaster requiring evacuation, Dovercourt and its staff and volunteers will provide registration, shelter, food and care for our community and others. Should this occur, all regular programs and services will be suspended.
Our Facility Team
Our maintenance team works together with the City of Ottawa staff (our landlord!) to provide a clean, safe and friendly space for you and your family to learn, relax and play. With over 400,000 visits a year, this can be really challenging, but we are dedicated to making Dovercourt your home away from home.
Wading Pools
In the summer months, we operate the wading pools at Westboro Kiwanis (at Dovercourt) Park as well as at McKellar Park and Woodroffe. See our Programs Flyers & Schedules page for the Summer Rec Swim schedule for details.
Our rink: Winter fun on ice
In the winter, come out and enjoy our outdoor rink at Dovercourt (Westboro Kiwanis Park). You can join in a game of pickup or glide around in the crisp winter air.
The rink trailer is available during the following hours for changing your boots/ skates:
Mon-Fri: 2 pm to 8 pm
Sat and Sun: 10 am to 6 pm.
Please ensure your belongings have been removed by the end-time each day, as the rink shack will be locked.
If you would like to volunteer to clear snow or flood at Dovercourt/ Westboro Kiwanis Park, please contact Tim at thunt@dovercourt.org.
Please note: At the Westboro rink, the puddle is for free skating. Please keep the sticks and pucks inside the boards.
The McKellar rink is now run by the McKellar Park Hosers, a community organization. If you’d like to volunteer, they can be reached at admin@mckellarparkhosers.ca
Their website is: www.mckellarparkhosers.ca
