L.I.F.E. Program

The City of Victoria’s Leisure Involvement For Everyone (L.I.F.E.) program improves access to recreation services and programs for individuals and families living on a low income. The City of Victoria and its regional partners are committed to ensuring residents have access and choices in their leisure opportunities.

Applications for the L.I.F.E. program are processed confidentially and on a first come, first served basis. 

The City of Victoria believes recreation contributes to one’s mental and physical health and encourages the development of healthier and stronger individuals and families. Eligible applicants will receive the following benefits and membership will be valid for two years. The two-year cycle begins upon approval date, not limited to January application:

• Unlimited free drop-in sessions at Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre. Membership passes must be scanned at time of drop-in admission.
• Unlimited access to drop-in public skating at Save-On Foods Memorial Arena.
• 52x free drop-in sessions annually to participating regional partners (see municipal recreation partners below). The 52 passes follow a regular calendar year, individuals will need to acquire a new sticker when a new year begins.
•  Credit toward registered programming. Credit allotment is for the two-year term. Credit can be used toward registration fees at Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre, or the Community Centres and Senior Centres found within the municipality.
  • $80 per preschooler (0-5yrs)
  • $120 per youth (6-18yrs)
  • $80 per adults (19yrs +)
• 50% off Regional Recreation Pass. L.I.F.E. pass holders have the option to purchase an Annual Regional Recreation Pass at 50% off instead of unlimited access to Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre. Credit can be used towards this purchase. The Regional Recreation Pass will need to be renewed following the one-year term.

• Only City of Victoria permanent residents may apply for the program. This includes all family members/dependants residing at the same address.
• Applicants must have lived in the City of Victoria for the previous 30 days and be able to demonstrate residency within the City.

• Income must be at or below the Statistics Canada low-income threshold to qualify:
   

  # In Household	Combined Income
  1	$27, 631
  2	$38,493
  3	$47,145
  4	$54,438
  5	$60,864
  6	$66,674
  7	$73,118

  *Numbers are determined by the Statistics Canada low-income threshold with an additional 5% added to account for regional cost of living.

If applicants meet the eligibility criteria above, the following documentation is required. Bring all required documentation, paper or copies on a device accepted, to Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre or send it via email to crystalpool@victoria.ca. Please note that documentation will be used for visual confirmation only, copies are not retained.

• Fill out the L.I.F.E. Application Form. Please complete one application per family residing at the same household. All information provided remains confidential unless required by a Freedom of Information request.
• Proof of Victoria Residency: accepted documentation includes current utility bill, phone bill, driver’s licence or current rental agreement within the last three months.
• Proof of Income: applicants most recent Notice of Assessment (NOA) from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for anyone over the age of 18 in the same household. Refer to line 15000 on your Notice of Assessment for the amount used to calculate the total income threshold. Click here to access a copy of your NOA or Reassessment through CRA or call 1-800-959-8281.

If applicants are unable to provide the required documentation, they may still be eligible to apply for the L.I.F.E. program using an adjudicator. Adjudicators are members of the community who have a professional relationship with the applicant and is familiar with the applicants financial and residential situation. An adjudicator could be accessed in the following scenarios:

• Notice of Assessment does not accurately reflect applicant’s current income level due to an experience such as an illness or job loss.
• Applicant is unable to provide proof of residency.
• Applicant is unable to provide most recent Notice of Assessment from CRA.
• Applicant is a Refugee or arrived under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) in the last year.
  • Note: Please bring landing papers along with proof of Victoria residency to Crystal Pool and Fitness centre. If the applicant is staying with a host family, their proof of residency can be in the host family’s name. If the applicant is a resident in the City of Victoria and does not fall into one of the above scenarios, please contact crystalpool@victoria.ca to explore how we might be able to assist them.

Successful applicants will be notified by phone or email that their application has been approved. Once you have been approved for the L.I.F.E. program, please visit Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre to have your photo taken and receive your membership card. Our friendly reception staff are happy to show you where to scan your card for future use.

• Please scan your membership pass at reception when visiting Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre. When visiting one of our Regional Recreation Centre partners, please show your pass at reception so they can mark a visit off the sticker on the back of your pass.
• Please present your membership pass when visiting the Save-On Foods Memorial Arena.
• If you are registering for a program, you can use your credit towards the cost. You can register online or in person. Credit can also be used at Community Centres and Senior Centres within the municipality or towards a purchase of a Regional Recreation Pass.

• Your photo will be taken and the image will be printed on your LIFE card.
• The L.I.F.E. card and credit cannot be redeemed for cash or transferred.
• The L.I.F.E. card and credit expires at the end of the two-year term.
• Credit cannot be used for single admission or merchandise.
• If lost or stolen, there is a $5 replacement fee for a maximum of one card replacement per person per year.
• To use the 52 visits, you MUST have the regional visits sticker on your card and MUST present it at a regional facility or you will not gain admittance. You will require a new sticker each calendar year.
• If you are not a resident of the City of Victoria, you must apply in the municipality you are a resident in.
• Applicants that are denied because they could not meet requirements can reapply if there is a change in their financial or residential situation. Changes must be proven through updated documentation.

Applicants must apply for the L.I.F.E. program in the municipality they are a resident in. Below is a list of our Municipal Recreation Partners in the Greater Victoria area. If you are unsure which municipality you reside in, please go to the CRD map viewer and enter your address in the search bar in the upper right corner and it will pinpoint your address on the map, scroll out to see which municipality is outlined around the location.

• Saanich Recreation
• Esquimalt Recreation
• Oak Bay Recreation
• Panorama Recreation
• SEAPARC Recreation
• West Shore Recreation