If you are a Toronto parent looking for affordable or even free activities for your kids this fall, the City of Toronto recreation programs are a fantastic option. The City offers everything from swim lessons and skating to arts, music, dance, and sports. Some programs are completely free, while others can be covered by a subsidy through the Welcome Policy, and the rest are low-cost compared to private classes.

Here is the step-by-step process to register your family for fall recreation programs in 2025, including details on Toronto Free Centres, the Welcome Policy subsidy, and the official registration dates.

Two ways to access free or subsidized programs

Free Centres and drop-in activities

The city operates certain Free Centres where all registered programs are offered at no cost. These same centres also run free drop-ins such as swimming and skating. Registration is still required for most registered programs, but no fee is charged.

In and around the East End, Free Centres include:

Dennis R. Timbrell Resource Centre (29 St. Dennis Dr.)
Jenner Jean-Marie Community Recreation Centre (48 Thorncliffe Park Dr.)
John Innes Community Recreation Centre (150 Sherbourne St.)
Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre (870 Queen St. E.)
Oakridge Community Recreation Centre (63 Pharmacy Ave.)
O'Connor Community Centre (1386 Victoria Park Ave.)
Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre (640 Dundas St.)
Regent Park Community Centre (402 Shuter St.)
Secord Community Centre (91 Barrington Ave.)
Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne St.)

Welcome Policy recreation fee subsidy

If you qualify based on income, the Welcome Policy gives you a year-long credit that can be used for registered programs, camps, and FitnessTO memberships. Families receiving Ontario Works qualify automatically.

Step 1: Decide which path is right for you

Check if your preferred community centre is a Free Centre. If so, you can register directly for free activities.
If not, or if you want to register across the city, apply for the Welcome Policy so you can use the subsidy for paid programs.
If you don’t qualify for the Welcome Policy subsidy and you don’t have a Free Centre near you, you can still register for low-cost activities run by the City of Toronto. This is the option most families in the East End take.

Step 2: Set up your City of Toronto registration account

All families must now use the new online registration and booking system.

Create an account with your email and password.
Add all family members with correct birth dates. These birth dates may determine your child’s eligibility for certain programs with age restrictions.
Save a credit card or preload prepaid credit at a community centre.

This account is where you will search programs, add them to your wish list, and check out on registration day.

Step 3: Browse recreation programs and create a wish list

Use the site’s search filters to find classes for your child’s age group and location. The system lets you save top choices to a wish list, which makes registration morning much faster.

If you want guaranteed free options, check the Free Centres list before building your wish list.

Step 4: Know the City of Toronto recreation registration dates

The City of Toronto has confirmed the registration schedule for fall programs:

Mon Sept 15 at 10am: Registration opens for older adult (60+) programs.
Tues Sept 16 at 7am: Registration opens for Etobicoke and Toronto East York programs.
Wed Sept 17 at 7am: Registration opens for North York and Scarborough programs.
Fall programming begins the week of October 4, 2025.

Phone registration is also available at 416-396-7378 and some community centres offer limited in-person registration.

Note: The registration date is determined by the location of the program, not your address. So if you live in East York but you want to register for a program in North York or Scarborough, you’ll need to wait until the second day.

Step 5: Registration day strategy

Here is what has worked best for parents in the East End Mom Friends community:

Sign in to the registration and booking site before 7am, and be ready to refresh right at start time.
Use your wish list instead of searching. It saves valuable minutes.
If you land in a queue, do not refresh. The system will move you forward automatically.
If you have Welcome Policy credit, the subsidy option will appear at checkout. Apply as much or as little as you want.
If a program is full, add your child to the waitlist. Families often drop spots, so waitlisted kids do get called.

Final advice

Apply for the Welcome Policy as soon as possible, ideally before September, so your subsidy is active in time.

Build a wish list and save payment information in your account so you can check out quickly.

And if your community centre is listed as a Free Centre, register there first because spots fill up quickly.

Toronto recreation programs are a wonderful way for kids and families to stay active, learn new skills, and connect with the community. With a little preparation, you can secure free, subsidized, or low-cost spots in recreation programs for your children.

How to Register for Free and Low-Cost Recreation Programs in Toronto