Grade 5 action pass returns to get kids in rec centres from Oshawa to Pickering

Durham Region’s Grade 5 Action Pass, which gives kids free access to swimming, skating and drop-in programs in participating recreation centres, has returned in time for the new school year.

The program is a collaboration between the Region, the municipalities and the YMCA. It allows unlimited use of facilities in all eight Durham municipalities between September 2024 and August 2025 for Grade 5 students.

“We’re excited to partner again with area municipalities and the Mary Street YMCA to promote the Grade 5 Action Pass as a way for Grade 5 students across Durham Region to get active in their community,” said nurse Allison Jealouse, “It’s a great opportunity for Grade 5 students to build physical activity into each day, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy, active living.”

Students can get their passes at a variety of municipal locations around the Region listed here. They only need to bring an adult, proof of address, proof of date of birth, and a digital or printed copy of the Grade 5 Action Pass.

The region targets kids in Grade 5 because only about 20 per cent of students reported at least 60 minutes of heart-pumping physical activity per day as recommended by the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth.

This number falls even further as the kids grow up, especially after the fifth grade.