Here’s the cold hard truth: the weather in southern Alberta is unpredictable. And that’s on a good day. You can blame it on the mountains, our northern co-ordinates, our legendary Chinook winds, the high elevation we live at, and so on and so forth. And, for this reason, Albertans seem to love their indoor recreation almost as much as their outdoor playtime! This is definitely the case at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre in Cochrane.
Situated near the banks of the Bow River on Griffin Road, the SLS Family Sports Centre is a world-class recreation centre that boasts a whopping 325,000 square feet of indoor recreation space. (Yes, that’s big!) The sprawling facility (it was constructed in stages with the first stage opening in 2001) has just about everything you could ever hope for in an indoor play space…and then some.
A few of the highlights include the massive aquatic center (wave pool, lazy river, 25-meter lap pool, warm water therapy pool, hot tub, two water slides, and outdoor spray park), three NHL-sized hockey arenas, indoor turf field, six curling sheets, climbing wall, 225-meter indoor track, full gymnasium, and so much more.
“This is definitely an exceptional facility,” says Michelle Everett, Sales and Marketing Manager at SLSFSC. “For a community, this size to have a centre of this quality is really quite incredible. It couldn’t have been done without the support of so many generous donors and visionaries. This place is really a hub for recreation in Cochrane. You can do it all here. It’s buzzing all the time.”
From numerous programs for people of all ages, leagues, national tournaments, and high-level athletic coaching and training in a variety of disciplines, the SLSFSC is really a one-stop-shop for everyone who values recreation. There’s even a handful of food and drink outlets so you can refuel after your “burn.”
“We’re constantly evolving and growing,” says Everett. “Cochrane is one of the fastest-growing communities in the country. And, in a way, this facility reflects that energy. It’s an exciting place to work.” And, rest assured, when the weather outside is, well, unpredictable, inside the SLSFSC you can be sure conditions are perfect!
