Bonsor Recreation Complex

In my quest to find fitness classes and gyms during the past two years, I discovered Bonsor. Bonsor is a great community center: it is reasonably priced, about $ 6 for a drop-​in* (even less with a punch card); close to transit (about a five minute walk from Metrotown Station); has a lot of great classes (it is one of the few places that offers Zumba Toning); is open late (until 10pm on Saturdays and 11pm the rest of the week); and is one of the few gyms that is open during the «Christmas holidays» when other community centers close for two to three weeks (I’m looking at you Collingwood Neigbourhood House and Renfrew), as well as open on stat holidays (and they offer great fitness classes on stat holidays as well).
So I was thrilled when I found Bonsor and thought I had finally found the gym for me. But alas, I couldn’t make it work.
1. Even though it’s very convenient for me to get to via transit, it’s in transit zone two and I live in transit zone one, and I really resent paying an extra transit fee for literally a three minute skytrain ride, when I already pay $ 91 a month for a bus pass. So if I were to go to Bonsor on a weekday before 6:30pm, I would have to add on an extra $ 1.25 on top of the cost of my work-​out. I know $ 1.25 isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, but for a THREE MINUTE TRAIN RIDE? Major deterrent.
2. Bonsor has some great workout classes that really appeal to me, such as Zumba Toning, stretch and core classes, and step classes. They don’t just do Zumba Zumba Zumba (*yawn*). However, most of their classes are during the day, and because I work Monday to Friday, «9 to 5», I can’t get to their classes. The majority of the classes that work with my schedule are Zumba, of course. So, while they have amazing classes, they don’t work with my schedule.
3. I’ve been to a few of their classes on stat holidays (such as an amazing step/​weight/​cardio class on Boxing Day and Zumba Toning on Remembrance Day), but the classes are waaaay too full (and people have no concept of their surroundings), and the people who go to Bonsor’s classes (the holiday classes and regular classes) are really intense. I don’t mean intense during the workout, but aggressive in lining up to get into the class. In every other fitness class at other facilities I’ve been to, people just casually trickle into the room, or if lining up (such as at Renfrew), they are calm and chit chatting with one another while waiting. But the people at Bonsor are so pushy, and they will line their bags up to «save a spot». Also, one guys KICKED me while I was standing in line. It was probably accidental, but he kicked me pretty damn hard and didn’t apologize. Also, you have to get to class half an hour early to get a spot, because the classes get so full. The whole experience is too stressful, and I don’t have time to get to a class half an hour early. I have a life.
So because Bonsor is in another transit zone, the classes don’t work with my schedule, and the classes are too full and you pretty much have to get to the class half an hour early to get a limited spot, Bonsor unfortunately doesn’t work for me.
*At the community centers I have been to, you have to pay a drop-​in fee per class. But at Bonsor, you pay a drop-​in fee per day. For example, you can take a fitness class in the morning, leave, go back for a swim, leave, and go back for another class or to use the fitness room, all for $ 6.

Went here a few months ago.
The gym is alright or mediocre. Lots of new equipment. Machines could be improved slightly I thought. You’d think hearing from people that this is the most popular rec center in burnaby so it should have amazing weights. Also thought it was a weird layout where you had to walk downstairs in some basement like area to pump weights and upstairs for ellipticals. Strange.
The gym was subpar so I went to the pool after and it was pretty tiny and felt like a dungeon. The whole place gave off that dungeon vibe. I thought it’d be like coquitlam or new westminsters recreational centres but it felt a lot worse. The weight room area felt condensed and like stated above the pool sucked. Burnaby is a huge community so I was letdown.
Parking is even just as strange. It’s a massive lot yet the main entrance is on the side of the building near those baseball diamonds.
The one plus is I recall it being fairly cheap. I guess you get what you pay for here.

Great workout facilities, I starting to body build and use this place as my weight room, lots of machines and free weights, pool, sauna and hot tub and the bonus of pool chairs to relax in. all that for $ 6!

I go here regularly for the yoga classes, which are very good. Some of the instructors are terrific.
Here are some things that could be better, More hygiene in terms of cleaning the yoga blankets. If you are going to provide them, which is lovely, then have a cleaning service deal with them on a regular basis.
The yoga studio itself is wonderful, clean and a great space for this activity. Serene and spacious.
The facilities at Bonsor are good. I have used the fitness centre and found it very well maintained and it has a wide variety of machines that all seem to work! Bonus!
What is disappointing at Bonsor is the lack of greeting or warmth from the reception staff.

Canada West Judo Championships all day. Then shopping across the street at Metrotowne.

Gym is pretty nice if you don’t want it to be crowded which it is go early or late at night. Dumbbells up to 120 lbs lots of machines and nice people to work around.

I’ve been to Bonsor many times over the years for various events. I favor this place over the others for the their badminton open adult play times. I like their prices for drop in as well as their schedule for badminton as it works with my schedule better than the other rec centers in and around my area. It’s close to Metrotown which makes it easier for me to get to and from. I’ve been here for swimming a few times in the past and both the change rooms and the washrooms are well maintained. The customer service is hit and miss, however, can understand that they can be overwhelmed especially during the summer season. Plenty of free parking in their lot.

I started coming here years ago for yoga/​Pilates classes, it was cheaper than going to yoga studios near by and had pretty decent options for time and types of class, no hot yoga if thats what you’re looking for. One negative thing is you sometimes get not very good instructors or not experience enough, guess you get what you pay for. So I recommend trying different classes until you find an instructor you like. In the summer time it’s pretty slow I sometimes go and only 1 – 2 people show up to the class its like getting a private lesson. I have yet tried any other facilities in the building such as swimming pool, weight room, open gym so on, yearly memberships are pretty reasonable.

This place has potential but needs a complete internal makeover

This is a HUGE complex: pool, gym, weight room, cardio room, squash courts, yoga room, seniors room, classrooms, piano room, ping-​pong area… I’m probably missing some here.
You will really get to meet a lot of people from this neighborhood. Maybe make some new friends.
I will be frank in my review on what I use this place for:
1) The weight room: no matter what time of day, the weight-​room is jam packed. Sure you could go when school and work are in, but it’s rare to find this place quiet. There are two squat racks, which are usually taken. So be prepared to wait one. Forget about doing a circuit here because there isn’t much space and there are people using all sorts of equipment. Space is also an issue because the gym is so small. I find it really hard to do deadlifts or powerlifting with everyone around in such tight space. The weightroom needs an upgrade; especially for the sheer amount of people that use it.
Worse times = 4pm after school and 7pm when everyone floods the centre.
2) For once, a gym that has lockers that don’t require money. These can be found outside the gym. However, in the pool washroom you’ll need a non-​refundable quarter.
3) Pool: Super small. They don’t use the standard lane widths. They split up the pool into three. So get use to people swimming not according to the proper posted etiquette. I just tell a lifeguard and that usually solves the problem of people swimming head-​on towards you.
4) Yoga: you’ll find a time that suits you. Yoga is big here and runs throughout the day. Lots of props to use.
5) Gym: Basketball, volleyball and kids playtime occur here. Between those times, I’ve been able to conduct some sprinting.

When I walk into a business and say, «hi, I have a few questions your brochure didn’t answer,» my basic level of expectation is that my questions get answered. Not at Bonsor. Seriously, go somewhere else.
I wanted to know which rec centers were covered in the active pass, which seemed like a good deal to me, but only if it covers places nearby. The guide says «3 rec centers and more than 50 classes a week.» Okay, but where, and does it include yoga?
When I asked, I was rushed and shown a rec guide several times, circling the FIVE places I can use the pass like I was stupid — none of which included yoga, but I had to ask again to confirm that. (Interestingly, she didn’t even know, and had to ask, but berated me for «not reading it properly» myself.) When I thanked her for her help, she had to give me another dig, outright telling me I must not be able to read and maybe I should take a guide home to do so on my own time.
I had quite a few other, unrelated questions, and all were answered by interrupting me, cutting me off, and speaking to me like I was a moron. I spent several hundred dollars here, but didn’t think the cost included a talk-​down.
I’ll never return here again, and am thrilled the classes I did purchase are housed elsewhere.

I’ve been coming to Bonsor for several years now. Mainly for the pool but today, I came specifically for «the Big Boo».
For $ 1/​person. it gains you admission to Bonsor’s Hallowe’en extravaganza! I had been last year with my kiddies and we had a lot of fun so when I saw that they were doing it again, I made plans to definitely be there.
The gymnasium is set up with different stations of arts and crafts. cookie decorating. games. witches brew, balloon animals and face painting! All this for $ 1? Not to mention the haunted house they have set up! I can’t actually review this because my kids have been too afraid to check it out. Been even without the haunted house, we had a lot of fun.
It’s run by a lot of teenage volunteers and I guess Bonsor staff? Everyone is super friendly and they are all in costume too. From the moment you step inside the community centre, they have people greeting you and asking if you’ve come for the Big Boo. And then there are a ton of people to keep directing you towards the fun!
Super organized. It’s really nice to see everyone so happy because I imagine that if you were forced to work there without wanting to be there. you would be one big grouch because there are just soooooo many people!
In general, Bonsor is a great community centre. They offer a ton of different types of classes. Yoga. music. dance. you name it. they’ve probably got it. A really nice service they offer is the child minding which they charge per hour. This gives parents a chance to attend a class while their child is busy playing.
I’m curious to see how busy it will become once all the new high rises are up. It’s a good thing the Edmonds Community Centre is being built because I’ll probably be looking for a move soon!

Lots of facilities and close to home. Biggest problem is no one cleans up after themselves! I can’t count how many times several plates are racked and I have to take them down before starting my workout.

Everything’s nice except for the pool. you either freeze you butt off, or nearly choke to death in chlorine.

Got fins? Best of the burbs is Burnaby’s Bonsor, if deep water fitness is your game.
A participant in the deepwater aquafit program here since 2009, I always enjoy going to Bonsor.
The regular instructor of the Tuesday-​Thursday 1 – 2 p.m. class has a really good sense of humour, so we always have fun. He also is stringent about doing deepwater correctly: he reminds us about posture, does not allow swimming in his class, and discourages you from touching the side of the pool once class starts — all in a good-​natured way, of course.
Ron is also very creative, adding at least one new element to our regimen each class.
The emphasis in the T-​Th classes is on mechanics and core strengthen, there is not a strong element of aerobic exercise in this class. However, the Saturday classes do include more of an aerobic element to them.
There is also a length-​swimming lane designated for water-​running, which not all pools do. Nice. The days I don’t do aquafit here or at Hillcrest, I can always go water-​running.
The facility itself has probably the best jacuzzi jets in its hot tub of any pool in the Lower Mainland. It also has a dry sauna, which I’ve never used. Alas, there is no steam room.
I do wish the lockers were the type that returns your quarter when unlocked, rather than having to use another quarter to lock up your gear after you’re done exercising and want to shower. Guess that’s a difference in municipalities. The Vancouver pools I’ve been to do this, but none of the Burnaby pools I’ve used provide these types of lockers.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. I do wish the facility had an auto-​scanner for membership cards, though, so we would not have to line up and wait just to get scanned in, when the two attendants get busy with people registering for other programs.

Bonsor still looks exactly the same as when I used to come here as a wee lad for swimming lessons and other childhood activities. It hasn’t changed in over 13 years probably. It’s sometimes nice to go back to a place after a really long time and see that things have not changed much, it makes those nostalgic feelings come rushing forth in the mind.
I’ve committed to coming here for a boot camp cardio/​muscle course. Having not done any strenuous exercise in a really long time, this class almost killed me, but I can feel my body remembering its stronger days and I know I’ll be back to tip top shape in no time.
The class itself is really fun! It’s a good mix of men and women, they play music and it’s considered a moderate to difficult boot camp class. I was sweating and heaving like crazy 15 minuted into it, and its an hour long!
I definitely have to take more advantage of all the classes that community centers have to offer, they are really inexpensive and fun! Plus you are supporting your community, which is always good.
St3Fin

OK, I haven’t been back on this very spot, since, well since several presidents and prime ministers ago. Let’s just say that in high school, I parked the car to go to Simpson Sears; I went to Burnaby Judo Club; and I went bowling on Digney Lane where there was my Karate club on this very GPS coordinate. Wow. This is like the movie, Back to the Future (which incidentally was probably when Michael J Fox was probably still in Burnaby).
This place now appear to be a multifunctional complex. Of course, I ignored all activities because we had our family function in the big hall. This was a size of a gym. It looked like our family grew to about a couple of hundred people. With catered food, a table for gifts and tables for dinner, it was a very nice place to spend time with the fam.
I wonder if Bif is washing my old ’71 Dodge outside. Uh.

i was in the area and dropped in to use the weight room there for the first time, and i found it to be a Fantastic place.
Completely unpretentious, lots of free weights, benches, racks, and the necessary machines. furthermore, i saw NO lululemons hanging around trying to look cool, sitting in front of weights & taking up benches while ogling others/​themselves in the mirror, just normal folk in for a work out. left and right i heard «mind if i work in a set?» or «can i get a spot?» i felt staggeringly at home in the place;it was so refreshing compared to downtown weight rooms.
additionally, i saw a spacious gymnasium, squash/​racquet ball courts, flipped through a program guide that seemed to have lots going on, and the staff i talked to were all friendly and knowledgeable.
Well equipped, well laid out, well worn in, well maintained. People in south Burnaby are lucky to have Bonsor nearby.

I’m really glad there’s a fairly nice recreation complex fairly close to where I live. So far I have played basketball and badminton with a group of friends. I will definitely keep coming back. Plus, I have yet to check out swimming pool, play squash, and maybe the dance classes they offer, and whetever else they have.

The Yoga classes here are cheap (around $ 11 /​class) and the instructors that I’ve taken classes from are friendly, very knowledgeable about yoga, and aren’t too new age that they throw out TOO many mantras about chakras to turn off new people.
They always give our multiple difficulties for each position so new people and advanced people can get something during the whole class.
I can’t really speak of the other classes or fitness rooms available. But the change rooms are kind of gross. I shower when I get home.