HomeTorontoWellesley Community Centre

Wellesley Community Centre

495 Sherbourne St, Toronto, ON M4X 1K7

64 free sessions

Wellesley Community Centre sits at 495 Sherbourne Street, and every drop-in session it runs is free. It is one of the City’s free centres, a designation created in 1999 to strip program fees out of low-income neighbourhoods. That matters here more than most places. The centre serves North St. James Town, where the City’s own census profile records 44,321 people per square kilometre against a citywide figure near 1,500 — among the densest ground in Canada, and almost all of it apartment towers.

The building answers that with glass. MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects and ZAS Architects put the gymnasium at street level behind a window, so the sport inside reads from the sidewalk, and gave the corner to a public library branch. The library opened in October 2004, replacing a bookmobile stop rather than a building. It took a Toronto Architecture and Urban Design honourable mention in 2005 and a Design Exchange bronze in 2006.

The pool arrived fifteen years late. It was cut from the original budget and finally built as a second phase, paid for with Section 37 money from the condo towers going up along Sherbourne — five lanes at 25 metres, a leisure pool, a steam room, and a green roof planted as a meadow you can see from the corridor. A waterslide was dropped in favour of a diving platform after residents were asked.

Fourteen activities run here, from lane swim and open gym to ball hockey, badminton and youth drop-in.

Sources: Toronto Public Library — St. James Town branch history · City of Toronto — free and lower-cost recreation · City of Toronto — North St. James Town profile (PDF) · Canadian Architect — 2005 Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Awards

Imported from City of Toronto Open Data

Drop-in schedule

115 weekly sessions across 11 activities. Recurring weekly — holidays and rentals can change these, so call ahead before travelling.

Showing all 115 sessions.

DayTimeActivityAgeCost
Mon7am9:15amLane SwimSwim7+Free
Mon7am9amWeight/Cardio RoomFitness60+Free
Mon7:30am8:30amWalk FitFitness60+Free
Mon9am11amPickleballPickleball60+Free
Mon9am2pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Mon9am12:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Mon9:30am10:30amAquatic Fitness: ShallowSwim13+Free
Mon10:45am3pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Mon11:30am2:30pmOpen GymGym13–24Free
Mon11:30am12:30pmPilatesFitness13+Free
Mon2pm5pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Mon3pm6pmTable TennisTable Tennis13–23Free
Mon5pm7pmWeight/Cardio Room (Women)Fitness13+Free
Mon5:15pm7:30pmLeisure SwimSwim0+Free
Mon6pm7pmZumba®Fitness13+Free
Mon7pm9pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Mon7pm9:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Mon7:30pm9:30pmBasketballBasketball16+Free
Mon7:45pm9pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Tue7am1pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Tue7am9amWeight/Cardio RoomFitness60+Free
Tue7:30am8:30amWalk FitFitness60+Free
Tue9am2pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Tue9am12:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Tue9am10amYoga/Pilates FusionFitness13+Free
Tue11:30am2:30pmOpen GymGym13–24Free
Tue1pm2pmLane Swim: Older AdultSwim60+Free
Tue2pm9:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Tue3pm5pmOpen GymGym13–24Free
Tue3pm6pmTable TennisTable Tennis13–23Free
Tue5pm7pmSoccerSoccer13–24Free
Tue6pm7pmZumba®Fitness13+Free
Tue7pm8pmAquatic Fitness: Shallow (Women)Swim13+Free
Tue7pm9:30pmSoccerSoccer16+Free
Tue7pm9pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Tue8:05pm9pmLane Swim (Women)Swim7+Free
Wed7am9:15amLane SwimSwim7+Free
Wed7am9amWeight/Cardio RoomFitness60+Free
Wed7:30am8:30amWalk FitFitness60+Free
Wed9am11amPickleballPickleball60+Free
Wed9am2pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Wed9am12:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Wed9:30am10:30amAquatic Fitness: ShallowSwim13+Free
Wed10:45am3pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Wed11:30am12:30pmOpen GymGym13–24Free
Wed2pm5pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Wed3pm5pmOpen GymGym13–24Free
Wed3pm6pmTable TennisTable Tennis13–23Free
Wed5pm7pmWeight/Cardio Room (Women)Fitness13+Free
Wed5:15pm7:30pmLeisure SwimSwim0+Free
Wed7pm9pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Wed7pm9:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Wed7:30pm9:30pmVolleyballVolleyball16+Free
Wed7:45pm9pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Thu7am1pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Thu7am9amWeight/Cardio RoomFitness60+Free
Thu7:30am8:30amWalk FitFitness60+Free
Thu9am2pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Thu9am12:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Thu11:30am12:30pmOpen GymGym13–24Free
Thu1pm3pmBadmintonBadminton60+Free
Thu1pm2pmLane Swim: Older AdultSwim60+Free
Thu2pm9:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Thu3pm5pmOpen GymGym13–24Free
Thu3pm6pmTable TennisTable Tennis13–23Free
Thu3:30pm5pmDance: Line DanceDance60+Free
Thu5pm7pmSoccerSoccer13–24Free
Thu5:15pm6:45pmLane Swim (Men)Swim7+Free
Thu6pm7pmCardio: High/LowFitness13+Free
Thu7pm8pmAquatic Fitness: ShallowSwim13+Free
Thu7pm9:30pmSoccerSoccer16+Free
Thu7pm9pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Thu7:15pm8:15pmPilatesFitness13+Free
Thu8pm9pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Fri7am9:15amLane SwimSwim7+Free
Fri7am9amWeight/Cardio RoomFitness60+Free
Fri7:30am8amWalk FitFitness60+Free
Fri8am10amPickleballPickleball19+Free
Fri9am2pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Fri9am12:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Fri9:30am10:30amAquatic Fitness: ShallowSwim13+Free
Fri10am2:30pmOpen GymGym13–24Free
Fri10:45am3pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Fri2pm5pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Fri3pm5pmOpen GymGym13–24Free
Fri3pm6pmTable TennisTable Tennis13–23Free
Fri5pm7pmWeight/Cardio Room (Women)Fitness13+Free
Fri5:15pm7:45pmLeisure Swim: YouthSwim13–23Free
Fri6pm7:30pmBadmintonBadminton13–24Free
Fri7pm9pmTable TennisTable Tennis19+Free
Fri7pm9:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Fri7:30pm9pmVolleyballVolleyball13–24Free
Fri8pm9pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Sat9am9pmTable TennisTable Tennis13+Free
Sat9am6:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Sat9:15am10:15amZumba®Fitness13+Free
Sat10:30am11:30amZumba®Fitness13+Free
Sat12pm3:30pmLeisure SwimSwim0+Free
Sat2:45pm4:45pmBasketball (Women)Basketball16+Free
Sat3:45pm6pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Sat3:45pm6pmLeisure Swim: PreschoolSwim0–5Free
Sat5pm6pmParasport: Wheelchair BasketballBasketball13–24Free
Sat6:15pm7:45pmLeisure Swim: Open and InclusiveSwim0+Free
Sat7pm9:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13–24Free
Sun9am7pmTable TennisTable Tennis13+Free
Sun9am7:45pmWeight/Cardio RoomFitness13+Free
Sun10am12pmBall HockeyBall Hockey13–24Free
Sun12pm2pmLeisure SwimSwim0+Free
Sun12:15pm2:30pmBasketballBasketball16+Free
Sun2:15pm3:45pmLane SwimSwim7+Free
Sun2:15pm3:45pmLeisure Swim: PreschoolSwim0–5Free
Sun3pm5pmBadmintonBadminton16+Free
Sun4:15pm6pmLeisure Swim (Women)Swim0+Free
Sun5:15pm7:15pmVolleyballVolleyball16+Free
Sun6:15pm7:30pmLane Swim (Women)Swim7+Free
33 more sessions start laterfirst on 28 September

Week of 28 September32

DayStartsTimeActivityCost
Mon28 Sep10:45am1pmLane SwimSwimFree
Mon28 Sep6:35pm7:30pmLeisure SwimSwimFree
Tue29 Sep7am9:15amLane SwimSwimFree
Tue29 Sep9:30am10:30amAquatic Fitness: ShallowSwimFree
Tue29 Sep10:45am1:15pmLane SwimSwimFree
Tue29 Sep10:45am1:15pmLeisure Swim: PreschoolSwimFree
Tue29 Sep8pm9pmLane Swim (Women)SwimFree
Wed30 Sep10:45am12:45pmLane SwimSwimFree
Wed30 Sep12:45pm1:45pmLane Swim: Older AdultSwimFree
Wed30 Sep7:30pm9pmLane SwimSwimFree
Thu1 Oct7am9:15amLane SwimSwimFree
Thu1 Oct9:30am10:30amAquatic Fitness: ShallowSwimFree
Thu1 Oct10:45am1:15pmLane SwimSwimFree
Thu1 Oct10:45am1:15pmLeisure Swim: PreschoolSwimFree
Thu1 Oct1:30pm3pmLeisure Swim: Older AdultSwimFree
Thu1 Oct5:45pm7pmLane Swim (Men)SwimFree
Thu1 Oct7pm9pmLane SwimSwimFree
Fri2 Oct10:45am12:45pmLane SwimSwimFree
Fri2 Oct1pm2pmAquatic Fitness: ShallowSwimFree
Fri2 Oct6pm6:30pmLevel Up - Drop In Lessons (Youth)SwimFree
Fri2 Oct6pm7pmYogaFitnessFree
Fri2 Oct6:30pm7:30pmLeisure Swim: YouthSwimFree
Fri2 Oct7:45pm9pmLane SwimSwimFree
Sat3 Oct1:30pm3:45pmLeisure SwimSwimFree
Sat3 Oct4pm5:45pmLane SwimSwimFree
Sat3 Oct4pm5:45pmLeisure Swim: PreschoolSwimFree
Sat3 Oct6pm7:45pmLeisure Swim: Open and InclusiveSwimFree
Sun4 Oct1:30pm3pmLeisure SwimSwimFree
Sun4 Oct3:15pm4:30pmLane SwimSwimFree
Sun4 Oct3:15pm4:30pmLeisure Swim: PreschoolSwimFree
Sun4 Oct5pm6:15pmLeisure Swim (Women)SwimFree
Sun4 Oct6:30pm7:30pmLane Swim (Women)SwimFree

Week of 5 October1

DayStartsTimeActivityCost
Wed7 Oct6pm7pmYoga (Women)FitnessFree
Public facility operated by City of Toronto. Drop-in sessions are open to anyone — no registration needed unless noted. Holidays and facility rentals can override the schedule.

See everything running citywide on a day:

What it costs

Wellesley Community Centre is one of the City's free centres — locations in neighbourhoods with high levels of low income, where every City-delivered drop-in and registered program is free for everyone, at every age. There is nothing to pay and no membership to buy.

Lessons and camps you can register for

146 sections at Wellesley Community Centre were listed open for registration when the City's data was read on 11 September, across 56 different courses — all of them below. These need booking and cost extra, unlike the drop-in sessions above. The City's data does not say whether a course is full, so check availability before you plan around one.

CourseWhenRunsAgesAvailability
Ultra Swim 1SwimmingMon4:30pm +11 more28 Sep – 30 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Preschool Swim 1: PenguinSwimmingMon4pm +10 more28 Sep – 30 Nov3–5 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 2SwimmingMon5pm +7 more28 Sep – 30 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Adult Swim 1SwimmingMon1:15pm +6 more28 Sep – 30 Nov17+ yrsCheck on City site →
Guardian Swim 1SwimmingMon4pm +6 more28 Sep – 30 NovUnder 5Check on City site →
Ultra Swim 3SwimmingMon4pm +6 more28 Sep – 30 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 4SwimmingMon4:30pm +5 more28 Sep – 30 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 5SwimmingMon4pm +5 more28 Sep – 30 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Preschool Swim 2: StingraySwimmingMon4:30pm +4 more28 Sep – 30 Nov3–5 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 6SwimmingMon4:30pm +4 more28 Sep – 30 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Adult Swim 1 (Women)SwimmingTue5:30pm +3 more29 Sep – 24 Nov17+ yrsCheck on City site →
Adult Swim 2SwimmingMon1:15pm +3 more28 Sep – 30 Nov17+ yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 1 (Boys)SwimmingThu4:30pm +3 more1 Oct – 26 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Basketball: InstructionalSportsMon6pm +2 more28 Sep – 30 Nov10–12 yrsCheck on City site →
Soccer: InstructionalSportsSat11:30am +2 more26 Sep – 21 Nov3–5 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Youth Swim 1SwimmingSat12:30pm +2 more3 Oct – 28 Nov13–24 yrsCheck on City site →
Dance: BasicsArtsSat1:30pm +1 more26 Sep – 21 Nov8–12 yrsCheck on City site →
SewingArtsMon7pm +1 more28 Sep – 30 Nov19+ yrsCheck on City site →
CampTO ExploreCampsMon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri9am +1 more21 Dec – 24 Dec6–12 yrsCheck on City site →
Recreation Adventures with CaregiverGeneralTue10am +1 more29 Sep – 24 Nov1–3 yrsCheck on City site →
Ball Hockey: InstructionalSportsWed5pm +1 more30 Sep – 25 Nov6–9 yrsCheck on City site →
Intermediate First Aid with CPR-C & AEDSwimmingSun,Sat9:30am +1 more19 Sep – 20 Sep12+ yrsCheck on City site →
Preschool Swim 1: Penguin (Girls)SwimmingTue4pm +1 more29 Sep – 24 Nov3–5 yrsCheck on City site →
Preschool Swim 2: Stingray (Girls)SwimmingTue6:15pm +1 more29 Sep – 24 Nov3–5 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 1 (Girls)SwimmingTue4pm +1 more29 Sep – 24 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 4 (Girls)SwimmingTue5:45pm +1 more29 Sep – 24 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 5 (Girls)SwimmingTue4pm +1 more29 Sep – 24 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Crafty Creations with CaregiverArtsThu9:30am1 Oct – 26 Nov3–5 yrsCheck on City site →
Dance: Basics with CaregiverArtsSat12:45pm26 Sep – 21 Nov4–5 yrsCheck on City site →
Dance: Hip HopArtsSat3:45pm26 Sep – 21 Nov8–12 yrsCheck on City site →
DrawingArtsSun12:30pm4 Oct – 29 Nov6–12 yrsCheck on City site →
Painting: Mixed MediaArtsThu12:30pm1 Oct – 26 Nov60+ yrsCheck on City site →
SculptureArtsSun1:45pm27 Sep – 22 Nov6–12 yrsCheck on City site →
CookingGeneralMon3:30pm28 Sep – 30 Nov10–12 yrsCheck on City site →
ScienceGeneralTue6pm29 Sep – 24 Nov6–12 yrsCheck on City site →
Ready, Set, PLAY!SportsSat10:30am26 Sep – 21 Nov4–5 yrsCheck on City site →
Adult Swim 2 (Women)SwimmingTue5:45pm29 Sep – 24 Nov17+ yrsCheck on City site →
Bronze StarSwimmingWed4pm30 Sep – 25 Nov9+ yrsCheck on City site →
Guardian Swim 1 (Boys)SwimmingThu6pm1 Oct – 26 NovUnder 5Check on City site →
Guardian Swim 1 (Girls)SwimmingTue5pm29 Sep – 24 NovUnder 5Check on City site →
Guardian Swim 2SwimmingSat10:15am3 Oct – 28 NovUnder 5Check on City site →
Preschool Swim 1: Penguin (Boys)SwimmingThu4pm1 Oct – 26 Nov3–5 yrsCheck on City site →
Preschool Swim 3: OtterSwimmingTue9:30am29 Sep – 24 Nov3–5 yrsCheck on City site →
SPLASH Swim TeamSwimmingMon,Wed5:30pm28 Sep – 25 Nov8–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Swim and Lifesaving InstructorSwimmingSun,Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu9am27 Dec – 30 Dec15+ yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 2 (Boys)SwimmingThu4:30pm1 Oct – 26 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 2 (Girls)SwimmingTue4:30pm29 Sep – 24 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 3 (Boys)SwimmingThu4pm1 Oct – 26 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 3 (Girls)SwimmingTue5pm29 Sep – 24 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 4 (Boys)SwimmingThu4pm1 Oct – 26 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 5 (Boys)SwimmingThu4:30pm1 Oct – 26 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 7SwimmingWed6:30pm30 Sep – 25 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 7 (Boys)SwimmingThu5pm1 Oct – 26 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Swim 8SwimmingSat10:15am3 Oct – 28 Nov5–16 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Youth Swim 1 (Girls)SwimmingTue4:30pm29 Sep – 24 Nov13–24 yrsCheck on City site →
Ultra Youth Swim 2SwimmingSat12:30pm3 Oct – 28 Nov13–24 yrsCheck on City site →

Also runs here: Adapted Active8, Adapted Arts, Adapted Cooking and Social, Adapted Recreation, Adapted Ultra Swim - Beginner, Adapted Ultra Swim - Intermediate, After-School Recreation Care (ARC) — registration for these is currently closed.

Compare across the city: Music, dance and art classes in Toronto · Day camps in Toronto · Sports lessons in Toronto · Swimming lessons in Toronto

Courses fill up and the City's feed doesn't say when one is full, so check availability on their page before planning around it. Refreshed weekly; anything already finished is removed.

What's in the building

Wellesley Community Centre has 9 listed facilities.

Indoor PoolFitness/Dance StudioGymnasiumWeight/Cardio RoomEnhanced Youth SpaceKitchenLoungeMultipurpose Room ×4Sauna

From the City of Toronto's facilities register. A room being listed doesn't mean it's open during every drop-in session. The linked ones open a page listing every City location with that facility.

Washrooms

From the City's park washroom register, which the City refreshes daily. It covers Parks & Recreation washrooms open to the public, so it is not a complete list of every washroom on site.

Getting there

Wellesley Community Centre is at 495 Sherbourne St, Toronto. Accessibility: Fully Accessible.

The nearest intersection is Wellesley & Sherbourne, about 71 m away.

The closest TTC stop is Sherbourne St at Wellesley St East, a 76 m walk — about 1 minutes. Served by route 75. In total 4 routes stop within 500 m: 65, 75, 94, 365. The nearest subway station is Sherbourne Station, 506 m away.

Walking distance is a real route over the City of Toronto’s street, path and trail network — not a straight line — and the closest stop is chosen by it. Computed from the TTC's schedule feed and the Toronto Centreline, both published by the City of Toronto as open data.

Questions people ask

Is Wellesley Community Centre free?

Yes. Wellesley Community Centre is one of the City of Toronto's free centres, so every City-run drop-in session here is free for everyone, at every age — nothing to pay and no membership.

What drop-in sport and recreation runs at Wellesley Community Centre?

Wellesley Community Centre runs 115 weekly drop-in sessions across 11 activities: fitness, swim, table tennis, gym, basketball, soccer, pickleball, volleyball, badminton, dance, ball hockey. The busiest is fitness.

How do I get to Wellesley Community Centre by TTC?

The closest TTC stop to Wellesley Community Centre is Sherbourne St at Wellesley St East, a 76 m walk — about 1 minutes, served by route 75. The nearest subway station is Sherbourne Station. Walking distance is routed over the City's street and path network.

Do I need to register for drop-in sessions at Wellesley Community Centre?

No — the 115 drop-in sessions running at Wellesley Community Centre are open to anyone with no registration, unless a session notes otherwise. Holidays and facility rentals can override the schedule, so confirm before travelling.

Other places to play nearby

Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre

640 Dundas St E

1.3 km away · 37 of 62 on this week · Swim

John Innes Community Recreation Centre

150 Sherbourne St

1.4 km away · 59 of 60 on this week · Fitness, Swim, Track

Regent Park Community Centre

402 Shuter St

1.5 km away · 64 of 66 on this week · Fitness, Track, Climbing

Distances are straight-line, not walking routes.

Drop-in by sport in Toronto

Swim in TorontoFitness in TorontoTable Tennis in TorontoGym in TorontoBasketball in TorontoSoccer in TorontoBadminton in TorontoPickleball in TorontoVolleyball in TorontoBall Hockey in TorontoDance in Toronto