Curious about indoor winter sports? Pan Am has you covered

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) offers UTSC students accessible, low-commitment ways to stay active indoors during winter, says staff.

The 41-foot climbing wall at TPASC is “one of the tallest in the region” and offers drop-in access and instructional programs for students. (Photo credits: Mai Ha // The Underground)

If you’re reading this, you might be in the comfort of your own home, bundled up in layers, tucked away from the cold that has settled over Scarborough in recent weeks. With shorter days and freezing temperatures, physical activity often slips down the priority list.

And if you’re a University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) student, when was the last — or first — time you’ve stepped inside the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre?

For many UTSC students, the TPASC is a facility you already pay for through incidental fees yet it remains an intimidating and unfamiliar space rather than a regular part of campus life. 

“I think one of the biggest misconceptions is people think they need to be athletic in order to access the facilities, and you don't,” said Ron Crozier, acting director of Athletics and Recreation at UTSC. 

Crozier has worked at the university for over 25 years and currently oversees programming, staffing, and operations for the Department of Athletics & Recreation at TPASC. Over that time, he says hesitation – not cost or lack of options – is often the biggest barrier keeping students away.

“The facility can be intimidating to walk into. You see pictures of Olympic athletes all over the place,” said Crozier. 

Ron Crozier, acting director of Athletics and Recreation at UTSC, oversees programming and operations for the department of Athletics and Recreation at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. (Photo Credits: Ron Crozier)

Entry points, not expectations

TPASC offers far more than a traditional gym. According to Crozier, the goal of the Athletics and Recreation programming is to create multiple "entry points” for students of all experience levels. 

“So whether you are a beginner, you're at an intermediate level or you're at an advanced level, there's a spot for you in the program,” said Crozier. 

For students who want the lowest possible commitment, Crozier points to drop-in access as the easiest place to start. 

With a TCard, students can enter TPASC and use the fitness centre, including cardio machines, free weights, and weight machines, at no additional cost.

Group fitness classes like yoga, pilates, and women with weights programs are also free and can be booked in advance or attended as a drop-in. 

“The one way I always say that students can get involved in this building, and the easiest way is to come and use the walking track,” said Crozier. 

The indoor walking track at TPASC circles above the courts below, offering students a low-commitment way to stay active while observing other activities in the facility. (Photo credits: Mai Ha // The Underground)

While January typically brings an increase in attendance driven by New Year’s resolutions, Crozier says winter usage at TPASC remains steady. 

“When you come here in the evenings, like a lot of our drop-ins are jammed, they're packed,” he said.

Still, winter weather can discourage students from making the trip, especially those who already feel uncertain about where they belong inside the building. That’is why Crozier recommends the indoor walking track as a starting point. 

Sports without pressure

Cost is another common concern among students, but Crozier says most core services are already covered by student fees, including the fitness centre, drop-in sports, group fitness classes, and lane swimming. Paid programs, such as registered classes or rock climbing are priced to offset instructor costs.

“If you're to look at the drop-in fee for rock climbing it’s $5,” he said. “We try to keep the cost as affordable as possible for students.”

And for students wondering whether swimming is realistic in winter, Crozier confirms the pools are heated and comfortable. TPASC houses two Olympic sized pools, one of which is primarily used as a training pool and is open to students for drop-in lane swim. 

The pool at TPASC hosts a variety of programs, including group fitness classes like Aquafit. (Photo credits: Mai Ha // The Underground)

Beyond fitness, TPASC offers a layered structure for sport participation. Students can start with casual drop-in sports such as basketball, badminton, volleyball, or soccer, all of which are free and include equipment. 

More structured options include inter-house leagues including campus only leagues with a $30 team fee, and intramural teams that compete against other University of Toronto campuses. 

“For intramurals, there's no fee.” Crozier said. “We provide our athletes with a uniform, a coach, they practice once a week, we provide transportation to get downtown.”

One day or day one? 

For students with heavy academic workloads, Crozier emphasizes that activity doesn’t have to be all or nothing. 

“If you're new to the fitness centre, you can ask for an orientation of how to use some of the machines, or you can even go in and use the treadmill,” he said. “You can walk, and you can study, you can be on your phone, you can watch movies, you can do whatever you want.”

The key, he says, is treating physical activity like any other academic commitment. “Put that into your schedule like you'd put a class into your schedule.”

Ultimately, Crozier hopes students stop seeing TPASC as a space reserved for athletes and start seeing it as a resource meant for them.