recACCESS Program

The recACCESS Program is intended to ensure Barrie residents have an opportunity to participate in recreation programs and activities regardless of their financial situation.

The City provides a wide range of recreation and physical activity programs. While subsidized by tax revenues from Barrie citizens, these programs often include a registration fee to offset program costs. The recACCESS Program is a fee assistance program that provides support to low-income families and individuals in Barrie by providing qualifying participants with a recPASS membership, and children and youth credits that can be applied to the registration fee for qualifying programs and activities. 

The recACCESS Program differs from the Camp Access Program, which is fee assistance program that provides eligible individuals 6–12 years of age the opportunity to participate in an exciting summer camp experience.

How it Works

Eligible participants must complete an application form and provide documents related to their financial and family situation. Approved applicants, including immediate family members, will have a recPASS membership set up.

In addition, youth will have a credit added to a special recACCESS account within the City's recreation registration system. Youth participants can then register for registered programs and activities following normal registration procedures, with the credit on their account used to pay associated registration fees in whole or in part.

recACCESS credits may be applied against registered recreation programs provided directly by the City of Barrie. INELIGIBLE recreation programs and services include the following:

• Additional program equipment charges (uniform, art supplies, etc.);
• Private or semi-private swimming and skating lessons, personal fitness training;
• 1:1 Inclusion Support Services; 
• Room and/or facility rentals;
• Drop-in for gym, swim, skate, fitness and 55+ Centres programs.

Eligibility

All successful applicants must:

• Be permanent full-time residents of Barrie. This applies to individual applicants and all family members who will receive a recACCESS grant benefit. 

• Have a total net household income under one of the following maximum qualifying household net income limits:

  Partial recACCESS limits are 25% higher. Subject to change.

  Household Size	Household Income Limit for Full recACCESS	Household Income Limit for Partial recACCESS
  1 person	$25,303.00	$31,628.75
  2 persons	$31,498.00	$39,372.50
  3 persons	$38,723.00	$48,403.75
  4 persons	$47,016.00	$58,770.00
  5 persons	$53,323.00	$66,653.80
  6 persons	$60,142.00	$75,177.50
  7+ persons	$66,958.00	$83,697.50

Individual applicants (family size: 1 person) must be 18 or older and have no dependants, and must not be married or living in a legally recognized common-law relationship. The individual recACCESS benefit may only be used by the applicant and is not transferrable.

Applications for 2 persons or more must be completed when the primary applicant is married or in a common-law relationship, or where the applicant wishes recACCESS grant benefits to be applicable to immediate family members or other dependents living in the same household for which the applicant is the primary caregiver. 

Applicants who are under the age of 18 and are supported by a caregiver will only be considered as part of a family application. Applicants who are over the age of 18 but under the age of 25, and who are enrolled in a full-time post secondary education program will only be considered as part of a family application (proof of enrollment within a qualifying full-time post-secondary education program must be provided at the time of registration).

How to Apply

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply online or in person.

Apply online 

A printed recACCESS application form is available for pickup and drop-off at Allandale Recreation Centre, East Bayfield Community Centre, and Peggy Hill Team Community Centre.