The Athletics & Recreation Facilities Fee is assessed at $95.00 per term as this amount allows for the maximum level of enhancement to campus amenities and allows for immediate enhancement work to begin when the fee is active in September 2024.

The $95.00 fee amount was developed through consultation with both the Graduate Students Association and the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union.

The Athletics & Recreation Facilities fee is being proposed to provide the necessary financial resources to enhance our physical spaces to meet the growing needs of the student population on the university’s Waterloo campus. The university does not have an Athletics & Recreation Facility Fee dedicated to enhancing fitness, sport, and active extra-curricular amenities. The introduction of a facility fee would allow the Waterloo campus to enhance our facilities to meet current student needs and priorities, and respond to future needs as our campus continues to grow.

Students Deserve More Space: We do not have enough square footage for recreation and wellness space as an institution to serve the students on the Waterloo campus.

Students Deserve Better Space: We want to enhance and elevate our spaces to meet the high-quality experience promised to students and that all students deserve.

Immediately, in Fall 2024 the fee will help install the winterized bubble space on the Knight-Newborough field, effectively providing a 4-season facility with 76,000+ square feet of recreation space to all of our students. The fee will also assist with changeroom revitalizations in the Athletic Complex, redesigning the fitness centre layout in the Athletic Complex, installation of new study spaces in our facilities, and equipment upgrades.

In 2025, construction of the Seagram Drive facility is anticipated to begin. Without this fee construction will not take place. The new facility will be a 2.5 storey student building and will include: ample study space, student lounge space, bookable student spaces, a double-court gymnasium, 8+ multi-purpose studios, a high performance strength & conditioning area, new changerooms, an athletic therapy clinic, and a campus eatery.

Future enhancement projects will continue to be determined in consultation with students and be prioritized according to their needs and priorities.

Current students should care about this fee for the immediate benefits that will be felt by returning students and how this fee can shape the student experience of future Golden Hawks. Previous cohorts of Golden Hawks have helped create and establish student amenities on campus through voting YES on capital construction and improvement projects on campus.

Students have and will continue to be essential partners in shaping the student experience for current and future Laurier students. As a final year student, you have an opportunity to leave a legacy by voting YES on the Athletics & Recreation Facilities Fee.

There is no expiration date to the new Athletics & Recreation Facilities Fee. This will allow our department to continue to invest in new enhancements and projects to meet student demands and priorities on the Waterloo campus.

If the Athletics & Recreation Facilities Fee is not successful in the student referendum, the revitalization of the Seagram Drive properties (University Stadium) will not proceed. Additionally, efforts to improve the student-user experience in the Athletic Complex through new enhancements to amenities will need to be paused and reevaluated.