Parks and Recreation Department

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Parks and Recreation- Town of Watson Lake
The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for delivering and maintaining the spaces, programs, and services that support active living, community engagement, and public well-being across Watson Lake.

We oversee year-round recreation programming, manage key community events, maintain public parks and trails, and take care of municipal greenspaces and facilities. From seasonal celebrations to facility rentals and trail upkeep, this department plays a central role in the quality of life in Watson Lake.
Our team manages a diverse range of spaces and services, including:
•Recreation Centre programming and operations,
•Rental facilities and community event coordination,
•Parks, playgrounds, and trail maintenance Seasonal operations at the Dennis Ball Memorial Pool, Lucky Lake, and Mt. Maichen Ski Chalet,
•Public events such as Kiki Karnival, Discovery Day, Halloween Week, and Canada Day
We also handle daily facility inspections, event setups, garbage collection, decoration installations, minor building repairs, lawn and trail care, and more, to ensure all public-use spaces in the Town of Watson Lake are safe, accessible, and well-maintained.

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The Northern Lights Centre

The Northern Lights Space and Science Centre is one of Watson Lake’s most unique public facilities; a place where science, storytelling, and the spectacular Aurora Borealis come together. Opened in 1996, the Centre was designed to showcase the beauty and mystery of the northern skies.

Today, it remains a popular destination for tourists, schools, researchers, and locals, offering both educational experiences and recreational space throughout the year.

The Northern Lights Centre Offer Immersive Theatre Presentations
At the heart of the Centre is its SciDome HD digital theatre; a full-dome projection system offering immersive 360° visuals and surround sound. Guests can enjoy:
•Daily double-feature presentations about the Northern Lights and space science
•Original Yukon footage of the Aurora Borealis, captured over a three-year period
•Presentations featuring the Canadian space program, NASA’s THEMIS mission, and more
Shows run hourly during the summer tourist season. Each ticket includes two short films and access to interactive exhibits.

Interactive Displays & Exhibits
Visitors can explore engaging, hands-on exhibits covering:
•The science behind the Aurora Borealis
•Canadian rocket and satellite technology
•Myths and legends from Indigenous and global cultures explaining the Northern Lights
•Live feed from the ViewSpace exhibit, which links directly to NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes (Currently Unavailable)

Educational Resource & Venue
Outside of tourist season, the NLC transforms into a multi-use community space:
•Movie nights and private screenings for residents
•School group field trips, science programs, and learning sessions
•Venue rentals for meetings, small events, community presentations and even video game nights
The dome theatre, seating 100, is available for booking at the Recreation Centre outside the tourist season and offers an unforgettable atmosphere for educational or social events.

The Northern Lights Centre Hosts the Visitors Information Centre. Click on the link below to navigate to their page:
Visit the Visitors Information Centre

Contact the Northern Lights Centre
Phone: 867-536-7827 (STAR)
Email: nlc@watsonlake.ca

Dennis Ball Memorial Pool

The Dennis Ball Memorial Pool is Watson Lake’s community swimming facility, offering a wide range of aquatic programs throughout the summer. Located beside the Recreation Centre, the pool supports recreational swimming, fitness, aquatic education, and competitive youth training.

The pool is a 15,000sq. ft. swimming facility, has the capacity to accommodate up to 75 swimmers, heated with designated lap swim lanes equipped with Change rooms with showers, on-site lifeguards during swim times and shallow and deep ends for all ages and all skill levels.

Whether you’re looking to cool off with family, build swim skills, or do water-related recreational activities, the Dennis Ball Memorial Pool in Watson Lake is the place to be.

Follow the Dennis Ball Memorial Pool Facebook Group for Scheduling and the most up to date Information

Pool Services

•Public Swim: Open swim sessions for all ages perfect for casual fun, exercise, and family time.
•Family Swims: Designated swim times where families can enjoy a calmer pool atmosphere together.

•Early Bird Swim: Quiet morning sessions ideal for lap swimming and a relaxed start to the day.
•Lane Swim / Noon Lane Swim: Structured lane swimming for fitness or practice, offered during midday hours.
•Aquatic Sports / Aquafit: Enjoy instructor-led aquatic fitness classes that promote strength and cardio in a low-impact environment.
•Senior Aquafit: Gentle movement in water designed specifically for seniors or those needing lower-impact options.
•Swimming Lessons: Group lessons taught by certified instructors for children and youth, covering beginner to intermediate levels.
•Swim Team Training: A pre-competitive training program for youth swimmers. The program focuses on technique, endurance, and prepares swimmers for territorial swim meets. •Adult Swim: Dedicated quiet hour in the evening for adults looking to swim laps or relax in a peaceful setting.

Lucky Lake Waterslide
On weekends (weather permitting), the pool staff operates the Lucky Lake Waterslide, a popular summer attraction for families and youth. Watch for scheduling notices on our Facebook page.

The Watson Lake Recreation Centre

The Watson Lake Recreation Centre is the town’s central hub for fitness, wellness, community programs, and public events. It is a multi-use facility designed to serve residents of all ages, offering space for recreation, gatherings, cultural events, and day-to-day activity.

Core Functions & Amenities

Fitness & Wellness
•Weight Room & Gym: Includes free weights, cardio machines (treadmills, elliptical, exercise bike), and universal fitness equipment for strength training and general wellness.
•Saunas & Showers: Open to the public, including visiting travelers or locals needing access to these amenities.
•Roller Blading & Skating (seasonal): The facility is adapted for indoor use in shoulder seasons when ice or snow-based recreation is unavailable.

Recreation & Leisure
•Bowling Alley: A three-lane bowling alley with shoe and equipment rentals available.
•Squash Court: Available for single or doubles play.
•Curling Sheet: One regulation curling sheet is available on the hockey ice, primarily on Friday nights on during Winter Season

Youth Engagement
•Youth Centre: A welcoming space with lounge seating, games, and social activities. Includes pool table, ping pong, air hockey, foosball, and a viewing area for the hockey rink.
•Toddler Room: Available for drop-in use during open hours; designed for early childhood engagement and safe indoor play.

Arena & Ice Maintenance
•Hockey Arena: A full-size rink for public skating, hockey practices, drop-in games, and youth programming. Skates and equipment rentals are available for rental during open hours.
•Ice Maintenance: The Parks and Recreation Department maintains the arena ice four nights per week during winter months.

Community Rentals & Event Space
The Rec Centre offers versatile spaces for rent, suitable for everything from birthday parties and meetings to large-scale public functions:
•Community Hall: The largest rental space in the building. Ideal for weddings, fundraisers, community dinners, conferences, and performances. Includes:
Commercial kitchen and bar Tables, chairs, and a full audio-visual system Washrooms and event staff support
•Mezzanine Hall: A mid-sized meeting room great for workshops, community groups, or training sessions. Includes tables, chairs, and adjacent washroom access. Curling Lounge – A large, comfortable event room with:
Built-in AV system Kitchen and washrooms, great for meetings, training, or movie nights
•Oval Room (2nd Floor): A large open space ideal for drop-in recreation, fitness programs, dance, and flexible group use.
•Toddler Room: Available for casual drop-in play or reserved for child-focused events.
•Wye Lake Cabin: (managed by the department): Though offsite, the cabin is booked through the Rec Centre. It features lake views a kitchen, bathroom, and is perfect for retreats or small social gatherings.

Birthday Party Rentals Add-ons:
•Indoor bouncy castle, (available with the Community Hall on winter months, and the Curling Lounge during summer)
•Portable laser tag,
•Access to games and youth centre

Seasonal Equipment Rentals:
•Fat bikes,
•kick sleds,
•snowshoes,
•and cross-country skis available during winter months

Parks, Playgrounds and Trails

Watson Lake is home to a wide variety of parks, trails, playgrounds, and outdoor spaces for all ages to enjoy; from lakeside walks and scenic viewpoints to one-of-a-kind recreation features like the only outdoor water slide north of 60.
Click the link below to Visit our Parks, Playgrounds and Trails Page for an in-depth description, photos and seasonal highlights on these public spaces!

watsonlake.ca/
parks, playground and trails

Contact the Parks and Recreation Department

Contact Us!

Recreation Centre
General Information, Room Bookings, Equipment Rentals, Event Registration
frontdesk@watsonlake.ca
867-536-8020 ext.2

Northern Lights Centre
nlc@watsonlake.ca
867-536-7827 (STAR)

Dennis Ball Memorial Pool
aquatics@watsonlake.ca
867-536-8020 ext.

Collaborate with Us!
Recreation Programmer
Supervisor to the Parks and Recreation Department
recprogrammer@watsonlake.ca
867-536-8020 ext.3

Director of Community Services
Manager of the Parks and Recreation Department
csrec@watsonlake.ca

The Northern Lights Centre

Dennis Ball Memorial Pool

The Watson Lake Recreation Centre

Parks, Playgrounds and Trails

Contact the Parks and Recreation Department

Reports, News and Releases