“I didn’t really know that a gym existed:” The participation problem at the Seneca@York Recreation Centre 

By: Folashade Adetuyi 

Students are back in class, but it looks like they are not back at the gym after the summer break. At the Seneca@York Athletics & Recreation Centre there’s been a noticeable drop in student participation, although the centre doesn’t keep statistics.  

According to fitbizweekly, Gen Z are frequently dubbed the ‘Generation Active’ with 36% exercising regularly. So, what is the problem at Seneca? Students tell S@YNews it’s a lack of time and a lack of knowledge. 

“I didn’t really know that a gym existed,” says Karla. 

“I have a really long commuting time, so I just have to make sure I get to my buses on time, so I can go home at a pretty decent time,” says Liynn.  

“Currently, I feel like I don’t have the time, but before I just didn’t know about it that much,” says Ebony.

The recreation coordinator, Kimberlie Beno, says the decline might be temporary. 

 “We are just starting a new semester, so we are transitioning from summer where we had a little bit of a lower enrollment to the fall semester, where everyone is just sort of getting on campus, figuring out their schedules and finding out where fitness and recreation are going to fit into those schedules.”  

The recreation centre staff say they do their best to promote the centre, but students tell S@YNews there’s a lack of communication. 

“Like I haven’t found it on social media, it says like “recreation” but maybe it could be more like gym,” Karla says.  

“I feel like they are technically advertising it, but it is so like hidden that you can’t tell, unless you actually like search for it,” Liynn says.  

“They need to post more on social media and like on school websites,” Ebony says. 

Kimberlie Beno, the recreation coordinator, says they have scheduled information all around the campus about upcoming events and the recreation staff also go around the campus to talk to students about their services. 

“Most of our communication is done virtually so through our Instagram page @senecayorkrec  that is where we keep everything up to date as soon as it happens.” 

But some students count on the centre to do more in-person advertising.  

“I think if they like involve it more with events, like when we have free food which is when a lot of people come into the area,” Liynn says. “So, I think if we had some sought of signs pointing directly to the rec centre and just having it big, bold, and red maybe that could help.” 

  For more information go to the Seneca@York Athletics & Recreation front office on campus. Also follow the recreation centre on Instagram for more information.