TC Blog

Fall Registration Begins!

2010-07-25T06:30:00.004-06:00

Fall registration has officially begun at Talisman Centre! So if you have been waiting to try ETS, or have been thinking about enlisting the help of a Nutritionist or a Personal Trainer (or both!), then head over to our online registration portal and take a look at what's coming up this fall.

Note: To register online, you will need a Client Barcode and an Account PIN. To get those things, just call customer service at (403) 233-8393 and they'll be glad to help you out!

Thanks for the Vote!

2010-06-19T15:23:00.000-06:00

Fast Forward Weekly has published their annual "Best of Calgary" issue, and for the 12th time, Talisman Centre has been voted "Calgary's Best Fitness Facility"! Thank you to everyone who voted in FFWD's poll, we love you too!

We're Listening: Results of the Customer Pulse Survey

2010-06-18T14:50:00.001-06:00

We’re Listening.

In March 2010, we asked you how we could be better. You told us, and we’ve heard you!

The five areas that were of most concern were:
Equipment in the Fitness Centre • Cleanliness of the facility • Prices • The Pool

Equipment in the Fitness Centre
Space: Due to our space restrictions in 2010, we have moved equipment closer together in order to accommodate our customers. The distance between equipment is now comparable to the standard spacing found in most facilities, which was unnecessary when we had the luxury of more space.

Variety: The selection of equipment that would be available during 2010 was carefully chosen after a study of usage patterns and a consultation with over 50 customers.

Cleanliness
Some concerns were dusty floors, wet towels, insufficient spray bottles, and general lack of cleanliness. The following steps have been taken:

Extra custodial staff are on duty
Additional spray bottles have been distributed
Towel rotation has been increased significantly

Prices
Several customers have felt that with reduced space in the facility, the price of admission should likewise be reduced. However, many customers have not had their routine disrupted at all by the closure. Neverthelsess, we have offered a number of options (including temporary membership suspension) to anyone who felt they were not getting the value they wanted at Talisman Centre in 2010.

The Pool
In response to your feedback, the following measures have been taken:

Additional tables on the pool deck by the showers
Towel/clothing hooks near showers and beside hot tubThe dry (no-shower) change rooms are checked more frequently, and mopped if needed
Hair dryer added to the women’s change room

Thank you for your feedback! Keep telling us how we can serve you better!

Congratulations Hailey!

2010-06-10T11:49:00.000-06:00

Hailey Casper holding her award.

A big congrats to Hailey Casper, who was recognized as the 2009 Alberta Junior Female Athlete of the Year for diving! Our dive tank may be closed for 2010, but Hailey has always been a fixture on our dive tower. She belongs to Dive Calgary, one of Talisman Centre's valued Sport Partners.

The award was bestowed by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation, and is in recognition of the Hailey's many remarkable achievements in her sport. She distinguished herself in a number of national and international competitions last year, including a bronze medal in three-metre synchro diving at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, along with her synchro partner Mandy Moran. (The pair snagged another bronze medal in the three-metre synchro event at the FINA Canada Cup in Montreal.)

Hailey won the gold medal at the Junior Nationals in Victoria last July, and was the Team Alberta flag bearer at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island, where she won another gold medal and set a Canada Games record with 290.55 points. She placed an impressive fifth against the best divers from eight countries at the Junior Pan Am Championships held at Talisman Centre last year.

Hailey is an immensely talented diver, with her sights set on a spot on the Canadian National Team. We can't wait to have her back diving in Talisman Centre, and wish her continued success!

Temporary Hot Tub Closure: June 3rd 2010

2010-06-01T04:59:00.000-06:00

Please Note: The Hot Tub at Talisman Centre will be closed on Thursday, June 3rd from 7:00AM to 4:00PM for routine cleaning and maintenance.

90 Days of Summer!

2010-05-18T01:30:00.003-06:00

Summer has come once again to Calgary, and Talisman Centre is celebrating with a special 90 Days of Summer pass available from now until June 30!

Your Summer Pass will allow you access to Talisman Centre’s 25,000 square feet of cardio and weight training space, two gymnasiums (for basketball, badminton, volleyball, etc.) and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. You’ll also be welcome to attend any of Talisman Centre’s exceptional drop-in group fitness classes at no additional charge, like Yoga, Group Power, Cardio Kickbox, Deep-Water Fitness, and Power Cycling.

Adult: $199
Student/Youth/Senior: $159
Couple/Family/Group Home: $359

Exclusive to this special 3-month pass is a 20% discount on Talisman Centre’s state-of-the-art Endurance Training Systems (ETS) testing*.

To get your 90-day pass, swing by Talisman Centre, or call (403) 233-8393.

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* Talisman Centre is equipped to perform blood lactate testing, an advanced method of assessing and monitoring your body's response to training. We will also determine your VO₂ Max aerobic capacity, which will tell you how your body transports and uses oxygen during a workout. The results of these tests can be used to create specific power and heart rate zones that will help you maximize your training program, and tell you what kind of training will be most effective for your physiology.

Drop-in Policy for 2010

2010-05-18T01:21:00.002-06:00

There is no drop-in admission Monday through Thursday between 4:30 and 7:30PM only. Drop-in admission is welcome any time before 4:30pm or after 7:30pm Monday through Thursday, or anytime during the weekend (Friday to Sunday).

Members (including 10-card pass holders) may continue to use the facility during these times.

This policy has been implemented during our 2010 construction project to ensure that our members have access to the pools, gyms and fitness centre equipment during times of peak facility use.

Yoga Canceled: 6:30AM Thursday, May 13th

2010-05-13T11:06:00.000-06:00

The Yoga class scheduled for 6:30AM on Thursday, May 13th has been canceled. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

50 metre public lane swim M/W/F mornings!

2010-05-12T14:45:00.000-06:00

From 5:00AM to 8:30AM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, one 50m lane is now available to the public for swimming!

Lane Size Alert: Olympic Water Polo Team at TC

2010-05-11T12:48:00.000-06:00

The Canadian Men's Olympic Water Polo Team, who competed in the Olympics last year, are preparing for the upcoming Canadian Senior Nationals (May 27th to 30th) and for the Italian Open (July 20-26). To accommodate their requirement of a 30-metre pool, public swimming will be reduced to 20 metres on the following dates/times:

Saturday May 15th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday May 22nd from 5:30pm to 9:00pm

We regret any inconvenience, and wish our national Men's Water Polo Team the best of luck!

No admittance 30 minutes before closing

2010-05-11T08:27:00.000-06:00

Talisman Centre closes at 11:00pm during the week, and 10:00pm on weekends and holidays. In order to ensure we are able to close the facility safely and on-time, there is no admittance to the building 30 minutes before closing. This means that no new customers will be admitted after 10:30pm on weekdays or after 9:30pm on weekends and holidays. We appreciate your cooperation!

Former TC badminton instructor best in Canada!

2010-05-10T08:56:00.005-06:00

A former Talisman Centre badminton instructor, Simeon Samuel, recently placed 2nd at the 2010 Canadian Masters Badminton Championships in the 65+ age category! Simeon can still be seen during the week here at Talisman Centre honing his skills. (His son, Marlon, is also a skilled badminton player, and also a former instructor at Talisman Centre.)

Congratulations Simeon on your incredible achievement!

Hot Tub Cleaning on Thursday, May 6th, 2010

2010-04-29T09:16:00.000-06:00

The 20-person hot-tub will be closed on Thursday, May 6th, for routine cleaning and maintenance.

Eye on Construction

2010-04-19T12:52:00.001-06:00

Keep an eye on construction on our construction camera page. Click the images below to see them super-sized! (The 'close' button for the large images is on their top right corner.)

Under the Tent:

From the Parking Lot:

Bird's-Eye View:

Hot Tub Cleaning on April 7, 2010

2010-04-05T09:57:00.001-06:00

The 20-person hot-tub will be closed on Wednesday, April 7th, from 7:00AM to 4:00PM for routine cleaning and maintenance.

Holiday Hours on Good Friday!

2010-04-01T09:58:00.000-06:00

On Friday, April 2nd, Talisman Centre will be operating under our "holiday hours" schedule.

Holiday Hours at Talisman Centre: 7:00AM to 10:00PM

Fun Fact: Talisman Centre is closed only one day per year, December 25th!

Last weekend in April: Public Gym Space

2010-04-01T09:47:00.000-06:00

On April 23-25th we will not have public gym space available during the following times:
Friday April 23rd: 7-9pm
Saturday, April 24th: 6:30-8:30am / 6pm-8pm
Sunday, April 25th: 12pm-4pm.

Night Times

2010-03-30T11:05:00.002-06:00

Our closing time is staying the same: 11:00 on weekdays, 10:00 on weekends and holidays. Normally, we lock our doors fifteen minutes prior to closing; that is, no one else can come in after 10:45 during the week or 9:45 on the weekends. Starting April 1st, Talisman Centre's doors will lock fifteen minutes earlier (i.e. at 10:30pm instead of 10:45, and 9:30pm on the weekend), and all customers will have to be out by 11:30pm (or 10:30pm on the weekend). This will allow our employees to close the facility for the night in a timely fashion, and get the rest they need to be cheerful and bright-eyed the next day!

A peek behind the curtain...

2010-03-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of what it's looking like today under the tent!

Which way?

2010-02-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

On March 1st, when the main tented building of Talisman Centre closes, you will need to choose which entrance to use based on what you want to do!

Starting March 1st, if you are looking for Dryland, (gyms, fitness centre, etc.), you will need to enter at the North end of Talisman Centre.

If you are looking for Aquatics, you will need to enter at the South end of Talisman Centre.

A tunnel will lead through the building from the dryland side to the aquatic side, so you will be able to get from one side to the other without going outside if, for example, you like to swim after lifting weights.

When in doubt, just follow the signs!

Booster Club Sportsman of the Year!

2010-02-22T16:08:00.001-07:00

Talisman Centre joins the Calgary Booster Club in congratulating this year's Sportsman of the Year award recipient: Frank Sisson!

Frank Sisson is the latest in a long line of distinguished Calgarians who have been honoured with the title of Sportsman of the Year. 2010 marks the 57th anniversary of this prestigious award.

Tickets on sale now for the Sportsman of the Year Dinner, March 16. Email info@calgaryboosterclub.com for details.

New Policies Effective March 1st, 2010

2010-02-19T01:37:00.002-07:00

New Policies Effective March 1st, 2010
We encourage all our members to familiarize themselves with the following policies and guidelines, which will go into effect on March 1st. (On that day, the tented portion of Talisman Centre will close for the remainder of 2010, while the two annex buildings will remain open.)

GENERAL

Parking lot will be monitored, and proof of facility use will be required for entry (ie. Membership card or pass).
Members must bring valid membership card to access the facility, otherwise a drop-in fee will be charged.
Drop-in users must provide ID for admission.
Members-only admission after 3:00PM daily. There will be no drop-in admission or “Late Rate” after 3:00PM in 2010.
Spectator access will be limited to parents and guardians of underage sport partner athletes.
Quarter lockers will not be available. Please bring your own lock, or purchase one at the Customer Service Desk.

AQUATICS

No outdoor footwear on deck. Shoe covers are available if necessary.
No changing on deck.
Showers will be available on the pool deck and everyone must shower before entering pool.
The most up-to-date information is posted to the online Daily Schedule.

FITNESS CENTRE AND GYMS

The free-weight area in the Profile Room will be unavailable 30 minutes before and after a Yoga class.
Space is limited for Group Fitness classes. Access cards will be available on a first-come, first- served basis 30 minutes prior to the class. (Your membership card or other ID will act as collateral in exchange for the class access card).
The most up-to-date information is posted to the online Daily Schedule.

Please note: The tunnel linking the Aquatics and Dryland areas may be closed for ten to fifteen minutes at a time during high-risk construction activities. Thank you for your patience during these times.

Please check our weblog regularly for the most up-to-date information that may affect the quality of your workout!

Extra Swim Lanes Available this weekend!

2010-02-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

Occasionally there are more swim lanes available for public use than we anticipate, and we encourage our members to check the daily schedule and this blog for the latest scheduling updates and information. This weekend, the public swim times are as follows:

Saturday, Feb 20th
6:00am to 10:00am – 8 lanes
11:30am to 10:00pm – 8 lanes

Sunday, Feb 21st
7:00am to 4:00pm – 8 lanes
4:00pm to 10:00pm – 4 lanes

Auction Interruptus

2010-02-17T21:52:00.001-07:00

The auction, with less than 30 minutes left to go, was struck down by a server error that is out of our control. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and will look into extending the auction another day once the issue has been addressed. We recognize that extending the auction another day is not ideal, but it is the only fair solution in light of the situation. In the meantime, rest assured that you will have the opportunity to bid again before the auction officially closes.

Again, we apologize for this unforeseen and regrettable technological malfunction.

Auction Items you may have missed...

2010-02-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

There are 11 items in the online Fitness Equipment Auction that have not yet received any bids! Check them out below, and get your bids in before 10:00PM on Wednesday, February 17th (tomorrow!)

Seated Calf Raise Machine – minimum opening bid: $150 (Estimated value, used: $600)
Shoulder Press – minimum bid: $100 (Estimated value, used: $600)
Pec Fly Machine (Seated Pec/Rear Delt) – minimum opening bid: $300 (Estimated value, used: $1200)
Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100 (Estimated value, used: $750)
Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100 (Estimated value, used: $750)
Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100 (Estimated value, used: $750)
Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100 (Estimated value, used: $750)
Black Body Cycle Bike – minimum opening bid: $100 (Estimated value, used: $750)
Life Fitness Cable-Cross Machine – minimum opening bid: $1800 (Estimated value, used: $3000)
Life Fitness Cable-Cross Machine – minimum opening bid: $1800 (Estimated value, used: $3000)
Free Motion Cable Machine – minimum opening bid: $2200 (Estimated value, used: $3500)

There are dozens of other items that are currently going for a great price! Take a look, and may the highest bidder win!