Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton — Local services in Calgary

EDIT 3- Worried about a mom with a backpack while a person with a knife is wandering your facility...Good job guys!

EDIT 2- Evolve allows backpacks on the floor they actually have a special place for them because members there aren’t actual thieves.

EDIT 1 Went to Evolve today the staff was amazing had the best workout Ive had in years. Cancelled my membership.

Today was the final straw. There is truly nothing good about this place. We have been working out at this gym for over two years, and we have consistently been treated poorly by the staff. Overcrowding is a frequent problem at the gym, machines are inoperable, and the staff is unprofessional. Earlier today, I was asked to leave because I refused to place my backpack containing my daughter's life saving medication in the locker. My backpack was permitted to remain with me after I spoke to staff about this issue previously. I was rudely directed by a staff member today to put my backpack in my locker. When I refused, she immediately stated that I was going to contact the supervisor and left, yelling on her walkie talkie there was a code 3, apparently an emergency (not going to lie that made me laugh). The DM who did not introduce herself said the same thing in an equally rude manner. In spite of my efforts, I was not able to explain my daughter's medication to her. After explaining that my wallet had been stolen, I did not feel comfortable leaving it in the locker. The brilliant advice she gave was to purchase a thicker lock. This is the theft prevention advice, not hey, we've been monitoring thefts, no need to worry, but just get a thicker lock. It is hard for me to believe that the YMCA has such a standard of behavior for its employees, as her snide remarks were incredibly unprofessional.

I then asked about the man who was walking around the gym in full fake military gear with a backpack that I told staff about that nothing was done. No code 3 just meh we can't really say anything to him. So you can harass me with a backpack full of my daughters medication because I’m easier to be disrespectful too but the large man in full fake commando gear and a huge backpack not so much. Ok I get it. We actually left because he was so creepy.

How about the man I complained about harassing and saying loudly he was going to shove my daughter because she was near the weight rack. Did that get a code 3? Nope he wasn’t asked to leave why? Because he's a male member and not so easy to bully. Why was he allowed to stay? Why was my daughter not given the same respect? Why was he not held accountable for his behavior? Why are male members given more respect than female members? Why are women treated unequally? I also sent a letter to the manager and got zero response but from reading the reviews I can see the management is just as inept as the staff.

So my backpack is a safety issue but not the 6 pre teen girls that were running around slamming weights and taking pictures no code 3 there or the two little boys with 2 plates on either side in the squat rack trying to walk out with that and bailing and a weight rolled off and almost hit someone. Again no code 3. Has anyone seen an actual worker doing anything but sitting at the desk staring into space? It’s pretty clear that they have zero interest in helping anyone.

This is on top of multitudes of incredibly rude interactions with staff at this location. The front desk staff are incredibly discourteous and honestly our family has a bet to see if someone says there is a problem with our card because it happens all the time. If you scroll through the reviews almost all of them mention how rude the staff are and how unsafe the lockers rooms are. This is a major red flag and needs to be addressed immediately. This location needs to be put under the microscope and the employees need to be held accountable for their actions.

We are looking for another gym. I can't see it getting any better anytime soon. We have the largest YMCA yet and it's full of unfriendly staff members, unsafe locker rooms and broken...

Not impressive at all! A person would walk in and love what they see. A Good Earth to the right promises caffeine while you wait in line, a large library just past that promising more dreams to be discovered. The bird's nest dropping from the ceiling above you while the cranes fly towards it. It looks so magical.

Then you get to the counter to pay for your way in. It's $18.50 and it takes at least 10 minutes to get you in. They have to know everything about you and not just what you want to go do there. It's a recreation center, not a police department! So after finally getting in, I go to the locker rooms, and discover that the lockers are not secure. You have to provide your own lock. You can get one there but you have to spend and extra $20 for it. You end up taking your valuables with you to the pool.

Their waterpark seems okay. Sadly, the waterslides were apparently closed and you had to wait for a hour before a person can get to enjoy them. But that's okay because that flowrider is calling your name. It is an indoor surf-pool that you get to ride on and it is not a gentle ride either. Quite frankly, it kicks you around like an old hacky sack. It really is thrilling and fun. Worth the thirty minute wait. That is the first star.

However, you have to sign a waiver that isn't there and was not mentioned to you when you paid the fee. However, one saving grace is this wonderful lifeguard named Ella who actually helped you fill one out on your phone and still watches you valuables for you while to try this place out. She is the only reason why this place is getting a second star.

The rest is not good. When questions were asked to other lifeguards and they did not know the answers to anything. Not so great! The lazy pool was clearly made by lazy people. It looks so small and uninspired. All you do is walk in a flowing circle. The hot tubs were tepid at best. You can feel yourself shivering still. The sauna was alright but the air feels the same as the pool, choleric and not altogether pleasant. Lastly, everything was closed. Diving boards, waterslides (that did not open an hour later), and who knows what else were not open.

There needs to be some serious changes and not just to these odd schedules but the customer service is atrocious. Customers are not made aware of any waivers, the staff does not know what is going on with their equipment or environment, and on top of that, not too many people were that friendly or approachable. Please do better with this and take a few notes from Ella who was actually the one helpful person.

For $18.50 you can make this a place where everyone feels welcome, has fun, and everything is in working order. Some of us have spent less money to go into a pool/waterpark and have had some great times. ...

Beautiful, new facility. Was a little off putting, as a first-timer, though. I looked through the website to try and get as much info quickly to make sure we would be prepared for a same day/ last-minute swim. Upon arrival, the staff all seemed friendly, but the markers for the lineups were clearly displayed... but then it seemed it didn't really matter which line up you went to. Because it was our first time, there was info needed for them to make a file for our family, and then waivers to sign. I didn't remember seeing the option online to have that filled out ahead of time. In the end, it was 2 min to fill out, but we waited for 10-15 min, behind others, who also were filling out forms or memberships. Once headed down to the changing areas, no where was it posted that you would need your own lock for a locker. There were no locks to rent or purchase unless that was available at the desk, and I missed it. But know to bring your own! We decided to risk our coats and shoes in a locker and took our bag onto the pool deck. No issues with personal property being on deck, it seemed, other than I was constantly eyeing my bag to make sure nothing was taken or that it wasn't in a "splash zone." We were definitely disappointed to find that the 2 swim pools were closed due to swim lessons, and so there were approx 100 people all floating in the lazy river or sitting in the hot tub. It made it very claustrophobic feeling. We didn't even attempt to get into the overflowing of people hot tub. My kids were too big for the play structure part, and too nervous to try out the water slides. So we floated the lazy river for 1.5 hrs. It did get old quickly, and we were all bored and tired of being bumped into. It is a neat area, but when they close those 2 pools off, it makes the small area, that much smaller. The change rooms had lots of lockers, and washroom and shower stalls. They don't seem to clean the floors much in the shower stalls, as there was disturbing amounts of hair and messes on the floors in the vacant ones we looked into. The shower was warm, good pressure and good water. I felt clean and not super dry skin after. We will come again, and hopefully have a better experience, as I will look at the whole schedule before planning the visit.

I can't review anywhere else in the facility, other than glances around and through windows. The whole building looks lovely. The hallways and lobby area seemed clean and well kept up, especially for a winter day. I liked that you don't need to pay for parking if you are there for 2.5 hours or less. Tons of parking. Easy to find, and get around...