This past summer has been a particularly busy and exciting time for sport in the GTA with the Pan American games setting up camp. This means brand new, world-class facilities have recently been built at UTSC and UTSG and have been tried and tested by some of the best athletes in the world. Whether you’re new to the world of sport and athletics, or a well-seasoned gym-goer, U of T is like a buffet — you can try a bit of everything before you decide on your favourite activity. So lace up, grab a water bottle, and get out there.
HEALTHY STUDENT LIVING
For those living in residence, you’ll come to realise that — as convenient as residence food is there aren’t always healthy options available. Eating a balanced diet often falls to the wayside in university, but getting enough of the right food to make it through not only class, but a post-class workout doesn’t need to be rocket science.
Making sure that you’re getting enough protein and carbohydrates is important to monitor. You can check these levels via an appointment at Health Services or with the Athletic Centre. Free dietician counselling is also offered to students at UTM, which can help you to plan nutritious meals. Residence dining halls usually post their menus online a few days in advance, so plan your meals accordingly.
FACILITIES & FITNESS
The 2014–2015 school year saw several substantial changes to the facilities on U of T’s three campuses. The turf-war over back campus came to a climactic close as astro-turf was finally installed, allowing for more teams to practice even during the muddy spring months. The Goldring Center for High Performance Sport also had its official grand opening, and is now home to new weightlifting facilities, basketball and volleyball courts, and a multitude of drop-in and registered fitness programs for students to partake.
The most impressive facility, however, has to be the Toronto Pan Am Sports Center located at UTSC, which boasts an Olympic size swimming pool, world-class diving platforms, and an indoor running track. Now that the games are over, students and members will have free reign over the facilities — go wild, U of T. Not to be outdone, UTM has a host of its own athletic centres with unique programs and classes for Mississauga students. UTM’s high performance center is stocked with enough cardio equipment to go around — no more waiting in line for a treadmill.
ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
As an undergraduate, you’re probably paying ancillary fees — meaning memberships to different athletic facilities are already included in your tuition. U of T won’t let you drop these fees, you might as well make use of your golden ticket — aka your TCard — and try out as many different activities, at as many different facilities, as you can.
The Goldring Center offers group classes for the popular phone app Nike Training Club, UTSC’s Pan Am Sports Center has a 41-foot climbing wall, which can be rented for groups or can be tried out in a drop-in class, and UTM has multiple outdoor beach volleyball courts for those channelling their inner Misty May Treanor.