Where We Spent a Wake Window: Minoru Centre for Active Living
Location & Parking:
"Where am I?"
Paid parking is right in front, but here is the trick: look for the big glass building.
This complex is massive. It includes Minoru Park, Arenas, Track & Field, a Library, and a Cultural Centre. We parked by the library and spent 10 minutes wandering in the rain past other buildings before finding the Active Living Centre. Save yourself the walk - head straight for the glass!
Set your GPS to: 7191 Granville Ave Unit #2060, Richmond, BC V7C 3V4
Official info: https://minorucentre.ca/
The Damage Report ($):
Under 2: FREE, Ages 2–12: $4.95 , Adult: $8.15
We qualified for the Family Rate, which is only $4.95 per adult (up to two adults) when you’re with kids!
The Quarter Rule: Bring a 25-cent coin for the lockers - it’s refundable, but you’ll be stuck without it.
Wheely Friendly?
Yes. The centre is incredibly spacious. We navigated the stroller through the lobby and changerooms with zero issues.
Stroller Parking: There is a designated area right next to the pool to park your "wheels" so you can keep an eye on them while you swim. This is where Gabe and I happil
The largest family hot pool in Canada.
The Snack Situation:
There is a café in the lobby with everything from sandwiches and cheese sticks to ice cream and pouches. Perfect for that "post-swim hunger" that toddlers always seem to have.
Potty Proximity:
Bathrooms with change tables are easily accessible right near the changerooms.
Mum Musings:
I have been on a mission to find the warmest pool in the Lower Mainland. Yuyu loves to swim but, if it’s not toasty, she isn’t going in. I can officially testify: this is the one.
Our "Glam-ma" Reality Check
When we finally walked inside, my mother, our resident Glam-ma, almost turned right back around. She’s more about "spa vibes" than "splash pad vibes," and the sheer volume of people was a bit much for her. I was surprised she wanted to take Yuyu swimming in the first place
Her first instinct was to tell me I needed to get in the pool instead! But once she realized I didn't have a bathing suit and she saw the excitement on Yuyu’s face, she begrudgingly agreed to be the one to get in the pool. The things grandmothers do for love!:)
A Kid’s Swimming Dream
Even though it was busy, the sheer size of the facility made it feel safe. It’s a literal wonderland for toddlers:
The "Errant Rain Cloud": This is a neat art installation that looks like a cloud suspended over the pool. It actually gathers moisture from the air and "rains" back into the pool once or twice a day!
There is a zero-depth entry pool (perfect for wobbly toddlers), a splash pad, and little island play areas.
It features the largest family hot pool in Canada. It’s huge, warm, and has an accessible ramp for easy entry.
The Changing Room Win
The individual shower/change stalls are a huge plus. They are spacious enough to fit a toddler, a parent, and all the gear without feeling like you're in a locker-room wrestling match..
Toddler Tolerance Level:
2 hours. Between all the different pools and the friends that Yuyu made, she was in her glee.
Nap Roulette Options?
Swimming is the ultimate energy burner. Yuyu was exhausted, and my mum was ready for her own "proper" shower at home so we didn’t hang around. Yuyu passed out on our drive home.
Author
I’m Mimi, the writer behind Mi & Yu. This blog was born out of a year spent exploring Vancouver with my toddler Yuyu and newborn son Gabe while my husband Jamie worked through a demanding fellowship.
What started as a way to survive the newborn phase turned into a collection of tried-and-tested family adventures, real reviews, tested logistics, and the occasional toddler meltdown included. Now back home in Newfoundland, I’m sharing those adventures so other parents can skip the decision fatigue and get straight to the fun part.
