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Accessible movement-activities promoting wellness and community on campus!
The AIR Program (Advocacy for Inclusive Recreation) is a collaborative program hosted by Vikes Athletics and Recreation, Native Students Union, Gender Empowerment Centre, Society for Students with a Disability, Students of Colour Collective, and Pride Collective. This program is for students who identify as members of the aforementioned Advocacy groups on Campus. The goal of AIR is to provide access in an inclusive, safe, and equitable manner to students of the five UVic Advocacy groups on campus. We want to provide accessible movement-activities that will promote wellness and community on campus.
The majority of AIR programming takes place in The Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA). CARSA contains a 2,100-seat performance gym, a huge multipurpose fieldhouse, a two-level fitness weight training area, CARSA Climbing Centre, dance space, dedicated TRX and spin classrooms, yoga studios, squash and racquetball courts, a rowing ergometer centre, and a sports injury clinic.
AIR programming takes place in the Gwynne Studio, and the Climbing Centre. Since it is a large facility, AIR participants can expect the lobby and main entrance to be busy and have a lot of traffic flow. Once you enter the space, you can check-in with a CARSA front desk staff and let them know which AIR program you are attending. They will buzz you in for free (NO CARSA PASS REQUIRED - just register online)
There are gender neutral bathrooms and accessible bathrooms in the facility.
We do our best to accommodate the access needs of our participants, given the barriers that they may experience while in the facility. If there is something we could do to make your CARSA experience more inclusive or accessible, please contact our Inclusion and Wellness Coordinator, Megan Vlahiotis at mvlahiotis@uvic.ca.
Questions about inclusion and accessibility at Vikes Recreation?
Email: mvlahiotis@uvic.ca
Instagram: @uvic.air
Inclusion and accessibility programs take place all over the CARSA and McKinnon facilities. Check individual program details for exact location. View map.
If you want to join the Vikes Recreation team, we have openings related to advocacy for inclusive recreation. Check out the jobs and volunteer positions below for more information.
Join us for some fun drop-in climbing at the CARSA Climbing Centre! The climbing tower has over 500 holds between the 55-foot tower and 14-foot bouldering wall. The CARSA Climbing Centre focuses on learning and practicing climbing skills in a safe and fun environment.
This program runs concurrently with the regular climbing drop-in sessions, so AIR participants will be sharing the space with other folks.
As we wish to practice transparency, there are some limitations to the equipment available for our AIR Climbing sessions. The climbing harnesses can fit up to a 48” waist, and the auto belay can support up to 310 lbs. Additionally, our adaptive equipment will not be available during this program. If you require the use of adaptive equipment, we have our Adaptive Climbing - Adult Drop-In sessions earlier on Saturdays from 5-7pm.
This program is in collaboration with Society for Students with a Disability (SSD). Join us for a welcoming and supportive yoga class designed with accessibility and inclusivity in mind. Whether you are new to yoga or have an established practice, these classes will offer variations for all levels, ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and supported. Together, we will focus on grounding asanas (poses), mindful breathing, and intention setting that promotes our well-being. Come join us to connect, move, and restore our collective energy in a safe and inclusive setting.
Come as you are—no prior experience necessary! Let’s move, breathe, and thrive together.
AIR will be hosting a monthly beginner-friendly weights program this fall! These sessions are open to all self-identified women and gender diverse students. This program is designed to help participants explore movement-based skills for building strength and to connect with their bodies in an accessible and safer space. Please come prepared with your ONECard. Gender-neutral change rooms/washrooms are available!
Introducing our new pilot drop-in weights program! These sessions will run every Tuesday and Thursday, and are open to all self-identified women and gender diverse students. We are asking folks to register for this program so we can ensure that we don't hit max capacity for this space, and so you can complete the facility waiver prior to working out! Please come prepared with your ONECard. Gender-neutral change rooms/washrooms are available.
Introducing our new Pickleball program! Join us on Tuesday, September 23 for some non-competitive, recreational pickleball that is intentionally for BIPOC students. All equipment will be provided. Please come prepared with your ONECard. Gender-neutral change rooms/washrooms are available!
Per is of Punjabi Indian descent, daughter of immigrant parents, a Mother, lifelong learner, and active community volunteer. Per is an alumni of Simon Fraser and the University of Victoria. She completed her Yoga teacher training at Ma Yoga after decades of searching for an inclusive program which honored traditional yogic practices and philosophies. Her lived experiences afford her the ability to readily connect with and understand the needs of others, specifically members of equity deserving groups. Using a healing-informed approach, both personally and professionally, Per continues on an empowering journey to connect deeper to herself and her ancestors through yoga, community, and service.
Aashna is a certified group fitness instructor at CARSA and has been leading classes since 2022. She is also a student at the University of Victoria, studying Computer Science and Statistics. She is passionate about creating inclusive and empowering fitness spaces where people feel confident, supported, and strong. She is really excited to be partnering with GEM to help build a welcoming environment that encourages movement and connection!
The AIR Program would not be able to be run without the collaboration of our dedicated committee members.
My name is Megan, I use she and they pronouns. I am Māori of the Ngāi Tahu iwi and a second-generation Greek immigrant to Turtle Island. I also have mixed European settler ancestry. I was born and raised on the tradition territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Chippewa, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabe peoples. Today I am a guest on the Xwsepsum, Songhees, and W̲SÁNEĆ homelands. I am honoured to learn from the stewards of this beautiful land.
I am the current co-chair of the AIR committee and am the Inclusion and Wellness Coordinator for the Wellness, Recreation and Athletics Department here at UVic! I am passionate about advocating for UVic students who face barriers to recreation, and to create safe and inclusive spaces for folks to rest and move their bodies.
When I’m not working, I love to cook/bake, listen to music, make art, watch anime, and hike! 😊
Hi, I’m Allie, I come from Treaty Seven territory, homeland of the Plains First Nations (which includes: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney-Nakoda, and the Tsuut-ina Nations), specifically from Calgary / Mohkinstsis. I have resided on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples for the last five years and currently live on the traditional lands of the Scia’new (Beecher Bay) First Nation.
For AIR, I am a co-chair and am the Constituency Groups Director with the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS). My role oversees all the Advocacy Groups at the UVSS and helps to foster collaborations between these Groups and other campus partners. I’m excited to be part of reimagining the AIR program and adapting our offerings to the needs of current UVic students.
Tansi, my name is Anagya Durocher, I am Cree-Metis student who was born and raised on the East Coast on Mississauga’s of the Credit, Anishanbeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat territory. Today I am a guest on Xwsepsum, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ homelands.
Through my position in the NSU as the Office coordinator, and within AIR as a group representative, I hope to have physical movement more available for NSU members. My hope is that we can provide class and maybe in the future gyms passes for NSU members because as the cost-of-living increases, the barriers Indigenous students face in showing up for their wellness increases.
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