This June (2022), I joined host Tracy Moore on Cityline—North America’s longest-running daytime talk show for women—to share cool and quirky classes you can take across Canada!
4 of the Coolest and Quirkiest Classes you can take in Canada
Segment originally aired June 1, 2022
Enrol in Mermaid School
You might not realize the world’s largest mermaid school started here in Canada, and now offers classes in cities across North America!
Aquamermaid teaches mermaid swimming lessons or runs mermaid school parties for all ages.
These classes can take place at any pool! An instructor can come to you, so you can do it in a private setting, or on vacation, at a hotel you’re staying at.
For instance, for this Cityline segment, we used the lovely 40-foot pool at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, which also offers day and multi-month pass access to their Health Club (which includes the pool).
More details on the Fairmont’s Health Club offerings below—I’m grateful to them for donating their space for us to film this segment!
If you hire Aquamermaid to run a class or party for you, you can learn how to do dolphin kicks, handstands, spins, somersaults, tail splashes and more!
These are popular for birthdays and bachelorette parties and if you’ve ever wanted to channel your inner mermaid, this is the class to do it.
Aquamermaid provides the tails and instruction, but if you happen to have your own mermaid tail (you’d be surprised how many do), you can bring it and use it too!
You need to know how to swim or else they can be tough to learn (and a little scary lol).
If you’re looking day use pool options in Edmonton (and access to other amenities), I wanted to shout out to the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald Health Club, who let us use their pool to film this!
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald’s two-tier, state-of-the-art, fully equipped Health Club is newly renovated and boasts a full squash court, a 40 foot saline swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room, and all of the cardio and free weight equipment expected of a world-class facility.
A day pass is $20 per person or $180 per person for a 10-day pass. They also sell 1-month, 3-month, and 12-month passes that vary depending on single use, two person, or pool-access only. Check out the Health Club brochure here!
Take a Goat or Animal Movement Class
You’ve likely heard of cat yoga and perhaps you’ve also heard of something called goat yoga.
These animal-themed classes are popular across the country but I’ve recently learned that some yoga instructors these days are moving away from that “yoga” language—think goat movements, not goat yoga.
It’s often not a true yoga class because most participants are really in it for the cute animal photo ops and cuddles., with some yoga-esque movements.
There’s a bunch of different animal movement classes being offered all over the country including in Alberta at the Moose Eco Lodge. This goat movement class takes place indoor or outdoor, and they’ve been booking classes two months out there’s so much interest.
I took a similar class in Arizona a few years ago and something you might not realize is that goats in this setting will poop on you but they’re like these little hard pellets so they kind of just roll right off (LOL).
A big part of these animal movement classes is laughing because the goats WILL make you laugh!
Depending on where you live, you can likely find dog or cat movement classes being offered in support of your local animal rescues as well.
Sign up to Circus School
There’s a Circus School in Quebec that’s located inside a renovated church, where you can learn how to be a circus performer!
Flip Circus School offers teaches you a bunch of different acrobatic disciplines like how to trampoline, aerial silks, trapeze, juggling, hand balancing, unicycle, tight wire walking and more!
These classes are offered for all ages and it’s great as a recreational class however definitely worth noting that people do book at this school for experience to become professional circus performer!
As you know, Cirque du Soleil originated in Quebec, so honing those skills at Circus School while it might sound a little unusual, is actually a very serious profession that requires a ton of skill, strength and ability.
But I do like that they let people do recreational classes among the programming for more serious acrobats.
Head to Adult Summer Camp
Why should kids be the only one to go to summer camp?
Camp No Counsellors, is a summer camp company that’s strictly for grown-ups! They offer public camps in different locations across North America as well as private groups or retreats.
Adult summer camp takes your favourite summer camp memories as a kid—like rock climbing classes, archery, painting, and water sports, then adds things you love as an adult—like drinks, theme parties, and really good food.
Adult summer camp can be a perfect way to recharge and honestly not really an opportunity that many adults get anymore.
Camp No Counselors is U.S. based and the biggest all inclusive adult camp company in the world. They have done pop-ups in Canadian cities and are constantly adding different locations and dates to their rosters so if you do want to experience it, watch their website and social media, but here in Canada, there are also Canadian adult camp options you can find as well such as: Camp Throwback and Canadian Adventure Camp!
What did I miss?
Theres a lot of cool, quirky and unique classes you can find in Canada—while I only highlighted four, I’d love to hear what you’ve tried! Leave a comment with suggestions for others who might be interested in trying it too.
Watch the segment on YouTube below:
Thanks again to Cityline for having me on the show! I love being one of their guest “experts!”
