If you search for Axworthy Health in Canada, the name can create some confusion. It sounds like a medical clinic, doctor’s office or health centre where patients book appointments for routine care. In reality, the name most commonly refers to the Axworthy Health & RecPlex at the University of Winnipeg, a large recreation, athletics, fitness and wellness facility located at 350 Spence Street in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. The facility is open to University of Winnipeg students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the public.
That distinction matters before planning a visit. You do not generally book a family-doctor appointment directly with the Axworthy Health & RecPlex itself. Instead, visitors use the facility for recreation, sports, fitness programming, community activities and facility rentals. The connected University of Winnipeg wellness ecosystem also includes services such as athletic therapy, while medical services on campus are separate from the RecPlex.
This guide explains what Axworthy Health actually offers, who can use it, what facilities are available, how bookings work, where athletic therapy fits in, and what to expect if you are visiting for the first time.
What Is Axworthy Health & RecPlex?
The Axworthy Health & RecPlex is part of the University of Winnipeg’s Recreation Services network. It is a large indoor sports, recreation and wellness facility connected with the university’s broader athletic infrastructure. The facility is located at 350 Spence Street in Winnipeg and is designed for use by both the university community and the public.
The facility opened in 2014 as a major expansion of recreation and wellness infrastructure at the university. The University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation describes it as a mixed multi-sport, recreation and research facility, while the university’s current Recreation Services materials continue to position it as a centre for fitness, wellness, sports and community programming.
Its primary features include a large artificial-turf field, sprint track, batting cages, change facilities and community spaces. Current facility information describes a turf field that can be divided into three cross-field areas, along with a four-lane, 60-metre rubberized sprint track and sand pit.
This means Axworthy Health should be understood primarily as a recreation and wellness destination rather than a conventional medical clinic.
That does not mean health services are absent from the surrounding campus system. Athletic therapy, fitness programs and wellness resources are part of the wider University of Winnipeg environment, but each service has its own access and booking process.
Where Is Axworthy Health Located?
The Axworthy Health & RecPlex is located at:
350 Spence Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada
The University of Winnipeg lists the facility’s direct Recreation Services contact number as 204-988-7634, while the wider Recreation Services office can also be reached at 204-786-9349.
The RecPlex sits in the heart of the University of Winnipeg’s downtown campus and is connected with the nearby Duckworth Centre, another major university recreation facility. The Duckworth Centre contains several additional sports and wellness amenities, including the Bill Wedlake Fitness Centre and the university’s Athletic Therapy Clinic.
For first-time visitors, knowing the distinction between the two buildings is useful.
The Axworthy Health & RecPlex is particularly associated with the indoor turf field, sprint track and community activity spaces.
The Duckworth Centre contains facilities such as the fitness centre, indoor track, racquet courts and Athletic Therapy Clinic.
Because the facilities operate together as part of UWinnipeg Recreation Services, people sometimes use “Axworthy Health” when referring generally to the broader recreation complex.
What Facilities Are Available at Axworthy Health?
The Axworthy Health & RecPlex was designed to accommodate a wide range of sports rather than focusing on one activity.
Current University of Winnipeg information describes the facility as supporting sports and activities such as soccer, flag football, track and field and other recreational programming.
Among its main facilities are:
- Large indoor artificial-turf field
- Three configurable cross-court fields
- Four-lane 60-metre sprint track
- Sand jump pit
- Retractable batting cages
- Community gym
- Multi-purpose spaces
- Change rooms and lockers
- Underground parking
- Spaces used for cultural and community programs
The Community Gym can accommodate activities such as basketball and volleyball and also contains basketball hoops and a horizontal bouldering wall. It can additionally be used for lectures, presentations and meetings.
The flexibility is one of the RecPlex’s biggest strengths.
A university athlete may use the facility for structured training.
A community group might book space for sports programming.
A school or organization may use one of the spaces for an event.
Another visitor may simply participate in scheduled recreation or fitness programming.
That makes Axworthy Health more accurately described as a multi-purpose community wellness and recreation complex than a single-service athletic centre.
Is Axworthy Health a Medical Clinic?
No. This is the most important point to understand.
The Axworthy Health & RecPlex itself is not a standard walk-in medical clinic or family doctor’s office. Current University of Winnipeg information identifies it as a recreation, health, wellness and sports facility.
The University of Winnipeg does have medical and wellness-related services elsewhere within its campus system.
The university’s campus information separately lists a medical clinic, while the Athletic Therapy Clinic is located in the basement of the Duckworth Centre rather than inside the main Axworthy RecPlex fieldhouse.
This distinction becomes important when someone searches for terms such as:
- Axworthy Health doctor
- Axworthy Health clinic
- Axworthy Health appointment
- Axworthy Health physician
- Axworthy Health medical services
Someone searching those phrases may actually need either the Athletic Therapy Clinic, campus medical services, or another Winnipeg health provider.
Going directly to the RecPlex customer-service desk expecting a medical assessment would therefore be the wrong approach.
Before visiting, identify which service you actually need.
If your goal is sports, fitness, recreation or facility rental, Recreation Services is the appropriate starting point.
If your goal is injury rehabilitation or athletic therapy, the Athletic Therapy Clinic is more relevant.
For routine medical care, use the university’s separate health-service channels.
Athletic Therapy Services Near Axworthy Health
One of the most significant health-related services connected with the Axworthy/Duckworth recreation complex is the University of Winnipeg Athletic Therapy Clinic.
The clinic is located in the Duckworth Centre, which is connected with the Axworthy Health & RecPlex. The University of Winnipeg lists the Athletic Therapy Clinic in the Duckworth Centre basement.
Athletic therapy focuses heavily on musculoskeletal injuries, rehabilitation, sports-related problems and safe return to activity.
The University of Winnipeg is also an educational centre for athletic therapy. Its Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health offers a Bachelor of Science program in Athletic Therapy, and students receive practical experience as part of their education.
Historically, the clinic has involved athletic therapists and medical professionals with sports-medicine experience. University information also notes that its concussion-management work has involved physicians and athletic therapists experienced in diagnosing and managing concussion-related injuries.
That makes the Athletic Therapy Clinic particularly relevant for people dealing with problems such as sports injuries or rehabilitation needs.
However, it should not be confused with emergency medicine.
Serious trauma, severe head injury, loss of consciousness, major fractures or other urgent conditions require appropriate emergency care rather than waiting for a routine athletic-therapy appointment.
Who Works in the Athletic Therapy Program?
University of Winnipeg faculty and clinicians contribute to the Athletic Therapy Clinic as both health professionals and educators.
For example, the university identifies Jeff Billeck, MSc., CAT(C) as the manager of the Athletic Therapy Clinic and Head Athletic Therapist for the Wesmen Athletics program.
University faculty profiles also indicate that Ben Trunzo, MSc., CAT(C) divides his work between teaching and treating patients in the Athletic Therapy Clinic.
Glen Bergeron, PhD., CAT(C) is another faculty member involved with clinical care; his university profile states that he sees patients in the on-campus Athletic Therapy Clinic two days per week.
These examples show the teaching-clinic nature of the environment.
Patients may interact with experienced clinicians while the clinic also plays a role in training future athletic therapists.
That is common in university-based clinical programs.
It also means individual staff schedules may vary according to teaching, clinical and university responsibilities.
People seeking a specific therapist should not simply arrive expecting that person to be available.
The correct approach is to contact the clinic or appropriate university department and confirm current appointment availability.
How Do You Book an Appointment at Axworthy Health?
This depends entirely on what you mean by “appointment.”
There is no single universal Axworthy Health appointment system because the RecPlex provides several different types of services.
If you want to use or rent a recreation facility, the University of Winnipeg provides an online Recreation Services portal and facility-booking system.
If you want a racquetball, handball or squash court, current booking options are available through the Recreation Services portal.
If you want to organize an event or book larger recreational spaces, Recreation Services provides facility and event-booking requests.
For questions, Recreation Services lists:
Phone: 204-786-9349
Axworthy RecPlex: 204-988-7634
Email: recreationservices@uwinnipeg.ca
Medical or athletic-therapy appointments should not be booked through a general field or recreation reservation.
Instead, contact the appropriate clinic directly.
This distinction may sound obvious, but the keyword axworthy health frequently creates confusion because “health” is part of the building’s name.
How Facility Bookings Work
Organizations and individuals interested in using Recreation Services spaces should begin with the University of Winnipeg’s booking system.
The university maintains facility-booking request information for the Axworthy Health & RecPlex and Duckworth Centre.
The exact process depends on what you want to reserve.
A community organization renting a large field has different requirements from someone booking a squash court.
Major events may require additional coordination regarding capacity, setup, equipment and facility rules.
Visitors with an Axworthy booking are instructed to report to the main-floor Customer Service Desk past the field when arriving for their reservation.
For larger reservations, it is sensible to provide Recreation Services with:
- Preferred date
- Start and end time
- Type of activity
- Expected number of participants
- Required playing area
- Equipment requirements
- Organization details
- Special accessibility needs
- Whether spectators will attend
Do not assume that an empty-looking field is available.
University rules state that unregistered or unscheduled facility use is not permitted.
For organized activities, securing the appropriate booking is essential.
Can Members of the Public Use Axworthy Health?
Yes.
The University of Winnipeg explicitly states that its recreation facilities are open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the public.
This public-access model is central to the Axworthy Health & RecPlex’s purpose.
The building was developed not just for university athletics but also to increase recreation opportunities for surrounding Winnipeg communities. Project information emphasizes consultation with neighbourhood organizations, university stakeholders and community partners during its development.
The facility also operates under a community-access philosophy.
The University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation notes that the project includes a Community Charter and community-access structures designed to support relationships with sport, youth, cultural, social and educational groups.
That community focus differentiates the RecPlex from many university athletic buildings where public access is highly restricted.
However, “open to the public” does not mean every area can be used freely at any time.
Some facilities require memberships.
Others require bookings.
Certain scheduled periods may be dedicated to university teams, classes or community groups.
Always check current availability before travelling specifically for an activity.
Fitness Services and Memberships
The broader University of Winnipeg Recreation Services system includes the Bill Wedlake Fitness Centre, which is housed in the Duckworth Centre.
The fitness centre contains cardio and strength-training equipment and forms part of the university’s connected recreation network.
Membership options are available through Recreation Services, which provides membership information and contact support through its website and Recreation Portal.
This is another area where visitors may mistakenly assume everything is physically located inside the Axworthy building itself.
The RecPlex and Duckworth Centre function together, but specific facilities are distributed across the complex.
If your goal is primarily:
Soccer or turf activity: Axworthy is particularly relevant.
Sprint training: Axworthy offers the indoor sprint track.
Basketball or community recreation: check the Community Gym and current scheduling.
Weight training and cardio: the Bill Wedlake Fitness Centre in Duckworth is more relevant.
Athletic injury care: the Athletic Therapy Clinic in Duckworth is the correct destination.
Understanding that layout makes the first visit considerably easier.
Sports and Recreation Programming
Axworthy Health & RecPlex supports a broad range of recreational activities.
The university’s 2026–2027 undergraduate information highlights the facility’s artificial turf, sprint track, batting cages and dance/yoga space and notes the availability of activities such as soccer and community programming.
Current Recreation Services programming includes fitness classes, intramurals, leagues and facility-specific activities. The university’s Recreation Portal is the most useful source for current offerings because programs and seasonal schedules change.
That makes the facility suitable for several different types of users.
Competitive athletes may use it for structured training.
Students may participate in intramural sports.
Community groups may organize youth or adult programs.
Members of the public may use eligible facilities or register for available programming.
The facility also accommodates events beyond conventional sport.
Project information notes its ability to host cultural and community activities, while the Thomas Sill Community Multi-Purpose Room was specifically designed to support a range of community uses.
This combination of sport and community programming is a key part of Axworthy’s identity.
Personal Training and Fitness Guidance
People who want more structured exercise support should look at the personal-training services offered through University of Winnipeg Recreation Services.
The current Recreation Portal includes a dedicated Personal Training section alongside the Bill Wedlake Fitness Centre and other recreation services.
Personal training can be useful for beginners who are unfamiliar with strength-training equipment, people returning to regular exercise after a long break, or experienced gym users who want a more structured training program.
However, personal training and athletic therapy serve different purposes.
A personal trainer primarily helps with exercise programming, fitness goals and safe training technique.
An athletic therapist focuses more specifically on injury assessment, rehabilitation and return to physical activity.
Someone with persistent pain or an unresolved injury should not simply ask a personal trainer to work around the problem without appropriate assessment.
Likewise, someone who has completed rehabilitation but wants to improve general strength or conditioning may benefit from transitioning toward fitness training.
Choosing the right service is more useful than simply searching broadly for “Axworthy Health staff.”
Community Gym and Multi-Purpose Areas
The Community Gym is one of the more flexible spaces inside the Axworthy Health & RecPlex.
University facility information states that it contains a small basketball or volleyball court, five basketball hoops and a horizontal bouldering wall. It can also accommodate lectures, presentations and meetings.
That flexibility is useful for community organizations.
A youth group might use the space for recreation.
A university department might use it for an event.
A non-profit organization may require a large indoor meeting area.
Sports organizations may use it for training or programming.
The RecPlex also contains a large multi-purpose room and additional areas designed to support events and community activities.
If you are planning a non-sport event, do not assume that a recreation centre is unsuitable.
The facility’s design deliberately supports more than athletics.
However, every event has different requirements, particularly when equipment, seating, food, large crowds or specialized setup is involved.
Contact Recreation Services rather than relying only on room photographs or capacity estimates found on third-party websites.
Accessibility and Safety
Accessibility is an important consideration for any public recreation facility.
The University of Winnipeg maintains accessibility information for its Recreation Services and fitness facilities, and visitors with specific needs should review current guidance or contact staff before arriving.
Safety infrastructure is also distributed throughout the complex.
The university’s AED directory lists automated external defibrillators at multiple locations in the Axworthy Health & RecPlex, including its first-floor desk, second-floor desk and field area. Additional AEDs are located in Duckworth Centre facilities, including the Athletic Therapy Clinic and Fitness Centre.
Facility users are expected to follow Recreation Services rules and code-of-conduct requirements.
Rules include responsible use of scheduled spaces, respectful behaviour and reporting equipment malfunctions or injuries to staff.
For a first visit, the basic approach is simple:
Arrive early.
Check in where required.
Ask staff if you are uncertain where your activity is located.
Follow the rules for the specific field, gym or program you are using.
What to Expect on Your First Visit
Your first visit will depend heavily on why you are going.
If you are attending a booked sports activity, you will likely check in or meet your group near the appropriate customer-service area.
If you are participating in a fitness program, arrive with suitable clothing, footwear and any equipment identified during registration.
If you are visiting the fitness centre, confirm membership or drop-in requirements before arriving.
If you are going for athletic therapy, make sure you know that the clinic is in the Duckworth Centre rather than assuming the main Axworthy field entrance is your destination.
Useful items may include:
- Athletic footwear
- Comfortable exercise clothing
- Water bottle
- Membership or booking information
- Identification where required
- Lock if using eligible locker facilities
- Medical or injury information if attending a clinical appointment
The facility is active and can be busy when multiple leagues, classes and university activities overlap.
Allowing extra time to navigate the complex is sensible on a first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Axworthy Health in Canada?
Axworthy Health generally refers to the University of Winnipeg’s Axworthy Health & RecPlex, located at 350 Spence Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is a recreation, sport, fitness and wellness facility rather than a conventional family medical clinic.
Can I book a doctor’s appointment at Axworthy Health?
Not through the RecPlex’s general recreation-booking system.
The University of Winnipeg has separate campus health services, while the Athletic Therapy Clinic is located in the connected Duckworth Centre. Facility bookings for Axworthy are intended for recreation, sports and events.
Is Axworthy Health open to the public?
Yes. University of Winnipeg Recreation Services states that its facilities are open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the public. Access to individual spaces may still require a membership, registration or reservation.
How do I book an Axworthy Health facility?
Facility and event booking requests can be made through University of Winnipeg Recreation Services. Court bookings and certain registrations are also available through its Recreation Portal.
For booking questions, Recreation Services can be contacted at 204-786-9349, while the Axworthy RecPlex number is 204-988-7634.
Does Axworthy Health have athletic therapy?
Athletic therapy is available within the broader University of Winnipeg recreation complex, but the Athletic Therapy Clinic is located in the Duckworth Centre basement, not in the main Axworthy fieldhouse.
Final Thoughts
The biggest mistake someone can make when searching for Axworthy Health is assuming the name belongs to a conventional Canadian medical clinic.
It does not.
The Axworthy Health & RecPlex is a major University of Winnipeg recreation and wellness facility at 350 Spence Street, built around sport, physical activity, community programming and campus recreation. It includes a large artificial-turf field, indoor sprint track, batting cages, community spaces and access to a wider network of university recreation facilities.
It is also open beyond the university student population. Students, staff, faculty, alumni and members of the general public can access Recreation Services, although the exact rules depend on the facility or program being used.
For people seeking health-related services, the distinction between the RecPlex and the wider campus matters. The connected Duckworth Centre contains the Athletic Therapy Clinic and Bill Wedlake Fitness Centre, while the university separately identifies campus medical services.
So before trying to “book an Axworthy Health appointment,” determine what you actually need.
For sports, recreation, fields, gyms or events, start with University of Winnipeg Recreation Services.
For athletic injury assessment or rehabilitation, look specifically for the Athletic Therapy Clinic.
For general medical care, use the university’s medical-service information rather than the RecPlex facility-booking system.
That distinction saves time and gives visitors a much clearer path to the right service.