Another to add to Words for Things.
I’ve joined a recreational league basketball team that starts the end of February. Yesterday, at the Bonsor Community Center, there was an opportunity to meetup, shoot around and play pickup games. What is normally referred to as “open gym.” The gym is open for people to use, no reserved space for league or otherwise organized play.
Except in Canada.
The lady at the front desk explained the difference to me. Another “stupid American” moment but she was really nice about it. She explained the difference between the two.
- Drop-In: there is a fee to participate, about $2 CAD.
- Open Gym: free for all.
That makes sense. In the States, “open gym” can be free or it can have a fee. It depends on the place. Health club, community center, local high school gym. The fee may be money, or a donation, like canned goods or clothes. Again, it varies. I never really noticed how much easier it is to assign a different name to something that has an admission fee. Clarifies things a bit right off the bat, no?
I don’t know what happens at an “open gym.” Will have to check one of those out at some point.
So goes my “words for things” Canadian education.