Junior Chef Academy
$715 + HST · Ages 8–13, up to 10 kids
The best Kanata kids activities fall into three groups: sports and recreation (skating, the Kanata Leisure Centre, martial arts), arts and music programs, and hands-on cooking classes at Cookiddoo.
If you live in Kanata or the west end of Ottawa, you already know the drill: driving downtown for kids' activities eats into weeknights and weekends. The good news is that Kanata has grown into a destination in its own right, with an expanding lineup of programs, facilities, and experiences for children of all ages. This guide covers the best Kanata kids activities available right now — from ice skating and martial arts to a cooking school that works only with children — so you can plan the season without leaving the west end.
Sports, Recreation, and Physical Activities in Kanata
Kanata has no shortage of options for active kids. The Kanata Leisure Centre on Sandhill Road is the anchor of community recreation in the area, offering swimming lessons, fitness programs, gymnastics, and drop-in gym time for all age groups. Enrollment opens seasonally and spots in popular swim programs fill quickly, so it pays to register early.
For skating, the Richcraft Sensplex on Goulbourn Forced Road gives young hockey players and recreational skaters access to four NHL-size ice pads year-round. Public skates run throughout the week, and the facility hosts learn-to-skate programs starting from around age three. During winter, several outdoor rinks in the Kanata Lakes and Bridlewood neighbourhoods also open for free skating.
Families near the Canadian Tire Centre corridor have easy access to soccer clubs, ball hockey leagues, and gymnastics studios along Terry Fox Drive and Hazeldean Road. Rock climbing has gained popularity too, with indoor bouldering gyms a short drive west that offer youth intro sessions. Martial arts — karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, taekwondo — have a particularly strong presence in Kanata, with programs enrolling children as young as four.
Arts, Music, and Creative Activities for Kanata Kids
Beyond sports, there is a growing creative scene in the west end. Music schools along Hazeldean and March Road offer piano, guitar, violin, and vocal training, typically starting at age five or six. Several dance studios in the area cover everything from ballet and jazz to hip-hop and acro, with competitive and recreational streams.
Visual arts programs run through both the City of Ottawa's recreation listings and private studios. In spring and summer, the Kanata Farmers' Market (held Sundays at Walter Baker Sports Centre) also organizes occasional craft sessions for younger visitors.
Drama and theatre programs tied to local community centres round out the arts offering. These tend to be seasonal — winter and spring sessions primarily — so checking the City of Ottawa recreation portal in August and January gives you the best selection.
Cookiddoo: Kanata's Kids-Only Cooking School
Here is where Kanata punches above its weight compared to most suburban communities in Canada: it is home to Cookiddoo, a cooking school that works only with children. Cookiddoo runs its open classes here and its weekly course in Westboro. Its instructors also bring the class to your home, your child's school or a community centre, anywhere in Ottawa and Gatineau. That alone makes it one of the more genuinely distinctive things to do with kids in the area.
Classes are led by Food Handler certified instructors who work only with children. Groups are capped at ten children, so every kid gets hands-on time at their own station — no watching from the back of the room. At the weekly course parents drop off and get two hours to themselves; at a class at home the instructor brings everything and cleans up.
Programs run year-round and cover a wide age range (4–15):
- Classes and parties at your home — a private 2-hour class for your child and friends, $385 for 8 kids, any date that suits you
- Junior Chef Academy — an 8-week Tuesday evening course in Westboro for ages 8–13
- Open classes — single 2-hour sessions on a theme, from $55 per child; new dates are announced on the classes page
- Summer and March Break camps — full days, 9 AM to 4 PM, for ages 7–13, $320 per week
- After-school program — weekday sessions designed around school schedules
- School and daycare workshops — cooking workshops in the classroom, from $1,520 per group for a 4–6 week series
Cookiddoo holds a 4.6★ rating on Google and runs classes and parties in both English and French, which matters in a bilingual community like Ottawa. As far as local options go, a cooking school built entirely around children is something few places in the west end offer.
Seasonal Highlights: Planning Kanata Kids Activities by Time of Year
Fall/Winter: Hockey registration, skating lessons at Sensplex, martial arts enrollment, music school sessions, and Cookiddoo's fall course and after-school program all kick off in the fall. Course groups are capped at 10 children, so it pays to ask for dates early.
Spring: Outdoor soccer leagues, community theatre, and spring cooking classes. March Break camps across all disciplines are popular; ask Cookiddoo for March Break camp dates in January.
Summer: Day camps dominate. Kanata has sports camps, STEM camps, arts camps, and — uniquely — Cookiddoo's culinary summer camp, one of the few options where children leave with a skill they will actually use at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular Kanata kids activities for ages 4–6?
Swim lessons at Kanata Leisure Centre, learn-to-skate programs, gymnastics, and introductory cooking classes at Cookiddoo are consistently popular for this age group. Cookiddoo accepts children from age four, making it one of the earlier-start options for structured, skill-based programming; a first class at home with a few friends is an easy way to start.
Does Cookiddoo only run classes in Kanata?
Cookiddoo is based in Kanata; its weekly course runs in Westboro. Its instructors also travel: classes, parties and workshops come to homes, schools, daycares and community centres anywhere in Ottawa and Gatineau, including Stittsville, Barrhaven, Nepean and Orléans.
Do I need to stay during my child's Cookiddoo class?
At the weekly course and open classes, parents drop off and come back at pickup time, which is practical for families juggling several schedules. Classes run two hours. At a class or party in your home, the hosting adult stays on site while the instructor runs the kitchen.
Are there bilingual kids activities in Kanata?
Yes. Several recreation programs through the City of Ottawa are offered in French and English, and Cookiddoo runs its classes and parties in either language — a meaningful differentiator for francophone and bilingual families in the west end.
How do Cookiddoo's birthday parties work?
Cookiddoo brings the birthday party to your home: the instructor arrives with ingredients, tools, aprons and chef hats, the children cook together as the activity, then eat what they made, and the team cleans up. It costs $385 for 8 children, $40 for each extra child up to 10. For more formats that travel to your door, see our guide to at-home kids birthday party ideas in Ottawa.
How do I register for Cookiddoo?
Call +1 613-710-0554, email info@cookiddoo.com, or visit cookiddoo.com to ask about dates for a class at home, the course or a camp week.
Plan a Cookiddoo Class
Whether you are building a full activities calendar or searching for one extraordinary thing your child will remember, Cookiddoo belongs on the shortlist. It is local, small-group, hands-on, and run by certified instructors who work exclusively with children. You can book a class at your home, see the Junior Chef Academy, or ask about camp weeks.
Contact Cookiddoo:
- Locations: Kanata (Glen Cairn United Church, 140 Abbeyhill Dr) and Westboro (470 Roosevelt Ave)
- Phone: +1 613-710-0554
- Email: info@cookiddoo.com
- Website: cookiddoo.com
Weekend dates for parties at home go first, so write early with the date you have in mind.
What Ottawa parents say
4.629 reviews on GoogleMy son attended several cooking classes at Cookiddoo, and he loved every one of them. He’s now a much more confident and capable helper in the kitchen, which has been amazing to see.
The instructors were incredibly engaging and patient with the kids. It is a wonderful, interactive way for children to learn new skills and build confidence in the kitchen.
My daughter attended one of their classes and made a delicious lasagna completely from scratch. I was truly impressed with what she accomplished.
Junior Chef Academy
$715 + HST · Ages 8–13, up to 10 kids