Sault YMCA avoiding closure thanks to charity group

In a major reversal of fortune, the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA is now on track to avoid outright closure, with an anonymous charitable foundation having agreed to acquire the aging recreation centre and sustain local operations.

"The due diligence period for the agreement is taking place over the next 60 days and the previously announced closure date of May 15 is postponed until further notice," the city announced via a Tuesday afternoon news release.

"Plans are underway to continue, and to resume, programming through the summer, including childcare operations."

Tuesday's release went on to state that the framework for this agreement contains a plan for continued operations of the YMCA over the next several years.

However, for this deal to be finalized, commitments are needed from multiple stakeholders and the public, the city says.

"There will be a report on the agenda for (the) city council’s meeting on Monday, May 13 with details about these commitments," the statement read. "More information will be available when the agenda for the meeting is released on Thursday, May 9."

Mayor Matthew Shoemaker remains confident that Sault residents will pull through for the next stage of this process, given the community's overall track record when it comes to pitching in during times of need.

"The thing we've seen time and time again when there are issues in our community ... is there's no end of people and organizations willing to step up to the plate, as is the case here," Shoemaker said over the phone following Tuesday's announcement.

"And we're really thrilled that we're going down this path and hope to get to the end successfully."

Interim CEO John Haddock confirmed the revival of the local YMCA in an email to members, thanking them for their patience throughout this challenging time.

This email represents a significant shift in tone from April 16, when YMCA officials announced they were making the "extremely difficult decision" to shut down local operations as of May 15 due to ongoing financial difficulties.

"We understand that this has been a very difficult situation for our community to grapple with," Haddock wrote on Tuesday. "We offer our deep gratitude to staff and their families, the community, and our members for their resilience and unwavering support during this time."

The YMCA has been operating in the Sault since 1900, with its current recreational facility at 235 McNabb Street opening to the public in the fall of 1965.

The rising costs of maintaining such an aging facility, coupled with inflation and a slow return to pre-COVID membership levels, served as the catalyst for the YMCA's current financial circumstances, which encouraged officials to announce the closure of local operations last month.

This surprise announcement triggered a massive reaction from residents, resulting in a public rally, a town hall meeting and finally a presentation to city council on April 29.

All three of these events were spearheaded by the "Save Our YMCA" committee, whose Facebook group currently consists of over 3,300 members.

Talking to The Star on Tuesday, head organizer Kirsten Duke said members of the group are "ecstatic" and "relieved" over the news that the YMCA is staying open, although she's fully aware that this process is far from over.

"I think our work's not done yet. It's just kind of started," Duke said.

"Having the Y maintain services at least for next few months is a big sigh of relief for all of us. And it allows us to at least get our feet back under us and figure out the best way forward."

YMCA staff and volunteers are already being told to prepare for the restarting of services, according to an email from YMCA board chair Elise Schofield.

"This means our current programs and services in health and fitness, child care and school-aged care will continue to be operated by the YMCA of Sault Ste. Marie, and we will need all of our staff to deliver these important programs and services," Schofield wrote Tuesday evening.

"This very positive news was shared with our staff, branch members and participants, and child care families today."

During the April 16 closure announcement, YMCA officials said their programs (except for day care services) would not survive past May 15, which inevitably meant the termination of many of its roughly 140 employees.

However, an internal email The Star obtained Tuesday states that YMCA Canada will be sending out letters rescinding these termination notices, with these documents also providing details on the facility's reopening.

"We completely understand if you have found other opportunities, (but) if you are able and willing to come back to work for YMCA we would so appreciate it!" health and fitness supervisor Brett MacDonald wrote in an email directed to staff and volunteers.

"Please let us know ASAP if you will be returning so we can schedule for May!"

The YMCA’s 86,000 square-foot recreation centre at McNabb currently features a variety of facilities, including a pool, an indoor running track, squash courts, a gymnasium and a fitness centre.

The local YMCA also offers 541 licensed day care spots across the city, with 140 of those spots being situated at McNabb.

The Sault YMCA's membership is approximately 3,300 people, according to a recent city report, which is a far cry from the roughly 7,000 members it registered in decades past.

kdarbyson@postmedia.com

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Kyle Darbyson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Sault Star