Efforts continue to save the Sault YMCA

A group of Sault Ste. Marie YMCA supporters working to save the facility from closure received a glimmer of hope at this week’s city council meeting.

However, with the May 15 closing date quickly approaching, members of Save Our YMCA said they would like to have received more details on a proposal the YMCA board is said to be considering.

“There’s a proposal before them that looks hopeful that there might be a path forward to sustain operations,” said Mayor Matthew Shoemaker ahead of a presentation by the group.

“We won’t know for sure unless it gets over some of the kind of milestones in the upcoming days and weeks to determine whether or not it’s truly viable.”

However, no details were shared about what exactly the board is looking into, which is something the Save Our YMCA group is becoming accustomed to.

“We had some updates prior to our presentation that the Y has been open to exploring options with the community,” said Ali Dennie, creator of the Save Our YMCA Facebook group.

“It wasn’t really a very thorough update, so we’re still not sure what that entails.”

“It’s still, I think, a bit of a theme at this point that there are not a lot of details to be shared,” said group member Kirsten Duke.

“I recognize that there are sensitivities around specifics and around finances, I understand that completely. However, I think it is really necessary at this point to be more transparent with the community at large.”

Shoemaker said he’s expecting an update in the coming weeks.

“Hopefully by the next council meeting, we’ll have additional information (about whether) the Y would at some point would be willing to put that information out on their own.”

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Officials at the Y weren’t prepared to comment on the options being considered and they were not able to confirm any timelines.

Until details are released, members of Save Our YMCA are taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding on next steps.