Northern YMCA locations receive federal funding
A new front desk area and roof are on the way for YMCA locations in Sudbury and Timmins thanks to federal funding.
On Wednesday, Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe announced $195,000 from FedNor and the Canada Community Revitalization Fund to help the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario modernize two of its facilities.
The project in Sudbury will see improvements to accessibility by adding push buttons and creating barrier-free access across the campus. Upgrades will also be made to the front desk area.
“It's going to give us opportunities to make sure that we are super accessible for folks that have different abilities, whether they are in wheelchairs on crutches or canes or if they just need to sit down while they chat to staff," said Helen Francis, YMCA Northeastern Ontario CEO.
Part of the funding will be used to complete a variety of green and structural upgrades to the Timmins YMCA.
Specifically the money will be used to install a new roof and exterior cladding, improve insulation and upgrade florescent fixtures to LED lighting.
Just more than two months ago, Francis told Sudbury city council that the Sudbury YMCA is the organization's "Achilles heel" and that memberships hadn't recovered since the pandemic.
But Francis said there is good news when it comes to memberships.
“We’re about 75 per cent of where we were pre-COVID and the numbers continue to climb, which is really encouraging," she said.
The hope is to have both renovation projects complete by this fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Auston Matthews returns for Game 7, but Leafs minus injured goaltender Joseph Woll
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews returned to the lineup for Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.