Sault YMCA exceeds membership target, receives support from the city

The community-wide effort to save the YMCA in Sault Ste. Marie is officially a success.

Along with 2,600 new memberships -- 200 more than required – the organization also raised $500,000 in financial support. And now, the Sault Ste. Marie city council agreed unanimously Monday to support the organization.

That means the YMCA is officially back from the brink of closing its doors for good.

“I haven't experienced this in my 39 years,” said Jim Janzen of YMCA Ontario

“So, you know, the excitement in there (Monday) was something else, too. I mean, you have a unanimous council in support of its YMCA. I did not expect that.”

A new 10-year lease and backing from city hall doesn’t mean the battle is over for the YMCA.

But the support does mean the ‘Y’ can look to grow its footprint in the city once again and look to bring back previously canceled programming.

“We can now work to canvass what the community needs and then offer the programs that the community needs,” said Jake D’Agostini of the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA.

“So this gives us that room to breathe. And then it allows us to then look at offering a range of other options.”

The YMCA is looking for at least five board members to fill its complement of 12.

Many around the council table have expressed frustration with the current board, and are glad to have a city representative on it going forward.

They also said a partnership with the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario would be beneficial.

“I think some guidance is definitely needed,” said Coun. Angela Caputo.

“Obviously, the YMCA Northeast region has a proven model. Things are working out well for them. I think it's a really bright, shining light that Virginia McLeod is going to be put forward as a city representative.”

“The skill set of the board needs to be rounded out with whatever it is they're missing,” said Mayor Matthew Shoemaker.

“So whether they've got accounting expertise on board, I don't know whether they've got legal expertise, whether they've got someone who's got some business acumen, some fundraising expertise, all of those things need to be present on a successful board.”

Applications for the YMCA board of directors need to be in by the end of July.

The new board will be responsible for completing a long-term plan that will be presented to council by the end of this year.

It will include a course of action to bring in even more members and raise funds for capital projects, like further maintenance to the ‘Y’s almost 60-year-old building.

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