Midland Y: Stronger Together
The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka is planning to reopen its Midland Health, Fitness and Aquatics Centre on April 30th.
“”We had pressing capital concerns that needed to be addressed before we could reopen doors,” said YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka CEO Jill Tettmann. “I am thrilled to share that this work is now complete,”
Over the past year, the Midland Y has completed the following facility improvements:
- Pool repairs
- Roof replacement
- Ventilation improvements
The “Midland Y Stronger Together Campaign” was launched in late December to raise funds to support the Y’s reopening efforts.
“Our community has stepped up big time – we are incredibly thankful for the support of our donors and we are beyond thrilled to welcome you back into our facility!” says Midland Y General Manager, Naomi Murray. “We are committed to opening our doors on April 30th and hope that the community will continue to support our efforts as a charity during this challenging time, and for years to come.”
The Y has successfully reopened its Health, Fitness and Aquatics Centres in Collingwood, Innisfil and Wasaga Beach, and reopened its Gravenhurst facility today.
Current Midland YMCA members will be emailed about their memberships, payment dates, and the steps the Y will be taking to ensure the safety of all participants returning to the Y.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):
The YMCA’s Health, Fitness and Aquatics Centre connects 3,000 residents with a healthy lifestyle through a variety of program options.
- One in four members receive financial assistance
- Each week, 650 children and youth participate in swimming lessons at the Midland YMCA
- The Y also works in partnership with local health care providers to deliver cardiovascular rehabilitation programming in its Health and Fitness Centre
- In partnership with the Midland Y’s Men, the Y hosts a popular Friday night youth drop in program
- Hundreds of local youth have graduated through the Midland Y’s youth leadership program
The Y is also the largest provider of not-for-profit licensed child care and before/after school care in North Simcoe, delivers employment services and youth outreach/counselling, and offers a wide variety of camps for kids (both day camps and Camp Kitchikewana on Beausoleil Island).
- In the summer when gyms were first permitted to open, the Y opted instead to operate day camps out of its Health and Fitness facilities to support families returning to work
- In the fall the Y began to address major capital deficiencies in the Midland facility in anticipation of reopening in the New Year
- As YMCAs and other gyms fitness facilities began opening across the province with membership bases that were financially unsustainable, the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka reached out to local municipalities to financially support its reopening efforts
- The local municipalities offered a low interest loan – as a registered charity, the Y has opted to fundraise instead to ensure its long-term viability
Based on results at other YMCA locations, we anticipate a short fall of approximately 600 members a month. Funds raised will cover all associated operating costs (staffing at the Midland facility, utilities, program/cleaning supplies, equipment, etc.) and cover the cost of critical capital work being completed at the Midland facility (roof replacement, domestic hot water improvements, HVAC remediation).
Every dollar raised through the “Stronger Together” campaign will go directly towards offsetting operating costs associated with the Midland Health, Fitness and Aquatics centre over the next 12 months.
Donations can be pledged over twelve months and can be made in the form of cash and/or stocks/bonds. Visit www.midlandstrongertogether.ca to make a donation.
We will continue to fundraise until we reach our goal to reopen the Midland YMCA; if we exceed our goal or raise more funds than needed, they will stay on the balance sheet until the Midland Health and Fitness Aquatic Centre can use them to support its operations.