Sault Ste. Marie city council backs plan to support YMCA

The future of the YMCA in Sault Ste. Marie has a brighter path forward now that city council has voted to enter into a formal agreement with the charity.

At  a meeting on Monday night, city councillors voted unanimously to enter into the deal to support the YMCA.

In April, the YMCA announced it was planning to close due to inflation costs, a decline in memberships and increased operational costs.

Since then, work has been underway to come up with a plan to make the Y operate in a more sustainable way. The YMCA conducted a membership drive that yielded 2,603 new members and also raised funds. 

In May, city council approved of an investment of up to $505,000 toward infrastructure improvements at the YMCA, with matching funding expected from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

The Soo-based Lukenda Foundation also announced it would purchase the building. 

"I know that over the last two months, there has been a lot of hard work behind the scenes to create awareness," city Coun. Sandra Hollingsworth said.

"It's really another example of the community coming together for a great cause."

The deal between the two groups means the city will finalize a 10-year lease agreement and staff will be asked to determine a way so the YMCA building is exempt from municipal taxation.

'Y will need to be mindful'

Jim Janzen, senior vice-president of YMCA Ontario, also attended the meeting. 

"This is an aging building," he said. "So the reality is capital will be necessary, even for a five to 10 year stay in that building of this age."

He said the YMCA will need support to move forward.

"I can tell you that from my experience in Ontario, given this Y's condition … we know that this association, this Y will need to be mindful of its capital expenditures," he said.

He added consultants have told him the Y needs to have at least 2,400 members to be viable. 
"This community has achieved those numbers," he said.

"Now its the management expertise and governance that's applied to that."

Coun. Angela Caputo said she supports the YMCA but also expressed concerns.

"I have seen the City of Sault Ste. Marie step to the plate. I have seen local business owners step up to the plate. I have seen the Lukenda Foundation step up to the plate," she said.

"What I have not seen is the YMCA board step up to the plate. So I'm hoping to see a real restructuring there."

Board member Jake D'Agostini was at the meeting and attempted to address Caputo's concerns. However, he was told the comments from Caputo were not questions, meaning no response could be given at that time.

Part of the deal is that the city have a staff member on the YMCA's board.

The YMCA will also have to provide updates to city council four times a year.