Last week, the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka announced 'heart-breaking' plans to begin a process to sell Geneva Park, a more than century-old leadership and conference centre on Lake Couchiching.
The iconic lakeside property in Ramara has also long been the home to outdoor education programs and a family camping destination for generations.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause hardships and challenges for individuals, families and communities across Canada and, unfortunately, our YMCA is not immune to these negative impacts,” explained the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka in a press release last week.
Ramara Township Mayor Basil Clarke says he was surprised by the YMCA's announcement, and wishes the township could step in to help preserve the property.
“There really isn’t much we could have done to protect this property. They are already tax-exempt, they don’t pay municipal taxes, which makes it even more shocking that they are a victim of COVID,” Clarke said.
“The township wouldn’t be able to afford to buy that park for municipal use ... although we haven’t discussed it yet, and I don’t even know what the asking price will be.”
Orillia resident Gord Ball has a special life-long relationship with Geneva Park, having spent his summers at the idyllic property for more than 75 years.
“I’m heartbroken by the news. I’m shocked, I’m angry, and deeply saddened. This is like suddenly losing a member of my family,” Ball said.
“It’s the home of my earliest memories. I used to go there as a child with my family every August.”
Ball says the park was more than what you could see on the surface; it's a place that shaped the community and the people who visited, he explained.
“Everything significant that has happened in my life you can trace back to Geneva Park - including the fact that I live in Orillia. It’s pretty central to me and my identity,” he explained.
While Ball is upset, he understands the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka’s reasoning for selling, but he is hopeful whoever purchases the property will have the intention of keeping it for the same use that it was used before.
The mayor agrees.
“I am concerned because the chances of it being opened up for the same kind of use again are slim and none," said Clarke. "That will be the next thing we hear, somebody buying it and changing it to something more commercial or residential.
“We would love the new owners to keep it for the same use as it was used before, but in today’s world it’s not likely,” lamented the mayor.
There is a movement afoot to protect the property.
“Yesterday there was a suddenly assembled Zoom meeting of Geneva Parkers, and 200 people showed up,” Ball explained.
"There is clearly a lot of interest from people who want to preserve what we love and value about Geneva Park, and we want to craft some sort of a resolution where that could happen, other than throwing it to the wolves on the real estate market," Ball told OrilliaMatters.
Ball isn’t sure such a resolution would be welcomed by the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, but he believes it would fit their core values and would help promote what the YMCA is all about.
“The YMCA’s motto is, 'We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities,' and I would say that nowhere have those been built better than at Geneva Park."
Tim Matthews is another former Geneva Parker who has spent most of his summers at the property for more than 60 years.
“I immediately almost felt sick when I heard the news,” said Matthews, who has lived in Birmingham, England for almost 50 years, but still returns to the park each summer.
“I then felt that I needed to do something to prevent the sale or arrange for it to be purchased by a group of people who want to keep it going in the same spirit in which it’s been running since its inception," he said.
Matthews is a part of a new Facebook group called Friends of Geneva Park which is intended to try to save the property. So far the group has more than 500 members and is attracting more every day.
Matthews is not only hopeful that a resolution can be made to save the property, but he is still hopeful that it can somehow remain with the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka.
“The YMCA values and the way in which it inspires young people to become leaders in their community is a fundamental part of what makes Geneva Park the place that it is,” he explained.
“It’s more than just a holiday destination. There is something that happens to you as a person there that helps you grow, and that is something we are very keen on supporting and continuing," said Matthews, who is the third generation of his family to enjoy Geneva Park.
Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School teacher Dave Pellerin worked at Geneva Park back in 1990 as a program director and has vacationed at the park with his family for 30 years.
“My first thought when I heard the news was, I hope somehow it can be kept going under leadership that has been at the core of the place for so long, and that’s what I’m still hoping emerges from this,” he said.
Pellerin says Geneva Park had a life-changing effect on his life after moving here from southwestern Ontario to work at the park. He has never left. Pellerin also met his wife through Geneva Park and landed jobs through connections related to the park.
“The lessons I learned there from some amazing people are still things that I’m teaching today to generations of high school students in the Orillia area through an outdoor education program that I’ve been teaching for about 20 years now," he explained.
"I also teach guitar classes which is something I learned to do by sitting around bonfires at Geneva Park.”
Clarke says the community will dearly miss Geneva Park, and the impact it had on locals over it’s more than 100-year history.
“It’s a beautiful and wonderful piece of property, it’s where our firefighters have our Christmas party every year, so it’s going to be missed.”
