NEWS RELEASE
YMCA OF SIMCOE-MUSKOKA
*************************
Eight months after announcing the permanent closure of the Orillia YMCA, the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka announced today that it has sold the property to a private company.
The former YMCA location was closed in March 2020 . In August 2020, the Y announced that it was not intending to re-open the facility, as result of pressures caused by the COVID19 pandemic.
This decision, says CEO Jill Tettmann, was one of a number of very difficult decisions necessitated by lost revenues during the pandemic, which has caused the shuttering of health and fitness facilities across Canada, off and on, for more than a year.
“Unfortunately, like many Canadian charities, our YMCA is not immune to the ongoing effects of the pandemic,” confirmed Tettmann. “Our goal has always been to protect the long term sustainability of our organization, so we can continue to contribute to the health of individuals, families and communities. This deal helps us to continue that mission.”
Proceeds from the sale will ultimately contribute to greater financial stability for the charity, which served more than 100,000 people across the region in 2019 and still delivers many mission critical programs to the people of Orillia, including child care, before and after school care, day camps and youth employment programs.
The deal is effective immediately. At this time, the details of the sale remain confidential and any additional announcements about the use of the property will be at the discretion of the new owner.
Past proposals for the space have included a youth housing hub. In late 2020, the YMCA proposed a zoning change that was necessary to access funding to move forward with this vision. When city council voted down the proposed zoning change, the Y began looking for other options for the property. Since that time, the Y has been renting out the facility to local community groups.
*************************
