Orillia Y unveils expansion plans

Author: Frank Matys

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Orillia’s YMCA unveiled plans for a $3.5-million expansion and redevelopment during a press conference. Pictured is Doug Christie, chair of the fundraising campaign.

Orillia’s space-squeezed YMCA unveiled plans this week for a $3.5 million upgrade of its Peter Street home.
Work on the expansion and redevelopment will begin this fall, CEO Tom Coon told an audience at the local facility on Tuesday.
“It will be your YMCA, but better than ever,” Coon said.
The project includes a new fitness and conditioning centre, family and special-needs facilities, more programming space, and expanded childcare areas.
Upgraded showers and washrooms, improved accessibility and parking and state-of-the-art fitness equipment are also planned.
Organizers of the community-led capital campaign have to date raised more than 80 percent of the $2 million needed to complete the project.
“It’s been a long process with so many people pitching in to make this a reality, but we’ve still got some work to do in reaching our financial goals,” said Doug Christie, campaign chair.
Christie stressed that construction will begin in the fall regardless of whether the remaining funds have been raised, saying the cramped operation cannot continue in its present state.
“We can’t let the facility stay the way it is,” he added, noting that memberships have risen by 500 to 3,500 over the past year.
Christie said donations are increasingly harder to come by because of the tightening economy.
“It is a little tougher right now,” he added. “It means maybe calling on a few more people than we would have.”
Families with young children and those with special needs will benefit from the inclusion of a new locker room designed with physical and other challenges in mind.
Construction will last about a year, Christie said.
“This is going to happen and we couldn’t be more excited,” he added.
The original YMCA was erected in the downtown in 1908 and featured the first indoor pool north of Toronto, a gym, meeting rooms, and a hostel.
A fire forced its closure in 1982, and prompted the opening of a new Y in the present building four years later.
In addition to health, fitness and recreation facilities, the Peter Street YMCA offers childcare, day camps and youth programs.
It was named for long-time volunteer and Orillia Hall of Famer Skid Watson.