The YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka wants the community to give it a hand to get out of the dire straits it's been put in by COVID-19.
Recent presentations made by CEO Rob Armstrong and other local staff have painted a picture of the organization feeling down on itself.
Like many other non-profits, Armstrong told Penetanguishene councillors recently, the YMCA also moved to a virtual method of delivering some of its services when the pandemic was declared, with the exception of childcare, which is being delivered in-person with proper safety protocols in place.
The closure meant a loss of roughly 50% of its overall annual revenue, translating to $1.5 million for North Simcoe, he added.
But now as the province moves through its various stages of reopening, Armstrong said the organization is also looking at its future.
"There are a number challenges to overcome before we can open the Midland YMCA ," he said, referring to the facility that has been closed since late March. "To reopen, we require $250,000 in capital repairs as well as adequate membership sales to ensure our day-to-day operation."
Armstrong said this money has already been raised with the help of community support and has already helped with repairs to the pool and subsequently the facility’s roof along with other capital deficiencies.
"However, this centre is still anticipating monthly losses of $50,000 for the foreseeable future, so we are asking our municipal partners to consider providing financial support to allow us to safely reopen,” he added.
However, recent survey results by the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka indicate that roughly 45% of its adult membership is willing to return to the facility if it reopens.
"That translates to be about 1,097 active adult users," said Armstrong. "We require about 1,720 of which 1,462 individuals need to be adults to make the YMCA viable."
And for that reason, he said as he concluded his presentation to council, he and his staff are asking municipalities to help out.
"We are asking for the Town of Penetanguishene to work with all the other communities in the area in two different ways," said Armstrong. "One to provide the Y with funding to help support our reopening. And two, to work with the YMCA to create a fulsome operational agreement that ensures our viability to deliver (programming) moving forward."
Coun. George Vadeboncoeur asked if a reopening date had been determined yet.
"We're looking at the New Year," said Armstrong. "As I said earlier, we have to put a new roof on the building and two new HVAC units. We've managed to fundraise that money. We want to get that going as soon as possible, but it would probably take the fall to get done."
His ask had been the same at a Midland council meeting earlier this month.
"When you're talking about an agreement that you're looking for, how does that look? Is it possible to get a little more clarification and details on that?" asked Coun. Carole McGinn.
It would be a general understanding of working better together, said Armstrong.
"That goes for everything from joint promotion to understanding the impact that the Y has on the community," he said. "The Midland Y has always been on its own with the way the world is changing and with how this might look in the future, we would love the partnership to be in some ways financial, but if not, we would want it to be partnership around self-promotion and understanding that we are a part of the community."
Coun. Jon Main expressed his concerns around the YMCA relying on funding provided by municipalities.
"Even if North Simcoe municipalities come together, the big worry is that may not be enough," he said. "Looking to the federal government and the provincial government, have you guys been successful tapping into some of the emergency funding? Are there any programs they've established specificially for a non-profit recreation facility like the YMCA?"
Armstrong said the organization had already taken advantage of all the programs that the government has had through COVID.
"At one point, we'd laid off 1,000 people," he said. "We brought a number of people back with childcare, but we took advantage of the wage benefit funding. Right now, there are $150,000 for the whole association to help with PPEs and safety barriers."
However, it seems the future remains uncertain, said Armstrong.
While not specificying a funding amount, council members in both Penetanguishene and Midland pointed to their budget process before promising anything.
"When I saw Midland left unscathed, I was very happy about that," said Coun. Bill Gordon, talking about the closure of the Barrie and Orillia facilities. "But I knew it wasn't going to be for free. This request tonight is not unexpected. What the upfront financial support looks like, we'd have to talk about it at budget."
