OPINION: If we come together, our YMCA can survive and thrive

Most of us call it the “Y”.

If a building can bring back great memories, our YMCA certainly can. Although the location has changed at least a few times in the past, our Sault Ste. Marie YMCA dates back over 100 years. It was no surprise to me that the threat of closing our Y evoked not only a vociferous outpouring of concern, but among many of us, a disquieting sense of disbelief. I had a feeling that this is just not right.

I first started going to the March Street Y as a young child, to learn how to swim. In 1965, when the “Y” moved to McNabb Street to a much larger, ever-expanding facility offering so many opportunities for learning new sports and making friends, I came along with it. In hindsight, that move on the hill to what is now the centre of the city was brilliant. As a Board member in the late 1980s I felt like I was not just helping to steer our local YMCA, but, in a broader sense, our Sault Ste. Marie Community Centre.

The “Y” catered to individuals and families from all walks of life. It was, and always will be, an intrinsic part of the fabric of our city. Sault Ste. Marie is not unique in this aspect. The staff at the YMCA were dedicated, energized, and passionate about their jobs. The “Y” was a place where children, teens, adults, and seniors could meet new friends, exercise, learn new sports and skills, have fun and feel at home. It was a vibrant hub for enacting the values of health promotion and prosocial activity in Sault Ste. Marie.

So, I started with swimming, and even progressed to joining the swim team for a short time, until I decided I preferred sleeping to jumping into a cold pool at some far-too-early morning hour on those freezing cold January mornings. I enjoyed basketball, running on the rooftop track, squash, aerobics, saunas, the weight room, and many other activities. Throughout the years I was a member, it always felt like a community “Y” where everyone belonged.

Boards of Directors aspire to make decisions as best they can. Sometimes the cards dealt to them are not easy ones to play. Working with an aging building, never-ending cost increases, and trying to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic would have been challenging, to say the least. I can share from experience that sitting on a Board of Directors is not an easy gig. I have great respect for those who volunteer for this position.

RYTAC in the early ‘90s was managed and funded by the YMCA. Unfortunately, it started to become a money-losing venture and there was a push to have it closed. At the time, a number of us formed a subcommittee with the goal of finding a way to keep RYTAC alive. We all knew that once facilities like RYTAC close, they do not magically reappear. We knew there was an infrastructure and organization in place that, with some changes, would assist with RYTAC's survival. RYTAC did survive. While there have been both successful and challenging financial years, it was enjoyed by many, particularly our youth, in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding areas. Following substantial investments, RYTAC continues to exist today as the Sault College Waterfront Adventure Centre. If we had stood by and allowed it to close in the ‘90s, Sault Ste. Marie would not now have this exemplary community waterfront facility.

Similarly, if we allow our YMCA to shutter, it would likely not reopen. How fortunate we are that the current location, in the heart of the city, was chosen over 60 years ago. So many people can walk, bike, or take the bus there. The “Y” today is a diversified business with numerous income opportunities. It employs over 125 staff. It’s a place where all members of our larger community can participate, and newcomers to Canada can be assisted in successfully integrating into the community by making friends and connections. I believe that all those passionate people who gathered and raised their voices in support of the YMCA reflect the majority, who like me, feel this “Y” should remain a viable and vibrant part of Sault Ste. Marie.

We are so fortunate that a private foundation has generously stepped forward to backstop a plan to help overcome the current financial challenges. That is a huge first step. As a past, long-time member, and having served on the Board of Directors, I too am guilty of taking the “Y” for granted. The YMCA will not close if as many people as possible step up to help. In the short term, that means buying memberships - and quickly. The vast majority of memberships are paid in monthly instalments.

The stark closing statement two months ago was a warning. It was the talk of the town (and not in a good way). I view this as an opportunity. An opportunity for our “Y” to make some significant changes. There will be some hard work and tough decisions ahead. But if we come together, our YMCA will survive and thrive, so that future generations will also have the chance to enjoy wonderful experiences and create memories to share, as so many of us in Sault Ste. Marie have.

Robert Cohen
President, Soo Foundry and Machine Ltd.