Collingwood YMCA asks town for help with COVID reopening costs

Collingwood’s YMCA is ready to open its doors.

First, though, it needs a little financial help.

The YMCA of Simcoe-Muskoka has asked the Town of Collingwood for $25,000 to assist with restarting costs for the local facility, following what will be a nearly eight-month closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The money would be used to purchase protective barriers, air purifiers, hand-sanitizing stations, and cleaning and PPE supplies.

The request also includes $5,300 for the Y’s financial assistance program for members who are unable to pay full membership fees.

The Y has been closed since mid-March, and is scheduled to reopen on Nov. 13. It has not been collecting membership fees during that time.

Anyone headed into the building, regardless of whether it’s to take part in a program, or just work out, will be required to book in advance.

Local manager Nilusha Premasinghe told councillors the members have been given 30 days advance notice of the Y reopening, and have been given the option to put membership fees on hold, or to cancel, if they’re not comfortable in returning to the facility at this time.

The Y had more than 4,800 members prior to the onset of the pandemic, with about 875 members receiving some form of financial support.

Rob Armstrong, the CEO of the YMCA of Simcoe-Muskoka, said the financial losses for the local facility from being closed for more than six months is expected to be about $1 million.

While the Y was closed to members since mid-March, there have still been ongoing costs of about $25,000 a month to maintain the building, he said.

Most of the facility’s 57 staff have been on lay-off.

A survey of the facility’s members indicated 45 per cent would be willing to return to the Y within three weeks of opening. Armstrong said the return rate at other reopened Ys across the country has been around 20 per cent.

“We recognize we’re not in a unique situation from the perspective of a reduced income, however, as a charitable organization with a limited fiscal risk threshold, we are working hard to minimize the impacts of reopening will have on our organization,” Armstrong said.

In September, the Y made a similar request of Wasaga Beach council for funding to assist with reopening costs, as well as up to $900,000 to assist with operating costs over the next two years. That council has not yet made a decision on the request.

The Y has also announced the permanent closure of the facilities in Barrie, Orillia, and Parry Sound due to the pandemic.

The request was referred to municipal staff to review and consider how the request fits with the $2.5-million emergency fund established earlier in the year to address pandemic issues. CAO Sonya Skinner said as the provincial emergency order has expired, so has the recovery fund; she said council may need to consider re-establishing the fund if it intends to access it to assist the Y.