Sault Ste. Marie YMCA has 'breathing room' now after being at the brink of closure

Back in April, when Sault Ste. Marie was shocked by the sudden announcement that its YMCA would shut down just a few weeks later, Cindy Ougler knew it was coming.

She was on the board that made that decision after months of going over the finances in private meetings.

"The last two years, personally, have been horrible," said Oulger, who "lived and breathed the Y" growing up, since he mother worked there for 40 years.

"We were closing. It was not nice and not being able to discuss with our families."

And then Ougler, who is now the chair of the YMCA board, was the one to be shocked by the community reaction to the news in the spring that it would shutdown in just a few weeks.

"It turned around within about week of the community coming forward," she said.

"There are plans going forward to make sure the community continues to be involved and being here for the next 100 years."

The YMCA has signed up 400 members since then, but is aiming to recruit 600 more to hit 3,000 by March. 

Ougler says talks are also underway about a "future partnership" with the City of Sault Ste. Marie. It stepped up with funding for the YMCA and helped arrange for the charitable Lukenda Foundation to buy the 59-year-old fitness centre, which the Y is now leasing. 

"To be sustainable, We need the community to keep involved. To keep coming," she said.

Grant Grbich has been coming to the Sault YMCA almost his entire life, after being enrolled in the daycare in 1969.

"Never realized that everything was brand new around me," the 58-year-old said. 

"I think what I'm appreciating in the more recent years is that it's just a healthy place to be."

He says it "really was a shock" to hear the news in the spring and he has definitely noticed more people in the gym during his workouts these past few months.

Margaret Gardner, the president of the Sault Y Dolphins swim club, also used the word "shock" when remembering her reaction to the news the pool they use could be drained and shut down.

"My daughter was in tears," she said, but added that the club's numbers look strong this winter and she's feeling hopeful that the Y is now on steadier footing.

"I hope so. We're just taking it day by day until someone tells us otherwise."

The YMCA has launched its Bridge to the Future fundraising campaign, aiming to raise $1.5 million in donations and new memberships to cover essential infrastructure repairs to the boiler and roof.

Public relations manager Don Ferguson says they've already hit $650,000, are expecting a "bump" from New Year's Resolutions and have also secured some government grants, giving them some "breathing room."

"It's a good example of what can happen when the community gets behind you," he said.

"If nothing else has come of this, I think the community has become acutely aware of what the YMCA stands for."