Potential location selected for new Barrie YMCA
The location of a potential home for a new Barrie YMCA has been chosen. The site of the new building would make the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka neighbours to the Sadlon Arena after announcing that 555 Bayview Drive is their desired destination.
The Sadlon Arena is home to the Barrie Colts in Barrie, Ont. . (Rob Cooper/CTV News)This announcement comes after the organization says it has spent ten months on extensive site assessments involving more than ten potential locations to seek out the best available spot to provide the YMCA with the opportunity to create a safe, vibrant and welcoming community centre that has been a long time coming.
"The YMCA community's confidence in and commitment to a new Barrie facility has never been higher," explained Jill Tettmann, CEO of the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka. "This process was about finding the best available site to serve our members and community, to meet the needs of our partners, and to best steward the generous contributions of our donors and government partners – because our community of supporters is what allows the YMCA to bring exciting capital projects like this to life."
The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka says the proposed modern community centre will feature best-in-class health and fitness facilities and programs. The building would also feature an aquatic centre, youth outreach programs and transitional housing, community meeting spaces, rehabilitation programs, and an indoor playground.
"The City of Barrie looks forward to everything that the new YMCA facility will bring to our growing city," said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. "The immense community effort to support the YMCA in finding the best-suited location is proof that the residents of Barrie will be thrilled to see this project finally come to fruition. The YMCA and the City of Barrie share a common goal to ensure Barrie is a safe and welcoming city with ample opportunities for success for all the citizens of Barrie. We're excited to see what the future holds for the Barrie YMCA."
The YMCA says the next step in the process towards actually building a new Barrie location is working on a shared vision for the area with the City of Barrie and an extensive due diligence process at the site. Those steps include developing a new site plan, negotiating the land lease with the City of Barrie, reviewing the site's physical and environmental conditions, and more.
The community organization credits support from donors, funders, partners, members and staff for this new momentum on the next phase of their long search for a new home in Barrie.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.