YMCA of Sault Ste. Marie says it needs 2,400 members for long-term viability

The YMCA of Sault Ste. Marie says it needs to recruit 2,400 members to stay afloat after nearly shutting down earlier this year.

The northern Ontario YMCA was slated to close on May 15 due to increased operational costs, inflation and a slow return to pre-COVID gym memberships.

An anonymous charitable foundation purchased its building in early May, which allowed the organization to stay open since that time.

But now Doug Ferguson, who is public relations manager with the YMCA of Sault Ste. Marie, says they need to bring their membership numbers up to stay financially stable.

As of July 1 Ferguson said the YMCA had 1,633 registered members.

"Our goal over the next couple of weeks is to get to 2,400 members, which will put us very close to where we were prior to our announced and intended shutdown earlier in April," he said.

To recruit more members Ferguson says they have an introductory rate of $20 per person and $50 per family for the first month of membership.

"I would say there's never been a better time to join the Y, but there's also never been a more important time to join the Y," Ferguson said.

"The opportunity that we have been given here is almost a second chance to ensure the long-term viability of the Y."

Critical council meeting

Elise Schofield, chair of the YMCA of Sault Ste. Marie's board, says the organization will work out the details on its partnership with the city during a council meeting on July 15.

"The outcome of what comes through that city council [meeting] and the partnership is absolutely vital for what our next steps will be after that," she said.

Schofield added that the YMCA needs to get its membership numbers up by that date.

When the YMCA announced its future was in jeopardy, about 3,000 people joined a "Save the Y" group.

"If all of those members grab a membership, we will have the numbers to continue on and have a viable partnership between the city, and the charitable donor that has bought the Y," Schofield said.