Saul Ste. Marie YMCA now has 'breathing room' after coming to the brink of closure

In April, when Sault Ste. Marie was shocked by the sudden announcement that the YMCA would close just a few weeks later. Cindy Ougler knew this was coming.

She was on the board that made that decision after months of discussing finances in closed meetings.

“The last two years have been personally terrible,” said Oulger, who “breathed the Y” growing up as his mother worked there for 40 years.

“We were closing. It wasn’t fun not being able to talk to our families.”

A woman laughing in a hallway — Cindy Ougler, now president of the YMCA board, was on the board that voted to close the organization and was pleasantly surprised to see community support “turn things around” in just a week. (Erik White/CBC)

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

“It changed within a week of the community coming forward,” she said.

“There are plans in place to ensure the community remains involved in this for the next 100 years.”

The YMCA has since signed up 400 members, but is aiming to recruit a further 600 to reach 3,000 members by March.

Ougler says discussions are also underway about a “future partnership” with the city of Sault Ste. Marie. It increased funding for the YMCA and allowed the Lukenda Foundation charity to purchase the 59-year-old fitness center, which the Y now leases.

A man walks on a treadmill among a row of empty treadmills — The Sault Ste. Marie YMCA says it has signed up 400 members since the spring, but is aiming for 600 additional members in March. (Erik White/CBC)

“To be sustainable, we need the community to stay involved. To keep coming,” she said.

Grant Grbich has been coming to the Sault YMCA almost all his life, having enrolled in the daycare in 1969.

“I never realized that everything around me was brand new,” the 58-year-old said.

“I think what I appreciate over the last few years is that it’s just a healthy place to be.”

A smiling man — Grant Grbich, 58, has been involved in the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA since he was a child in daycare in 1969. (Erik White/CBC)

He says it was “really a shock” to hear the news in the spring and that he has definitely noticed more people in the gym during his workouts in recent months.

Margaret Gardner, president of the Sault Y Dolphins swimming club, also used the word “shock” as she recalled her reaction to the news that the pool they use could be emptied and closed.

“My daughter was in tears,” she said, but added that the club’s numbers appear strong this winter and that she is hopeful the Y is now on more stable footing.

‘I hope so. We’ll just take it one day at a time until someone tells us otherwise.”

The YMCA has launched the Bridge to the Future fundraising campaign, with the aim of raising $1.5 million in donations and new memberships to cover essential infrastructure repairs to the boiler and roof.

A swimming pool — The Sault Y Dolphins swimming club was also concerned about its future when it appeared the YMCA and one of the city’s own pools would close. (Erik White/CBC)

PR manager Don Ferguson says they’ve already made $650,000, they’re expecting a “buzz” from New Year’s resolutions and they’ve also secured some government grants, which have given them some “breathing room.”

“It’s a great example of what can happen when the community gets behind you,” he said.

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