The federal government has come to the aid of Montreal’s Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA which has found the cost of maintaining its large, aging building increasingly onerous.
The Y will receive $7.9 million to upgrade its energy systems and make the premises more physically accessible, Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather announced at a press conference held at the Y on Aug. 22.
Already struggling for years prior to the pandemic, the Y was hard hit by months of lockdowns, losing membership fees and other sources of revenue for most of two years.
CEO Jeff Bicher termed Ottawa’s funding “historic” because it will go a long way in ensuring the Y’s viability.
President Tina Apfeld Rosenthal said once the renovations are completed, “hundreds of thousands of dollars annually will be saved” due to more efficient energy consumption.
She noted that the building, which occupies most of a city block and dates back in its oldest sections to the 1950s, has “deteriorated while maintenance and operating costs have skyrocketed in recent years.” The Y applied to the government for assistance in June 2021.
Bicher said the government will underwrite 80 per cent of the work, up to $7.9 million, which is expected to take about two years. None of the facility will be closed during that time, he said.
The funding is coming through Infrastructure Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program, which is providing $1.5 billion over five years to existing public facilities and new projects that “serve high-needs, underserved communities” across the country.
The Y will spend the money on new roofing and insulation, an overhaul of the HVAC system, and improvement of water management, as well as making the gym and other fitness facilities more accessible to those with mobility issues or special needs, among other area, said Bicher.
Raising private funds for such basic necessities is not easy; as Housefather put it, “donors do not want to give money to unsexy projects.”
Both Housefather and Apfeld Rosenthal emphasized that, while the Y is a Jewish community centre, it is open to all. The facility is located in the multicultural Côte des Neiges district.
“The Y has been a cornerstone of Montreal’s Jewish community for generations,” said Housefather, noting that his own grandparents learned to swim at the old Y on Mount Royal Avenue, where it was founded 112 years ago.
“This incredible institution also serves members of all communities and today we are investing in its future, and that of its users… I am so happy it will be able to continue its legacy of service to our community in a more accessible, energy-efficient facility,” he said.
Apfeld Rosenthal stated, “This funding represents an unprecedented investment by Ottawa and will directly support our mission of providing an inclusive environment for social, athletic and learning activities. As an organization based on Jewish values, we are open to all people. A strong Y strengthens all the communities we serve.”
The money ultimately saved on energy will be reinvested into making the Y more affordable, she said.
The Y administration has for years aimed to make the facilities competitive with private fitness centres, but in Côte des Neiges it is also faces the fact that less expensive municipal recreational services are available.
Federal support helped keep the Y going during the pandemic, providing close to $1 million in emergency wage subsidy relief.
Philanthropist Sylvan Adams also came to its rescue donating $8 million for the construction of a new fitness centre that was dedicated in June. The former Montrealer now living in Israel was the benefactor for a major facelift completed in 2016.
The Y hopes this latest overhaul will entice former and new members to sign up. Bicher said a membership drive has been successful. By June, membership stood at 2,300, about 500 short of the pre-pandemic level.
