Signs of roof leaks were present during a provincial funding announcement at the Collingwood YMCA on Friday.
Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson, Collingwood YMCA staff, board members and Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) representatives came together to announce the YMCA will receive an OTF grant to the tune of $150,000, which will be spent on building a new roof for the aging facility.
“If you walk around, you will see proof that we need this new roof,” said Nilusha Premasinghe, general manager of the Collingwood YMCA. “This boost in funding really makes this possible. Otherwise, we would have had to wait a few more years and it would start impacting other infrastructure because of the roof leaks.
“This was critical. It means we can extend the life of the building.”
The existing roof is the original roof of the building. It was constructed in 1985.
“The YMCA has a long-standing history here in our community for making sure we have a healthy, vibrant, active and thriving community,” Saunderson said at the announcement. “You are our only recreation facility in town. One in five of our residents come through these doors.
“This is recognition by this government of the important role you serve in our community.”
The announcement also kicked off a new YMCA capital campaign to raise the additional funds needed for the roof. Early estimates indicate the entire cost of a new roof will come in at about $305,000.
“This generous grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will cover about half of that. We’ll be looking to the community and events to raise the rest,” said Dale Rowe, general manager of philanthropy for the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka.
The OTF offers a range of grants to support non-profit organizations.
