Moose Jaw YMCA Slated To Announce Closure(s)
YMCA of Moose Jaw’s flagship Fairford Street location is
In what is described by as going to be a “shock to the community” on Tuesday evening from 7 pm - 8:30 pm at the Cosmo Senior Citizen’s Centre 235 3rd Avenue NE the YMCA of Moose Jaw is set to make a major announcement to its members.
The major announcement will be after 114 years of service to the community the YMCA of Moose Jaw with closure and transferring some operations to the YMCA of Regina the local Y will be ceasing operations.
MJ Independent has learnt the board is set to announce not only the closure of the flagship 220 Fairford Street East (Crescent Park) location but also the closure of the 500 1st Ave NW (Moose Jaw Co-op) Athabasca Fitness. The facilities are slated to close their doors permanently June 30, 2019.
There is no word about any job losses - if any - at either facility at this time.
As part of the major announcement there is the potential the YMCA of Moose Jaw will additionally announce “subject to the finalization of definitive agreements” the YMCA of Regina will be assuming all leadership roles of Child Care Services in Moose Jaw effective July 2, 2019.
The YMCA of Moose Jaw Health and Fitness Centre in the Moose Jaw Co-op Shopping Centre is slated to close
The transfer WILL NOT EFFECT the Chid Care Services as they will continue to be operational “as there are no fee, program, staffing or location changes at this time.”
Parents will receive letters later this month regarding the change with the emphasis to be making the “transition as smooth as possible for everyone.”
The YMCA is working with partners in the community to reorganize the wide range of community programs and services they offer.
According to sources the reasons for the closures are financial.
Asked to speak about the Tuesday evening meeting acting YMCA CEO Diana Deakin-Thomas declined comment when asked about the announcement of closures.
“We owe it to our members to tell it to our members first,” Deakin-Thomas said when asked to comment about the closures and YMCA of Moose Jaw ceasing operations.
Another well placed confidential source told MJ Independent the closures and final disposition of the YMCA of Moose Jaw could have likely been avoided if the membership had listened at the June 25, 2018 special meeting to what the board was saying.
Confidential sources at City Hall also revealed some members of the YMCA of Moose Jaw board had met with Mayor Fraser Tolmie as well as at least one member of Administration about the City assisting the YMCA financially but were turned down.
The YMCA of Moose Jaw in the past year has seen a major swing in its emphasis as the previously elected board voted to close the flagship Fairford Street location which led to a public meeting where the membership questioned the reasons why. The meeting led to a number of individuals placing their names to be on the YMCA board in the hopes of saving the flagship Fairford Street location.
During the run up to the meeting one YMCA of Moose Jaw member Jeremy Brehm, who initiated the special meeting, spoke to MJ Independent about the importance of the YMCA in his life and how it should play an important part in the lives of other children in the community to help develop better citizens and keep kids out of trouble. Brehm would later be elected to the YMCA of Moose Jaw board as part of a slate to dedicated to saving the flagship Fairford Street location.
Brehm could not be reached for comment by publication time about Tuesday evening’s meeting.
Former YMCA of Moose Jaw CEO Jeff Fox answered questions as to the importance of the AGM and why Y members should attend.
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All Y Members are encouraged to attend the members meeting Tuesday evening from 7 pm to 8:30 pm at the Cosmo Senior Citizen’s Centre 235 3rd Avenue NE.