YMCA Brandon completes expansion

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This article was published 18/12/2023 (875 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s YMCA recently completed a substantial expansion on Eighth Street, enlarging its facility from 50,000 square feet to 62,000 square feet to meet the growing demands for fitness and childcare services within the community.

The expansion was prompted by a surge in demand, particularly during the pandemic, which highlighted the need for increased capacity.

YMCA Brandon president Lon Cullen told the Sun that the decision to expand was made in 2021, aiming to accommodate the increasing demand for fitness and childcare services, which were already reaching maximum capacity pre-expansion.

“Before COVID, we had about 800 families on the waitlist for getting into childcare,” Cullen said. “We had 44 children in there before the expansion, and now we have 96 children and will be fully booked in January.”

The goal, he said, is to serve 10 per cent of the Brandon community in health fitness and wellness, noting that YMCA is one of the few organizations that attract people to the city. “If they can’t afford to come, we will support them because we have assistance for membership. We don’t want anybody turned away on their inability to pay,” he said.

The revitalized fitness area now offers an extensive array of amenities, including over 65 fitness classes weekly and a comprehensive selection of state-of-the-art equipment, with over 60 pieces for cardio fitness and 50-plus units in the strength and conditioning zone.

The facility, he said, has increased its patron capacity from 100 per hour to between 200 and 300 per hour. It also has an enhanced studio and workout space for individuals, along with multipurpose areas that cater to various activities, such as day camps during the summer.

Recognizing the scarcity of trained staff, the YMCA has partnered with Assiniboine Community College to train and deploy between 10 to 20 individuals daily, aiming to bridge this staffing gap.

Cullen said the project, amounting to approximately $10 million, has been partly funded by the provincial and federal governments.

“The province through childcare has given $1.2 million, and the federal government through their Investing in Community Infrastructure Program has given over $2 million,” he said. “The rest is funded by the YMCA and through our donors.”

Looking ahead, Cullen envisions serving up to 6,000 members, aligning with the growth trajectory of Brandon. The YMCA aims to sustain its expanded capacity for around a decade, with plans to explore new strategic avenues focusing on health, wellness, leadership development for youth, and initiatives like diabetes prevention programs.

The expansion aligns with the YMCA’s core values, promoting inclusivity, equity, and community representation. Cullen emphasized that the YMCA endeavours to remain affordable, keeping membership fees modest while offering childcare services capped at a maximum of $10 per day, in line with provincial guidelines.

“For the new year, we’re going to be developing a new strategic plan as to how we can serve the community better beyond fitness and childcare,” he said. “We want to start looking at some things like diabetes prevention, or … the whole health aspect and wellness aspect, not just the fitness aspect.”

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