Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government will spend $29.9 million to a planned new $40 million community hub in downtown Barrie.
The site will include licensed childcare spaces, a youth centre with transitional housing and outreach support, a rehabilitation centre for cancer and cardiac post-care patients, and recreation areas for fitness programs.
“This project will enhance the lives of local residents by providing access to health-care services, childcare and employment supports,” Ontario infrastructure minister Kinga Surma said in a statement.
The new hub will be operated by the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka.
In a statement, CEO Jill Tettmann said the project will be “integral” to building health and strength for generations to come following the effects of the pandemic.
“This new YMCA hub will help reclaim the downtown core as a space dedicated to families and children,” added Doug Downey, Ontario’s attorney general and MPP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte.
The project has received more than $7 million from donors and other funders for the project to date.
While the announcement last week was heralded as great news, a major three-tower development planned at the same site is currently on hold as the Y and the city continue working with the developer.
Waterloo-based HIP Developments said in early June that its multi-million project will be stalled for further consultation. HIP made the development immediately after Barrie city council endorsed a nearby safe consumption site.
HIP President Scott Higgins claims the city did not include HIP in its discussions regarding the location for a safe consumption site and potential impact on the community.
Jill Tettmann, Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Simcoe—Muskoka says the development will create a youth hub and bring employment services to the area.
“This project is about being more of a centre of community than it is about being a health, fitness and aquatics centre,” Tettmann said, adding the facility will create the first stand-alone youth transitional housing in Simcoe County, in collaboration with Youth Haven – the area’s only emergency shelter for young people.
There will also be a childcare centre on the second floor and an indoor and outdoor playground. The cardio and cancer rehabilitation program in conjunction with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, which was at the YMCA’s old Grove Street location and moved to Innisfil, will be brought back.
Funding announced by the province on Monday adds up to 75% of the $40 million project cost. More than $7 million has been pledged by donors and fund supporters, and there is also cash from the sale of the Grove Street site. A capital campaign is in the works.
“The County of Simcoe has donated $2.5 million to support child care and to support youth transitional housing. To date, we have no commitment from the City of Barrie.”
Now the Y will seek support from the city.
“The importance of this facility to our downtown cannot be understated,” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte. “This new YMCA Hub will reclaim the downtown core as a space dedicated to families and youth.”
The 77,000 sq. ft. structure at the corner of Dunlop and Bradford is expected to be completed about two-and-a-half years after the shovel goes into the ground.
“This new hub will not only accelerate our region’s post COVID economic recovery through the creation of many jobs for the people of Barrie, it will also provide support for our youth through outreach and transitional housing, secure more child care spaces for working parents, and strengthen our community by promoting healthy active lifestyles through fitness programs,” said Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil.