Comments From The Community

“The YMCA has been a part of my life since I was 9 years old.  I am always learning from my interactions with people of all ages and backgrounds, my Y friends.  This wonderful new facility will provide the region with the opportunity to be together and learn from each other while they play.  I see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to give back to those who have given me so much.”

Sonya Mount, Co-Chair, Regional Recreation Centre Campaign, Family Y member and Volunteer

“I am privileged and honoured to take a leadership role in this campaign. I’ve lived here for almost 40 years, and I’m confident that Owen Sound and the wider community will recognize the many benefits our new Regional Recreation Centre will provide, and be very generous in supporting the Family Y’s fundraising campaign.”  

Tom Rice, Co-Chair, Regional Recreation Centre Campaign, Family Y member and Past President, Y Board of Directors

"The Regional Recreation Centre will be a strong economic driver in the community. This major project will be the source of much needed construction jobs in the short term and more permanent jobs in the long term."

Michael Warren,
Honorary Chair, Regional Recreation Centre Campaign, and Chair, Owen Sound Economic Development Committee

“The Family Y is excited about our partnership with the City of Owen Sound to build and operate a Regional Recreational Destination that will allow the Y to provide a wider range of fitness, aquatic, rehabilitation and wellness programs and allows us to train our athletes and host major events closer to home. The Family Y, currently a partner with many of our regional communities in the area of childcare, employment and housing support programs, looks forward to forging new regional partnerships in the area of health and wellness to bring programs closer to home."

Evelyn Dean,  President of the Owen Sound Family YMCA
 
“Our figure skating kids have had to miss school to acquire ice time; we’ve gone all the way to Barrie for advanced training and adequate facilities. The lack of double ice pads means we can’t host certain skating competitions. The new Rec Centre will open up the possibility of Special Olympics skating, adult figure skating, a synchronized skating team and so much more. We need this!”

Denise Reid, Power Skating & Former Figure Skating Coach

“Miracles happen when people can free themselves from the confines of a wheelchair, the limp of osteoarthritis, or the pain of fibromyalgia by immersing themselves in the water. The look of joy and relief on their faces is a wonder to behold.”

Mrs. Willie Bayne, Y member and past Aquatic Instructor

“I go to the Y four or five times a week to lift weights, go on the bikes, play basketball with my friends. Everyone is nice, and they make me feel accepted. The Family Y is a big part of my life.”

Zachary Coulter, Age 14 - Hockey and Lacrosse player, Family Y member

“We get up at 5 a.m. to drive to hockey practice outside Owen Sound…on a school day!”

Hayden Coulter, Age 9

“Having played hockey and ringette for 15 years, as well as having two brothers involved in Rep hockey, my family knows all too well what it’s like to spend entire days and weekends travelling from one arena to the next. For girls’ hockey, there always seems to be a scramble for available ice. The new Rec Centre is absolutely essential for the future of girls’ hockey in Owen Sound. I fear that without it, the number of girls signing up each year will decrease as busy families simply won’t want to commit to travelling out of the city not only for their away games, but home games and practices too. The new facility would ensure that our hockey association will flourish and help maintain the bright future that so many people have worked so hard to create.”

Kelsey Currie, Owen Sound      

“Friday is our 15 year old son Graham’s favourite day of the week because of the Special Olympics Swimming Group. He loves to swim and exercise at the Y, and remembers how the therapeutic pool at the hospital made him feel so good. How wonderful it would be for him and his friends to have more space for Special Olympics swimming, and to experience the soothing effects of a therapeutic pool again.  And our 13 year old Ian is a passionate member of the Owen Sound Aquatics Club. He swims 7 times a week. We can’t tell you what a difference it would make in our family’s - and other families’ - lives to have our own pool close to home for swim meets and events and not incur the costs and travel time driving to and from Guelph.”

Chuck and Deb Dickey

“It’s heart-warming to watch the interaction between my Special Olympics athletes and the other members of the Y family. When they’re at the Y, they’re in a place they love, a place where they matter, a place where they can be just the way they are.  There’s no question in my mind that we need better pool facilities. When I started I had 20 Special Olympics Athletes. Now I have 70. I can’t have a swim meet because I can’t have wheelchairs on the pool deck. Right now, I have 10 swimmers in one lane. All my programs have waiting lists—kids, seniors, physically challenged. The new building and pool will accommodate everyone. It will be a dream come true for me and my swimmers.”

Dianne Speed,  Y Lifeguard and Provincial Special Olympics Swimming Coach

A woman was advised by her doctor to become active before surgery. She had recently lost her husband and was depressed about her health, financial situation and life in general. The Family Y arranged an Assisted Membership that she could afford. She didn’t drive, couldn’t afford taxis, and public transit was not an option. The Family Y helped her access transit for the disabled.  Before long, she was participating in fitness classes, making new friends and laughing with others. She’d also stay for coffee after her classes to interact with her new friends. Soon she rarely had to use the arranged transit, because her new friends were picking her up and taking her home. She’s now walking without a cane, brings her grandchildren with her to the Y, and says, “The Family Y saved my life.”

A True Family Y Story 

“The Owen Sound Family Y and the City share the vision to be a community choice for all, distinguished by our natural amenities, diversity and community spirit. We are proud to partner with the Y to offer an active, vibrant place in the heart of our city with opportunities for all people to be active, meet friends, receive support and learn new skills.”

Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners, City of Owen Sound

“The Regional Recreation Centre will have substantial impact on the future of our region’s health and wellbeing. By bringing a tremendous number of people to our community, it will change the culture of recreation in Grey Bruce. When we open our doors, contributors to this project will be proud to have played their part in benefiting our community—today, tomorrow and in the generations to come.”

Jim McManaman, Chair, Regional Recreation Committee

“It is very exciting to see the Regional Recreation Centre construction getting underway. While Grey Bruce Health Services staff and physicians do everything we can to diagnose and treat illnesses, we would be pleased to see members of our communities spared from those diseases which can be prevented through better physical health. The Centre is providing a range of very appealing programs for all ages and levels of physical ability. Having these programs under one roof is a tremendously positive benefit to the region and will make a lasting impact on our collective good health."

"In addition, this major expansion of recreational facilities will serve to increase the attractiveness of Owen Sound as a desirable setting to both work and play, as we continue our efforts to recruit doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to our hospitals.  Our thanks are extended to the volunteers and key individuals from many levels of government who are working so hard to bring this wonderful resource to this area.”

Maureen Solecki, President and C.E.O., Grey Bruce Health Services