COVID-19 Update YMCA temporary closure

Dear Members and Friends of the Y:

You have no doubt been glued to the news of the pandemic like we have and have been following government conditions and public health advice. The Government of Ontario has made it clear that schools will not re-open on April 6 and that restrictions may remain in place for some time.

This means that the YMCA of Eastern Ontario will remain closed until we are able to open and operate in a way that protects the health and safety of you, our staff and volunteers. Your safety and that of the children in our care and our staff and volunteers is of paramount importance.

While we are closed, this is a reminder that your fee payments have been suspended until we are able to open our doors. You do not have to do anything to ensure this; we have applied this freeze across all memberships and childcare programs.

I would like to personally thank our members who have offered to donate their membership fees to the YMCA. As a charity that supports children and families in our region, we are very grateful for your generosity. Even though our doors are closed, there are expenses to keep our buildings in a state of readiness for the day we can resume delivering our programs and services. Utility bills, security services, critical staff positions, building maintenance, as examples, all must be paid while we are closed. We will get through this together and your donation to the Y today ensures we are operational when it is safe to open our doors. To donate, please visit our website.

In the meantime, we, like you, are home and practicing safe physical distancing while striving to maintain social connections.

It’s these relationships that I’d like to talk about with you because they are so important during this time. Feeling like we’re not alone helps us deal with stress and uncertainty. That’s why we have created a virtual space on our Facebook and Twitter accounts where we can come together. We hope that you enjoy the activities that we’re sharing and will consider sharing things you’re doing. You can also join Tracy, Jenny and Jenni for at-home workouts, and continue or begin your YThrive program.

Our virtual “Y” is a place for us all to connect, share stories and inspire each other to stay healthy mentally and physically.

Our website is another place that you can stay connected. Each Friday, I post a message about what’s happening at the Y.

Although we cannot say when our doors will re-open, we want you to know that we’re thinking of you and looking forward to seeing you back with us.

As always, I am here to listen to any comments or questions you have.

Sincerely,

Rob

Rob Adams

CEO, YMCA of Eastern Ontario