Like many organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Chatham-Kent Family YMCA, but the facility is bouncing back now that it has fully reopened.
Membership is growing slowly as people are starting to have that “comfort level” to come a back, according to YMCA general manager Amy Wadsworth.
The pandemic knocked memberships down to about 1,000, but the numbers have since risen back to about 1,800, which is still half of what it was pre-pandemic, said Wadsworth.
Access for everyone is a long-standing tradition at the YMCA.
Wadsworth said since fully reopening, the ‘Y’ is seeing a greater need for subsidized memberships. She said one in three members confidentially receive some type of financial assistance.
“I’m very proud and happy that we’re able to provide all of that and support all of our community.”
Wadsworth said the local YMCA has introduced a tiered membership model that is in place at other ‘Y’s in the region. She said this includes:
- Essentials, a basic membership offering access to the fitness center and walking track;
- Enhanced, which also offers access to group fitness classes and wellness coaches; and
- Everything, which includes all the fitness amenities along with access to the pool and plus change rooms.
She said financial assistance can be applied to accessing all levels of memberships.
The pool is open and active at the YMCA with more than 250 youth participating in swimming lessons and aqua-fit classes are also up and running, she added.
However, Wadsworth said there would be even more activities in the pool if not for a shortage of qualified lifeguards and swim instructors.
She said a shortage of lifeguards is a widespread concern, noting the ‘Y’ was receiving calls from summer camps asking if the organization had extra lifeguards so they could run their water programs.
Wadsworth said youth are encouraged to take advanced courses because being a lifeguard is life skill and a great thing to have on a resume.
Although the facility is relatively new, opening in the summer of 2011, some upgrades have been made thanks to $834,000 received from the Canadian Communities Revitalization Fund.
Wadsworth said projects already completed include retrofitting the facility with LED lighting, upgrading the two pools with a UV filtration system and repaving the parking lot.
The YMCA has also restarted its popular adult volleyball league with more than 1,200 players participating on 65 teams – including men, women and co-ed – who play at the YMCA and in school gymnasiums across Chatham utilizing the Community Use of Schools program, she said .
The Chatham-Kent Family YMCA Foundation is also coming out of the pandemic with a new focus on the future.
“Over the past year we’ve tried to step back and take a look at what we’ve done and what we’re going to do,” said foundation chair Brian Glover.
He said the foundation board is moving forward on a new business model.
“There’s a lot of action steps in there,” Glover said.
He noted the new business model is going to emphasize its own operations as a foundation, including working on generating greater awareness in community.
Glover said the foundation has approximately 15 ‘Heritage Club’ members, who have indicated a gift to the foundation has been included in their estate. He added the foundation plans to work on developing “new prospective Heritage Club relationships.
Glover said the foundation wants to build on the $400,000 it has donated to the YMCA since 2004, a number the organization is proud of.