Montréal, March 17, 2017—Following the recent announcement about the closure of the Guy-Favreau YMCA, the YMCAs of Québec are pleased to announce that Public Services and Procurement Canada has finally offered to extend the centre’s lease at a symbolic rent of $1 for a maximum period of one year. The centre will remain open at least until May 31, 2018.
On February 28, the YMCAs of Québec announced that the Guy-Favreau YMCA would close on May 31, 2017. Since then, YMCA members and the community have expressed an incredible amount of support and commitment to the centre.
“It’s wonderful news for us, because this one-year extension will allow us to work with our partners to redefine our vision for the Guy-Favreau YMCA community and sports centre and how the centre operates, with the strong hope of finding a viable long-term solution,” said Stéphane Vaillancourt, President and CEO of the YMCAs of Québec.
In the coming months, the YMCA will begin a consultation process and study the redefinition of the centre. There will be two possible outcomes:
- Updating programming and developing a financially viable and sustainable business model, which includes securing additional funds to ensure the centre’s annual profitability during a new long-term lease with a rent that is acceptable to the government and carrying out short-term renovations, estimated at $500,000.
- If the study is not conclusive and/or the above conditions cannot be met, the centre will cease operations at the end of this new lease.
“We would like to thank all staff members, volunteers and community members, who have made it perfectly clear what the Guy-Favreau YMCA means to them. Their stories have confirmed the importance of our work and were great comfort to the centre’s employees and volunteers during difficult times in the last few weeks,” said Stéphane Vaillancourt.
About the YMCAs of Québec
The YMCAs of Québec is a charitable organization that builds stronger communities by providing opportunities for everyone to lead fulfilling, active, healthy and engaged lives. Its 10 YMCA centres, International Language School, Residence, Camp YMCA Kanawana and its 40 service sites across the province are visited each year by more than 120,000 people. The first YMCA in North America was founded in Montréal in November 1851. The YMCAs of Québec is part of the Canadian network of 48 YMCA associations. For more information, visit ymcaquebec.org or our Facebook and Twitter pages.
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For more information:
Karine Chateauneuf
marque@ymcaquebec.org