Our ongoing impact in downtown Montréal
The YMCA and downtown Montréal have a long history. Our impact here has taken on different forms over the last 170 years, and we have shown resilience and the ability to adapt to the times and community needs. Because our goal has always been to have a positive long-term impact—for the people who participate in our programs and for the community. Our aim is to pursue our mission for many years to come.
A necessary transformation
Downtown Montréal is reinventing itself, and so are we. We have analyzed how the situation is evolving in light of certain substantial challenges:
- Fewer people coming into the downtown Montréal
- Changes in workers’ habits
- Changes in fitness and workout habits
One thing is clear: downtown Montréal has changed and this affects how our charitable organization delivers its services at several levels. The Y can no longer cover the costs of its large fitness facilities, such as the pool, gym, and conditioning room, on its own as it did in the past. This is why we are taking action.
The future is taking shape
We have completed an important step. We are currently preparing to put the Downtown YMCA building up for sale. Our goal is to create a new community hub in the same neighbourhood but one that better suits our programming.
The revenues from the sale will be invested in our mission-driven investment fund, allowing us to focus on our programming to the advantage of the community rather than on managing our building. Especially as the current programming at the Downtown YMCA, which includes the TeenZone, community programs, and the YMCA International Language School, only requires a third of the building’s area.
We have already chosen a real estate broker to guide us in the process, and we are currently looking for a new space in which to move our services. This is a long-term project that will take several years to become a reality.
Call for temporary tenants
From now until the building is sold, we want to optimize the use of space to serve the needs of the community. The concept: offer community organizations struggling to keep operating in downtown Montréal special rates adapted to their ability to pay.
There are various multipurpose spaces available. Interested parties can communicate their needs by emailing installations.sa@ymcaquebec.org.
Committed to the future
Thanks to program-specific funding and our donors, we continue to offer youth and community programs, both in-person and online, to the downtown community, specifically:
- Social inclusion and reintegration services for people who were incarcerated and people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness
- A TeenZone for 12-to-17-year-olds with sports, recreational, and leadership activities, homework help, and a program geared to students suspended from school
Learn more about our community programs.