1. Why is the YMCAs of Québec undergoing a transformation?
The Y is reinventing itself, modernizing, and ensuring it has a viable financial strategy in place to continue inspiring and encouraging all people to fulfill their potential, thrive, and give back to their community for decades to come.
This transformation entails multiple stages, which were presented at the Annual General Meeting in March 2024 and in the 2023 Impact Report. Notably, it involves the implementation of a sustainable financial strategy, the redefinition of the Y’s real estate footprint in the Greater Montréal Area, and the updating of the Y’s service offering to better meet the needs of today and tomorrow.
2. Why has the Saint-Laurent YMCA building been sold?
After considering a number of options, the sale of the building was the most compelling one. With building maintenance costs on the rise, and the fact that the Saint-Laurent YMCA’s programming only requires the use of part of the site, becoming a tenant allows the Y to maintain its social impact in the community.
Furthermore, the sale enables us to share the space and develop a multi-service community centre, a project that will benefit the community as a whole.
3. Why was the building sold to Collectif 1745?
The Collectif 1745’s project was developed following a call for partners launched in 2021. The project’s goal is to make sure the site keeps being used for social purposes and will therefore ensure a continuity of services to the community, two aspects the YMCAs of Québec holds dear. The educational services, gymnasium, and community kitchen are integral parts of the project. In addition, the Y remains on site and cohabits with other organizations, creating a real community hub on the site.
Selling to Collectif 1745 was the best possible scenario for the community.
4. What is Collectif 1745?
Collectif 1745 is a non-profit coalition of community organizations that was founded in January 2023 to carry out the multi-service community centre project and develop projects for the community. Collectif 1745 brings together various experts specifically focused on different clienteles (early childhood, youth, newcomers to Canada) all working toward the same goal: serving the Norgate community.
5. What is the multi-service community centre project?
The multi-service community centre welcomes different community organizations—including the Y, who became a tenant and continues to offer its community programs—with different areas of expertise (early childhood, youth, newcomers to Canada) and serving various clienteles. These organizations share the current spaces at the Saint-Laurent YMCA. The goal is to ensure the site continues to be used for social purposes and to ensure a continuity of services to the community, two aspects the YMCAs of Québec holds dear.
6. Does the Y have a place with Collectif 1745?
Yes. Through the TeenZone, Alternative Suspension (academic perseverance), and C-Vert (environmental leadership skills development) programs, we continue to support young people in the Saint-Laurent community, as we have been for close to 50 years.
7. Which spaces are used by the YMCA as a tenant on the site?
The YMCA rents about 1,500 sq. ft. in the building, where it offers three community programs for young people.
8. Is the Y planning to offer fitness activities on the site again?
Fitness activities are not in the cards because of the proximity of the Cartierville YMCA (less than 2 km away). The community gym—the only one in the area—will be renovated and made available to all the tenants of the multi-service community centre. That way, it will remain available to the public.
9. How does the sale of the Saint-Laurent YMCA impact the community?
Fitness activities are not in the cards because of the proximity of the Cartierville YMCA (less than 2 km away). The community gym—the only one in the area—will be renovated and made available to all the tenants of the multi-service community centre. That way, it will remain available to the public.
10. How was the income from the sale of the Saint-Laurent YMCA used?
The proceeds from the sale of the Saint-Laurent YMCA were invested in the YMCAs of Québec’s mission-driven investment fund and contribute to maintaining the social impact of the entire organization.