By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The concept has been examined several times over the past 10 years – but the time seems to have come for a long-awaited collaboration between YMCA Northumberland and the Town of Cobourg on a Y facility on the grounds of the Cobourg Community Centre.
Y Chief Executive Officer Eunice Kirkpatrick made the appeal for the town’s support at Wednesday’s Community Services, Protection and Economic Development standing committee meeting.
Kirkpatrick noted that the 300 new residents Cobourg used to acquire years ago is now more like 1,000 per annum – this would double the town’s population by 2060.
The facility contemplated would include a lane pool, therapy pool, multi-purpose space, conditioning centre and studio space. Its location at the CCC campus would create a one-stop-shop model.
Meanwhile, the Elgin Street facility would become a centre of excellence focusing on essential and enhanced programs and services for children and youth. There will also be a focus on child care to address a local shortage (one, she noted, that those pursuing physician-recruitment efforts find is a deterrent to their work).
Kirkpatrick noted that the Y provides expertise in a broad range of non-recreational socially focused programming for all ages. As well, it undertakes fundraising to ensure no financial barriers remain to accessing its programs.
She also noted that the facility as envisioned would create economic-development spin-offs including incentive for professionals (including medical ones) to relocate to this community.
Council members on the committee voted to support Kirkpatrick’s requests, which included the donation of serviced land at the CCC, assistance with applications for provincial and Federal grants, and further discussions toward the state-of-the-art facility that will address the needs of a growing and diverse community.
“I think this is amazing. It’s wonderful,” Councillor Adam Bureau declared.
“I love partnerships because both sides grow, and I think this will be wonderful for our community.”
“There are very few projects or opportunities, I would say, this term of council that is more important,” Mayor Lucas Cleveland agreed.
“We have an organization within our community that is willing to taken another crack at something we know is a good idea, and town staff showing up with open eyes, open ears and a willingness to compromise.”
Director of Community Services Brian Geerts reviewed previous attempts between the Y and the town to come together on such a project, and said the work done at the time did contribute to the project’s ultimate fruition.
“I think this is a case study of trying to find the right time,” Geerts said.
“I think now is the right moment to move this project forward. We have found the right complementary teams. The models are successful.”
