By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Downtown Lethbridge YMCA to close its doors

Jun 18, 2018 | 5:31 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The current location of the YMCA in downtown Lethbridge, operating since 1968, will close its doors once the new Cor Van Raay facility is up and running on the city’s west side next year.

YMCA Board Chair Stephen Bogdan made this announcement Monday afternoon (June 18) after the conclusion of a feasibility study.

The study indicates that the 37,000 sq. ft. building is aging, and it would be too expensive to complete all the renovations necessary.

According to the study, most of the repairs are mechanical, electrical and structural. The air handling system, pool filters, plumbing and boilers are all at the end of their life cycle and would require about $2.5 million to be replaced.

The roof also needs to be replaced, which could cost up to $1.0 million. That, indicates the report, is beyond the current and future capital capacity of the YMCA.

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Recognizing the central location of the facility, its proximity to buses, schools and major thoroughfares, other options for the downtown area were considered, but ultimately rejected because they either were not feasible, or financially sustainable.

The YMCA says all current members who want to use the new Cor Van Raay facility once it opens can do so; they will automatically become members of the new west side YMCA. Those who want to cancel their memberships can do so, with five days’ written notice.

The new ATB Centre Phase Two in west Lethbridge will house the YMCA beginning in early 2019, and a YMCA childcare facility will continue to operate at Lethbridge Centre Mall as well.

For more information, go to http://lethbridgeymca.ca/2018/06/18/board-of-directors-announcement/ .