New Cor Van Raay YMCA expected to open this spring at ATB Centre

Members of the media were invited to tour the site on Wednesday morning.

Project coordinator Ashley Matthews said the project has been in the works since 2011, and the new facility be able to serve people from across Southern Alberta.

“We still have a ways to go, the journey’s not over but we will be opening sometime this spring,” Matthews said.

He highlighted some of the main features of the recreational facility.

“I think number one is the aquatic centre. It has five different amenities – the water slides, a wave pool, a teaching pool-lap pool, lazy river and of course a surf simulator which is really new and exciting for Lethbridge because there’s never been anything like around here at all.”

The facility also boasts a 30,000 square foot fitness centre on the second level, featuring state-of-the-art equipment, including machines that connect to users’ mobile devices and offer screens for people to watch videos while they work out. The fitness centre overlooks the aquatic centre.

There will be a child centre. Child care will be run by the YMCA for a little over 60 children.

“Along with that we have an indoor playground,” Matthews added.

One of the largest spaces in the facility is the gymnasium, which provides quite the ‘wow factor’.

“We can accommodate six basketball-size courts in this particular facility. It accommodates a wide variety of court and field sports.”

Runners can sprint along the track on the building’s second level, which overlooks the basketball courts. There is a smaller fitness room along the running track, in addition to the larger work-out space that overlooks the pools. Meetings can also be held in one of the available multi-purpose rooms.

The Cor Van Raay YMCA will include men’s, women’s and all gender changerooms.

“To see it all come together in a facility like we have here today is fantastic for this community. We’re long overdue,” Matthews said.

The YMCA will run all of the building’s operations. The City of Lethbridge will assist by maintaining the mechanical equipment and the structure of the facility.

Matthews said construction is ongoing, and inspections from Alberta Health Services will need to take place. He’s anticipating a spring opening but could not lock down a specific date.

“It will probably be another month at least before we can actually set a date but once we can, we’ll make sure we let the community know,” he said.

The new facility is the third largest operated by the YMCA in the country, with the other two in Calgary.

“The Y is tremendously thrilled with this facility…it’s been such an undertaking for us but we’re so excited to do it,” said Stephen Mogdan, the board chair for the Lethbridge YMCA.

Mogdan said that with the new building, services like child care will be expanded. He added that with the larger space, the YMCA will have 225 full and part-time staff, along with many volunteers.

People with 2018 memberships will not see a rate change until the end of 2019, but Modgan said there may be some rate increases for next year, based on factors like operational needs.

“Because we’re moving to this facility, we’re not really addressing a different price structure because of this facility being different that the other facility,” he explained.

The Stafford Drive YMCA is going to be closed, and a decision on the site’s future will be made by the City of Lethbridge. City Mayor Chris Spearman was in attendance for the tour.

“I can hardly wait for opening day. It’s going to be tremendous, families in our city will be able to come to a first-class fitness facility and we’re pleased to be partnering with the YMCA,” Spearman said, noting everything about the new centre is “first-class”.

“Lethbridge is one of the few cities (in Alberta) that didn’t have a leisure centre, so it’s (great) that we will have one, and I think it’s going to be a great central point for West Lethbridge but I think it’s going to entice people to come from the other side of the river to West Lethbridge as well.”

He added that the facility will be a good drawing card for the city, attracting people from communities across Southern Alberta.

“When you look at the size of this facility, the engineering that’s required and the construction expertise…the people putting this together have done a tremendous job,” he said.

The new YMCA facility’s namesake, Cor Van Raay, said he is very excited about the new leisure centre.

The local businessman donated $3.75 million to the project.

“I’m totally impressed with it. I’m not sure how I’m going to find my way around here when I come to exercise,” he Van Raay said with a laugh.

He said the donation was a way for him to give back to the community in Lethbridge and all the surrounding areas.

Businesses have leased space in the facility to provide food and wellness services. Jugo Juice will provide food services for guests. This will be Jugo Juice’s first location in Lethbridge. Lime Physical Therapy will offer wellness services in the building.

The total project cost is just over $150 million.

by Justin Goulet (@JustinGoulet21)

New Cor Van Raay YMCA expected to open this spring at ATB Centre

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