‘A transformational moment’ for Saskatoon’s YMCA

WATCH: The Saskatoon YMCA is preparing for major changes, as it plans for a transition out of its flagship downtown building, and its future still uncertain.

As the Saskatoon YMCA prepares for major changes ahead, and a transition out of their current building in Saskatoon, the local team welcomed a visit from the national CEO.

Discussions in Saskatoon and Regina have been centered around how the YMCA can meet the evolving needs of our communities.

“The YMCA Saskatoon is really at a transformational moment. It’s at a crossroads to decide what its future is going to be,” DeeAnn Mercier, CEO of the Saskatoon YMCA told CTV News.

That future includes moving from its long-term location downtown, with an aging building being a factor, and adhering with city plans to reconfigure the downtown to make way for the new entertainment district.

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The head of the national YMCA was in Saskatoon Tuesday to discuss the organization’s role in the future of our cities. With communities across the country currently facing changing socio-economic challenges, the YMCA hopes to be there for support.

“When we do our work the best, we’re a center of community. It depends what the community needs. It could be housing and homelessness services. Each community is a bit different, so that’s why a meeting like this, an opportunity like this, is so important,” said Peter Dinsdale, the CEO of YMCA National.

The organizations present for the meeting included municipal government leaders and groups like the United Way.

“Mental health isolation kind of challenges in this community, in all communities, are too great for any one organization to own it,” said Mercier.

The YMCA is currently looking at taking over services at the Harry Bailey building as early as September 2026 — and while it’s an aquatic, fitness and leisure Centre, other services will be essential, which is part of the topics being discussed this week.

“We see that our aquatics will continue, but we do so much more than that. Where are we going to do that? What are we going to do with that? Who are our partners for that sort of future work,” Mercier asked.

One of the other projects the YMCA is eyeing down the road is the operation of a city leisure center planned east of Brighton in what will be the Holmwood neighborhood. That’s expected around 2028.

“We want a healthy community and having that partnership, it helps alleviate the burden, you know, even on the health care system,” Mercier said.

The national CEO is also meeting in Regina this week with government officials.

“It’s really a call to action, I would say, to see how we can work with other organizations, other levels of government, to come together.”

The YMCA started in 1851as a Christian organization but now serves everyone with programs including not-for-profit daycare, kids camps and much more. It operates mostly on fundraising and memberships, and program fees.