Almost one year after it was rescued from imminent closure, the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA isn't out of the woods yet.
The landmark McNabb Street institution continues to provide daycare and other essential programs, with current membership at 2,957, considerably higher than the target of 2,400 set for March of this year.
But there are still wrinkles to be ironed out, city councillors will learn next week.
"The city has been advised that Northeastern Ontario YMCA decided not to partner with the local Sault Ste. Marie Y, and it is staff’s understanding that they need to focus on their current network given a number of challenges they face," Brent Lamming, the city's deputy chief administrative officer for community development and enterprise services, says in a report prepared for a city council meeting on Tuesday.
The local Y then set up a hiring committee to find its own chief executive officer.
"A job description was updated and a posting was issued," Lamming said.
"The salary range was raised from what was historically compensated to attract the skill sets required to guide the organization moving forward. Over 140 resumes were received.
"The first round of interviews had four individuals participate in answering behavioural-based questions.
"The CEO search committee held its second round of interviews on Thursday, April 3, 2025 and a final interview is scheduled for April 28.
"The second interview consisted of a presentation and additional questions shortlisted to three individuals . . . . A human resource professional from a large local employer guided the process," Lamming said in his report.
"An offer of employment for the position is planned to be issued the first week of May 2025."
YMCA Canada has expressed a number of concerns to the local Y that could present a risk to their charter.
Prompted by that letter, the Sault YMCA is fast-tracking discussions related to leadership, finance, operations and governance, Lamming says.
"City staff continue to work very closely with the Sault Ste. Marie Y with the goal of leading the organization back to prosperity."
"Y Canada and YMCA Ontario Regional Development Centre continue to work with Sault Ste. Marie Y and have communicated recently that the recent changes are on the right track with positive steps being taken."
Other highlights from Lamming's report to council:
- a retired Sault Ste. Marie Y chief financial officer has been helping staff work on a budget for 2025-2026 ending March 31, 2026. The goal is to have approved budgets by the end of April 2025
- child safety and protection compliance training is underway. A new tracking system has been developed
- staff have launched the summer camp registration. Demand has been steady to date with 273 youth registered between the ages of four to 12.
- staff have addressed several key building items with support from the city's maintenance team, building department and fire services
- design for a new workshop is underway, and a C-can shipping container has been secured to provide needed storage
- the gym floor has been repaired as of March 2025
- a contract for boiler replacement has been awarded and work is underway
- the local Y has been able to attract four qualified new directors based on a skills matrix. Two are employed by a local accounting firm, while the other two are from a major employer with significant operations and health and safety experience. The board currently has nine members
- the local YMCA recently received a $25,000 donation from Rotarians
- a Catch the Ace fundraiser is planned
- $380,000 of a fundraising goal of $630,000 has been raised, with another $202,000 to be collected over a four-year period
- for the year ended March 31, 2024, the local Y had a surplus of $239,268
- for the 11 months ended February 2025, there's a positive contribution of approximately $131,410 after adding back the loss of the building resulting from the sale for accounting purposes
The YMCA's building was purchased by the Lukenda Foundation, which is occupied by the Y as a tenant under a long-term lease with the city.
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. provided funding to replace the boiler.
The local Y is operating on a one-year business plan but the city wants the new CEO to prepare a five-year plan assuring long-term sustainability.
Next week's city council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Sault's council meetings are usually held on Mondays, but next week's meeting will be on Tuesday to allow council members, city staff and the public to vote in Monday's federal election.