YMCA of Greater Toronto Announces Reopening of Health and Fitness Centres

Charity ramping up to reopen Health and Fitness Centres in Markham and Oshawa with enhanced screening, cleaning and physical distancing amidst COVID-19

TORONTO – July 21, 2020 – Following the province of Ontario’s planned move to Phase 3, the YMCA of Greater Toronto is pleased to announce the reopening of its Health and Fitness centres in Markham and Oshawa on July 24. Its remaining centres in Toronto and Peel will reopen when those areas move to Phase 3.

“As a charity dedicated to the health of individuals and community, we know we are needed more now than ever before and we’ve worked hard to be ready to help members in person as they regain their physical and mental health after this long shut down,” says Medhat Mahdy, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Toronto. “Even though we’ll need to be physically distanced and take other safety precautions, we know that people benefit not only from physical activity, but from connecting with others in a shared community.”

The charity will be turning on lights, opening its doors and welcoming back members and volunteers with modified programs, amenities and safety protocols – all while providing the same friendly support and quality exercise expected from their local Y. Programs include:

• strength training and cardio in individual conditioning spaces
• group fitness classes, and
• personal training.

Wet areas including showers and indoor pools will remain closed for the time being and some programs such as recreational team sports will also be on hold.

The Y is monitoring regulations and guidelines provided by government and public health officials to ensure that its Health and Fitness centres follow all current safety protocols.

In order to open its doors, safety measures in these centres have been modified to include:

• Enhanced cleaning and sanitization, and additional staff added to the regular cleaning team
• Equipment at least 8 feet apart
• Plexiglass at entry points
• Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes available throughout the buildings
• Screening before entry
• Signage throughout the buildings
• A new booking system to cap the number of members in the Y at a given time

COVID-19 related safety protocols will be in place at all locations when reopened. For more information on re-openings, modified programs and amenities, please visit: theystepsup.ymcagta.org.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto reopened Day Camp and child care centres in early July following the province’s move to Phase 2 reopening.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity and it too has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. It relies on members and donors now more than ever. The continued commitment to our gym means the Y will get to keep serving our community for years to come.

About the YMCA of Greater Toronto

As a charity, the Y helps people shine through a variety of programs responding to the needs of the community, including education and training, employment and immigrant services, family and youth services, health and fitness programs, child care and camps. Serving communities across the Greater Toronto Area, last year the YMCA made more than 620,000 connections at more than 450 locations.

While most of those locations were temporarily closed due to COVID-19, the Y continued to deliver shelter for at-risk youth, developed virtual offerings and remote programs across the Greater Toronto Area, stepped up with Emergency Child Care for health care and frontline workers and supported food security efforts across the region.

For further information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Brittany Arnold, arnold@veritasinc.com, 905-926-1863

Camille Cote-Begin, cotebegin@veritasinc.com, 416-819-2035