Building the New YMCA in Barrie Together
We’ve already raised $56 million toward our goal, thanks to the generosity of community members, families, local organizations, and government support.
Raised to Date
$70,000,000 Goal
What is 100 Reasons Why?
That’s the question at the heart of the 100 Reasons Y campaign. The new YMCA in Barrie will be more than just a fitness centre; it will be a cornerstone of community well-being and connection. We’re building a safe, inclusive, and vibrant space where all community members can thrive.
Join us in completing this transformative project! Donate Today
Momentum & Milestones
Stay up to date on major gifts, campaign news, events, and project milestones.
Middlefield Charitable Foundation Announces $300,000 Gift
Jul 07, 2026
The generous contribution will support the future YMCA in Barrie and name the Middlefield Lap Pool...
Save the Date: YMCA Block Party
Sep 26, 2026
Celebrate the future YMCA in Barrie with family-friendly activities, project updates, and a first look at what’s ahead.
Built for Belonging
Explore the spaces that will bring health, connection, learning and belonging to our community for generations to come!
There are so many reason to give. What's yours?
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most commonly asked questions about the new YMCA coming to Barrie. We’re committed to keeping you informed and involved. Let’s explore how this exciting project will benefit our community!
Finance & Construction
What is the estimated cost of the project?
The estimated cost of the project has been reduced by $7 million due to cost-effective tendering. The new estimated cost of the project is $63 million, supported by a variety of funding sources, including:
- $37.4 million from provincial and municipal government sources
- $4.5 million generated through the sale of the Barrie YMCA on Grove Street
- $10 million goal in our community capital fundraising campaign, with $3.6 million left to raise
- $10 million in YMCA financing
Is the sale of the former Barrie YMCA at 22 Grove Street being used to support the new building project?
Yes, $4.5 million of the $6 million sale price has been dedicated to the development of the new Barrie Y, ensuring a modern, vibrant space for the community to enjoy for years to come. The remaining $1.5 million was allocated to critical COVID-related stabilization efforts, which were essential in maintaining the financial stability of the association and helping us navigate the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. This ensured we could continue serving our community both during and beyond the pandemic.
How much remains to be raised as part of the fundraising campaign?
Approximately $3.6M remains to be raised from our total $10 million community campaign goal, with the rest of the funding coming from government, the YMCA financing, and the partial proceeds of the sale of the Grove St. YMCA.
When will this project be completed?
We celebrated our ceremonial groundbreaking with over 150 community members on March 21st and officially broke ground on June 2nd. The building will open in Summer 2027.
How is the Y’s financial health?
The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka has made great strides recovering post-pandemic, growing to an operating revenue of $51.6M with an operating gain of $1M+, in fiscal year 2025. Our regional model supports the communities throughout Simcoe County and the districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound with multiple revenue streams including health & wellness, child care, camping, immigrant & youth services, employment & literacy services and so much more.
Why do we need to fundraise if we have financing in place?
To build a best-in-class YMCA in Barrie that will serve the community for generations, we need the support of our community through charitable giving. Financing is not a replacement for capital donations, it is a short-term tool that helps bridge the financial gap between construction and opening, because we have fixed project timelines tied to provincial funding.
For our charity, financing helps manage cash flow and avoid unsustainable financial pressure during the building process. Fundraising helps bring the project to life and ensures the long-term financial health of the YMCA so we can invest more of our resources into programs and community impact, rather than servicing debt.
Will the project support local companies?
Yes! We have already engaged local firms Salter Pilon Architecture Inc, Tatham Engineering, MHBC Planning, The Sarjeant Company, Rudy Mak Surveying Ltd, Vipond Inc, Signz N Designz, Allegra Printing, Digital Giants among others. We have been very intentional in welcoming bids from local companies. At the beginning of the construction process, we connected with the Barrie Construction Association and posted project information with an invitation for trades to submit an Expression of Interest with Pre-qualification documents in February of 2025. This was posted on the Construct Connect platform, available to all Barrie Construction Association members. To further our reach, we also posted a digital notice on our social media feeds and through Metroland media, resulting in a further 40,000 online views. Prequalified companies were sent tender packages directly.
Why is this project taking so long?
Like many capital projects, the new YMCA required an extensive site review and exploration process before it could be built, and this process was deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project also required substantial fundraising and financing before the YMCA could begin construction. Now that construction is well underway, the YMCA is on track to open in Summer 2027.
Who can I connect with to discuss [hiring/services/supply/products/etc.]?
You can reach out to our Community Care team via email ([email protected]), and we’ll connect you with the right person for your needs.
Location & Building
Why is 535 Bayview Drive a great place to build the Y?
As many people know, it has been a long and winding road for our new Y. The development of our earlier site on Bradford Street faced numerous delays during the pandemic and eventually did not come to fruition. We considered H-Block beside the Barrie Public Library and, unfortunately, it was not large enough to suit our needs, resulting in the need for underground parking and the site not being financially feasible. After a thorough review of various sites within Barrie, most of which were not large enough, could not be developed in the timeline requirement of our provincial funding, or financially feasible, we landed at our current site on Bayview Drive. A feasibility study conducted on this new location supported this decision, identifying a higher membership potential in the south end due to the expected growth in that area. The Bayview site is strongly supported by the City of Barrie, as evidenced by a 50-year lease (with extension options) at $2/year. This site allows us to continue the legacy of the YMCA, which began in Allandale in 1907.
We initially hoped to build a downtown YMCA, but after thoroughly reviewing all available sites with experts and partners, over multiple iterations of the project, we couldn’t find a location that was large enough or financially feasible. To ensure we can create a safe, vibrant, and inclusive community space, we expanded our search to other areas in Barrie, which led us to Bayview Drive. This site allows us to bring our full vision to life and best serve our members and the community.
Is the selected site accessible by public transit?
Yes, the selected site at 535 Bayview Drive is accessible by two Barrie Transit stops. Accessibility for our members and participants has been a key priority throughout the selection process. We are working closely with the City of Barrie as they expand transit services to support the area’s growing population, as outlined in the City’s Transportation Master Plan. Future improvements planned for the Mapleview Drive and Bayview Drive area include new buffered bike lanes, in-boulevard pathways, and a Highway 400 Express Transit route connecting to Georgian College, ensuring even greater accessibility for our community.
When will you be hiring staff?
We’ll start hiring our leadership roles in late 2026/early 2027, with supervisory roles to follow in early spring 2027, and frontline roles in late spring 2027.
Is the building sustainable?
The YMCA in Barrie is designed to support the principle of promoting health and wellness, which includes the indoor and outdoor environment. The facility is designed to support active transportation, meet high sustainability standards for building design and energy efficiency, and reduce waste, including water use. We’re also building a living wall of plants in the atrium that will help improve air quality, regulate temperatures, reduce noise, and support mental wellness.
What accessibility features will the YMCA have?
The YMCA is dedicated to creating a facility that is accessible for all. The new YMCA in Barrie will feature barrier-free parking, entrances, washrooms, change rooms, outdoor walking path and indoor walking track, and barrier-free access to the pool deck and gymnasium. The pool area will also feature ramped access to both the leisure pool and lap pool, and the gymnasium will have adjustable height equipment, including basketball nets. We will have an indoor, accessible playground that will be available through membership or day passes. Finally, we’ll have two barrier-free living suites within our youth housing space. We want people of all abilities to be able to enjoy everything the YMCA has to offer in Barrie.
Programs & Offerings
What programs and services does the YMCA provide in Barrie right now?
The YMCA has been providing programs and services in Barrie since 1907. Currently, our staff and volunteers providing programs in Barrie actively engage with and support more than 1,000 Barrie residents on a monthly basis. Our extensive programs include licensed child care, before and after school programs, summer day camps, outdoor education in schools, youth services covering areas such as youth justice, transitional support, mental health assistance, and employment opportunities. Additionally, we offer specialized employment programming and immigrant services, along with invaluable support for the Settlement Workers in Schools program.
The new YMCA in Barrie will include an indoor accessible playground, youth transitional housing complex, indoor running track, gymnasium, lap and therapeutic pools, intergenerational multicultural hub and three community rooms. This new Centre of Community will welcome the growing community and actively engage them in all that the Y has to offer.
Will you be offering licensed child care?
We are open to the opportunity to provide licensed child care at the new YMCA in Barrie if operational funding is available.
What programming will you be offering?
We will be offering aquatics classes and swimming lessons, fitness classes, open gym programs including basketball, leadership programs, and youth programming. Unique to our Barrie location, we’ll also be running a community kitchen and we’ll have an accessible indoor playground. We’ll also be offering child minding services for members when accessing the facility.
Will the new YMCA in Barrie have a [hot tub/dive pool/outdoor pool/other feature]?
The new YMCA will be a 77,000 square-foot Centre of Community at 535 Bayview Drive, designed with purpose and shaped by community input and expert partnerships. Key features include:
- Aquatics Centre with lap and leisure pools
- Indoor walking/running track
- Multi-purpose studios for fitness, wellness, and programming
- Gymnasium and group fitness spaces
- Health partnerships with RVH for cancer and cardiac rehabilitation
- 12-bed transitional housing for youth aged 18-29, each with a private washroom and shower
- Intergenerational spaces designed for all ages to connect
- Accessible indoor playground and barrier-free accessibility throughout
- Programs for children, youth, families, and seniors
- A sustainable design that models environmental stewardship
- A centralized administrative hub connecting YMCA services across the region
We look forward to continuing to update our YMCA community on all of the facility features.
What will the pool layout be like?
The pool area will feature a lap pool, a leisure pool, and an on-deck spa (hot tub). We know people are curious about the temperatures of the pools: the lap pool will be between 80-83F, the leisure pool will be between 90-95F, and the spa will be kept around 100F.
Will you be running day camps on site in the summer?
We are planning to operate day camps on site starting summer 2028.
Is the indoor accessible playground available to all people or only members?
The indoor accessible playground will be through a day pass, membership or private rental.
Will you be hosting birthday parties?
The YMCA offers facility rentals across our centres in Simcoe County and Muskoka, including the new YMCA in Barrie. Facility rentals are open to the community and do not require a YMCA Membership.
Is the outdoor basketball half court accessible to all people or only members?
You can drop in to play basketball at any time, and you don’t need to be a member to play.
What is youth transitional housing and what is your plan for it at the new Y?
In partnership with the County of Simcoe, our youth transitional housing includes 12 private rooms, each equipped with its own bed, and washroom with shower, providing a safe, private and comfortable space for marginalized youth ages 18 - 29 who are transitioning to independent living. Transitional housing provides the stable foundation for young people to create new futures, beginning with a safe place to rest and a trusted space to find support, ideally located in the heart of YMCA community programs and supports.
What is a community kitchen, and how will it operate?
Our Community Kitchen will be designed in consultation with the community to provide a space for cooking skills training, food literacy and nutrition education for all ages, community cooking programs, community meal programming, and youth-focused culinary programming. We’ll be working with partners in our community to offer a diverse range of programming and cuisines.
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Your support helps build on a century of service and create lasting opportunities for generations to come.
Stay Connected & Up-To-Date on the New YMCA in Barrie!
Follow the progress, fundraising milestones, construction updates, and community stories.