The YMCA of Central East Ontario is opening the doors of the Balsillie Family Branch on Aylmer Street this Saturday, August 29th, inviting the community in for a free afternoon of activities, demonstrations and a closer look at the programs and services available at the Y.
The open house runs from 11am to 2pm and everyone is welcome. No membership is required to take part.
For Cindy Mytruk, Manager of Partnerships and Inclusion, the event is an opportunity to do something the YMCA has not always been the best at doing: showing people just how much happens inside its doors.
“We always say, like we've been around for like 182 years, but we're not always the best at letting people know what we do,” Mytruk said.
And there is a lot to see.
The open house will feature activities for a wide range of ages and interests, including open swim and water activities, outdoor games and NHL Street Hockey, weather permitting, along with dance, gymnastics and dodgeball.
Visitors can also check out studio demonstrations featuring judo and fitness, try their hand at interactive games, take part in face painting and Treehouse activities, and visit information booths to learn more about YMCA programs and services.
The YMCA will also have information available about membership, camps, child care, health and fitness services, employment services and other community initiatives.
For those who have not been through the doors in a while, the open house could also be a chance to discover something new.
“If you've been here before, we may have added something new,” Mytruk said.
The YMCA's youth programs are included with membership, and the branch also offers a range of adult fitness opportunities, including its conditioning centre with weights, machines and cable machines.
But while the equipment, programs and facilities are a big part of what the YMCA offers, Mytruk says the people are what truly define the organization.
“We are an inclusive, welcoming place for all ages and stages of life,” she said. “And our staff are really invested in the community and that is what makes us different.”
That sense of community is a big part of Saturday's invitation. The open house isn't simply for people considering a YMCA membership. It's for longtime members, former members, families who have never visited, and anyone curious about what the Y has to offer.
The YMCA is a charitable organization, and its work extends well beyond the pool and fitness centre. Saturday's information booths will give visitors an opportunity to learn more about the broader range of programs and services available through the organization, as well as upcoming events.
And there will be plenty of opportunities to simply have some fun along the way.
The Good Baker, the on-site café, will also be open with food and baked goods available for purchase.
Mytruk says there is no need to register ahead of time. Just show up during the open house hours and come inside.
There will be a sign-in process at the entrance, and anyone 16 years and older is asked to bring photo ID. Once signed in, visitors can enjoy the open house for free.
The YMCA has been part of the community for generations, but Saturday's event is about looking at what the Y is today and what it continues to offer to the people who walk through its doors.
Whether you're coming to try a new activity, check out the facilities, learn about a program, bring the kids for an afternoon of fun or simply satisfy your curiosity, the invitation is straightforward.
Come in. Have a look around. Meet the people who make the YMCA what it is.
And maybe discover something you didn't know was here.
