North Bay City Council has voted to subsidize the North Bay YMCA.

The $173,000 is part of the COVID-19 relief funding the city received from the province.

Deputy Mayor Tanya Vrebosch says the Y is a city asset.

“A lot of people would ask why are you supporting the North Bay YMCA and not other non profit organizations? What some don’t realize that the land that the Y sits on is owned by the city,” she says.

Vrebosch says the Aquatic Centre is too.

The money incurs losses suffered by the YMCA when it was closed from March to September.

Councillor Johanne Brousseau points out the Y has 3,800 members serves over 8,000 residents and employs 173 people.

Councillor Scott Robertson says keeping the Y open is a necessity for the city.

“This is a municipally owned asset. The ratepayers of North Bay own that pool. The Y has been operating it through a service agreement with the city and it’s a money saver for the city in the long run,” he says.

In addition, the Y will receive up to $20,000 to help with snow removal but that is coming out of the regular operating budget and is not additional money.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: city-council, north-bay-ymca