The expansion of the Collingwood YMCA is almost finished.
Y General Manager Nilusha Premasinghe tells us some flooring is still going in to the new work out area and then new equipment will be installed.
She says they hope to have the 1.3 million dollar phase one of the project done by the end of the month.
Premasinghe says the expansion was needed to accommodate the Y’s growing membership which is now at 29 hundred members.
She tells us just inside the front doors off Hume Street is a new Fitness Studio and then there’s a multi-purpose room for daycare and child and youth programs.
She says they hope to eventually be able to build an aquatic centre like the one at the Wasaga Y.
Premasinghe tells us the Y launches an annual fundraising campaign so kids who come from lower income families can go to the Y and its camps.
She says this year’s campaign for the Strong Kids Program kicked off yesterday.
It’s called the Great Skate Date and is being held at the outdoor skating rink behind the Collingwood Y.
Premasinghe tells us staff have already donated three thousand dollars.
Last year, volunteer canvassers collected 41 thousand dollars to help 500 kids and Premasinghe hopes they’ll do even better this year.