The CEO of the Owen Sound Family Y and the President of the Board is updating the community about the Regional Recreation Centre project.
Gayle Graham and Evelyn Dean discussed the 38 million dollar facility at Tuesday’s Grey County Council meeting.
They promoted the regional aspect of the project and asked Councillors to consider offering support.
They pointed out the facility is a response to existing and future regional needs — and only 35 per cent of current users of the YMCA come from outside Owen Sound.
The usage is expected to double when the new centre opens sometime in 2011.
They also noted the Family Y is a multi-faceted organization which already offers child care and employment services to people all across Grey Bruce.
Economic benefits were cited as a regional value of the new facility.
Meaford Deputy Mayor Mike Traynor asked Graham and Dean to provide more tangible examples of the expected benefits, and they responded by saying it’s believed Owen Sound will see one million worth of annual economic activity from visitors who come to the city for hockey tournaments, swim meets and other events.
They’ve already visited some lower-tier municipal councils, passing along the same messages.
And both Graham and Dean say they’ll continue to do so — including a visit to Bruce County Council in the near future.