LETTER: Sault doctors call on politicians to help save YMCA

SooToday received the following open letter to MP Terry Sheehan, MPP Ross Romano and Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. It was written by Patricia Zehr, a retired doctor, and Mark Jenkins, a family physician at the Group Health Centre.

We are writing to ask for help in saving the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA from closure.

The YMCA provides a healthy third space for individuals of all ages, during an era when this is becoming increasingly rare,and is invaluable to so many in our community. Popular programs include, but are not limited to, gymnastics, swimming lessons and daycare for children, enrichment programs for adults with special needs, cardiac rehabilitation and specialized exercise programming for seniors. There are also aerobics classes and organized sports for all ages. These programs provide vital recreation and wellness for thousands within our community. To cancel even one program would be unfortunate, but to abruptly cease all programming is no less than a tragedy for our community.

There is no other centre with the infrastructure or capacity to accommodate all the seniors programs, with the innumerable benefits of wellness and socialization. The same can be said for the activities of the adult enrichment centre. The sudden closure of the daycare will leave many working parents without child care.
It was a complete shock to find out that we will lose this valuable community hub in under 30 days. The sudden cessation of all programs will have serious consequences for the Sault. The community was not told about the issues and therefore was unable to be a part of the solution. We are asking for financial assistance to keep the YMCA running longer while the stakeholders have a chance to look at short-term fundraising and develop a long-term plan for a new sustainable location.

In a community where access to health care is a challenge and where we see increasingly problematic addiction issues, this is a devastating blow. Individuals who are already marginalized will become more so. As physicians, we ask for your help to move forward to try to maintain and increase our community’s health and wellness.

Patricia Zehr and Mark Jenkins
Sault Ste. Marie