CITY CENTRE — A second YMCA is coming to Surrey’s City Centre.
While the Now-Leader reported on the planned facility last year, the government has just announced it will invest in the project.
It’s expected to be open in 2021.
In all, the provincial government has committed $11 million to YMCA expansion throughout the Lower Mainland – $3 million to expand its youth mindfulness program and $8 to support existing infrastructure projects.
“The $8 million will be part of a $140 million strategy to build four new YMCAs (Surrey, Coquitlam, South Vancouver and Chilliwack),” said Kelly Walker, director of marketing and communications for YMCA of Greater Vancouver in a release. “It’s a comprehensive plan and the funds are multi-sourced (YMCA sources, government sources, community campaign, etc.).”
READ MORE: New YMCA to be built in Surrey’s City Centre neighbourhood
David Gaskin, YMCA board member and chief financial officer for Coast Capital Savings, told city coucil last July that the new Surrey YMCA “will be an important tool in response to the growing needs of a community in transition.
“City Centre is evolving as a dynamic regional centre which, over the next decade, will experience remarkable transformations,” Gaskin added. “This is exactly the right place and the right time for a YMCA centre of community.”
Gaskin, a Surrey resident, told city council he’s “inspired by the potential of this partnership.”
It is expected the new Surrey facility will be 60,000 square feet, have an aquatics centre with two pools, a fitness centre, a gym, multipurpose rooms and a family development centre.
Surrey’s existing Tong-Louie YMCA is located at 14988 57th Ave.
