YMCA and Lethbridge Public Library forge drop-in pass partnership

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on March 15, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge Public Library members now have the opportunity to access Cor Van Raay YMCA drop in passes thanks to a new partnership between the two organizations.
“We are really happy to be joined with YMCA and able to join forces to provide additional service to the community and create accessibility for everyone,” said Bonnie Mikalson-Andron, manager business development with the Lethbridge Public Library.
Through the Lethbridge Public Library’s Lethbridge Presents Program, library card holders will be able to access Cor Van Raay YMCA drop in passes each month by reserving a pass on the Lethbridge Public Library website, much like reserving a book.
“The YMCA is donating 30 passes a month to this program, so that’s 15 individual passes and 15 family passes that work for two children and two adults,” said Kaley Ann Beaudoin, assistant membership coordinator at the YMCA.
Each drop in pass will offer daily access to the Cor Van Raay facility, including the aquatic centre, fitness centre, gymnasium, rec room, indoor play, and more.  
“Basically 30 people would get a pass, 15 of each type and then the next month we do the next 15 people on each hold list,” said Mikalson-Andron.
Beaudoin said that as the assistant membership coordinator part of her role is identifying and reducing some of the barriers to accessing their facility to be able to get more people into the YMCA, she said that one of those barriers sometimes can be the cost of a day pass and that is why they are donating the passes.
“The library has already had the Lethbridge presents program in place for many years and seeing the success of that program it’s definitely something that the YMCA wants to be a part of,” said Beaudoin.
She said that after a rough couple years with the pandemic, a lot of people are looking to get back out in the community but they might be a little bit hesitant.
“They might wanna come check it out and these passes offer them the opportunity to come in for a day and get everything the YMCA has to offer,” said Beaudoin.
She said they hope to work on building a stronger and healthier community with the help of the Lethbridge Public Library.
The Lethbridge Presents Program was launched in June 2014 and has developed multiple partnerships throughout the years, with the YMCA being the newest one.
Learn more at http://www.lethlib.ca/lethbridge-presents 

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