Tough financial times for YMCA of Lethbridge in 2022

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on September 30, 2022.

Herald photo by Al Beeber A patron leaves the Cor Van Raay YMCA on Thursday.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

The YMCA of Lethbridge is forecasting a loss of $165,385 for 2022, according to a report submitted to the Economic Standing Policy Committee of Lethbridge city council on Wednesday.

The report was contained in a submission made by YMCA CEO Jennifer Petracek-Kolb to the SPC as it heard budget requests for the years 2023-26.

The report states that once the 2022 audited financial statements are available, the YMCA may have a need to engage in further discussions with the City for funding support if there is indeed a loss.

The pandemic, Petracek-Kolb told the SPC, impacted its operations as it did many others for much of 2020 and 2021.

During the pandemic, the YMCA experienced a decline in both membership fees and drop-in services in 2020 and ’21. This year, the organization says changes in user comfort levels to participate in group activities is continuing to impact participation.

Its also says the number of people applying for and being approved for financial assistance has tripled in the last calendar year from 400 in August 2021 to 1,568 this August. Those numbers have grown every month this year, says the report.

Despite the pandemic challenges, the SPC was told the YMCA still had several successes including the development of a licensed before and after school program for 75 kids which was increased to a capacity of 90.

The YMCA provided a licensed day camp during July and August so parents who could qualify for subsidy could access funding support through the province and obtain quality, affordable childcare so they could keep their jobs.

The YMCA tripled its aquatic programming to better meet the demand for swim lessons and increased training for lifeguard certification and water safety instruction to meet demand.

The organization also implemented a lunch and after school drop-in program as well as Friday recreation nights for youth. It developed family play and guided play programs for parents with young kids and increased pay in 2022 for almost all staff positions to a $19 per hour living wage. It also secured two new long-term naming sponsors for a total of $200,000 over the term of the agreements.

The report points out that the YMCA provided a capital contribution of more than $3 million to the facility.

The YMCA is asking City funding of $372,000 in 2023, $387,000 in ’24, $390,000 in ’25 and $392,000 in ’26, the final year of the budget cycle.

A three per cent increase in programming fees, memberships and drop-in passes is included in the organization’s annual projections for the budget cycle.

The YMCA says if its budget request isn’t approved, it will have to significantly raise fees, lower the amount of financial assistance available to community members and families who qualify and reduce its hours of operation and number of programs.

The YMCA has been in Lethbridge since 1905.

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