Downtown Toronto is getting a new YMCA

A brand new YMCA is poised to open up soon in the heart of downtown Toronto.

While, thanks to the ubiquitous 1978 hit by the Village People, the mere mention of a YMCA might instinctively make you want to throw your arms up and start dancing, one neighbourhood in Toronto has another YMCA-related reason to have a little pep in their step: they're about to get the city's latest location of the community and recreation centre.

Known for offering affordable group fitness and gym memberships (well, affordable by this city's standards, anyway,) aquatics, day camps for kids and youth groups for newcomers and refugees, YMCA's serve as community hubs as much as they do recreation centres.

Later this year, the Fashion District will be the latest neighbourhood to reap the benefits of a brand-spankin'-new YMCA.

Prepped to open before the end of 2024, the McDonald Family YMCA will be moving into a corner of the neighbourhood that's already on the up-and-up, taking up residence at 505 Richmond, sharing the historic Waterworks building with the recently-opened Waterworks Food Hall.

The McDonald Family YMCA. Photo by YMCA of Greater Toronto.

According to YMCA, the 54,000 square-foot centre will feature state-of-the-art facilities, like a swimming pool where aquatic programs like swimming lessons and free-swims will be held, a gym complete with all the must-have cardio and strength training equiptment and a gymnasium for team sports.

The new facility is also doing good for the planet, as well as the community, being built with locally sourced and recycled materials, as well as being on track towards a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

Originally slated to open in 2020, the new YMCA has certainly been a labour of love, but, in a relatively young and denseley populated neighbourhood, will more than likely provide immeasurable benefits to the community.

As the centre is still under construction, there's no firm opening date confirmed as of yet, but a representative from YMCA tells blogTO that the organization is aiming for a 2024 opening date, and that they'll be providing updates through their newsletters.