In the spirit of goodwill, the Town of Pelham and YMCA of Niagara are supporting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the viability of a service partnership for recreational and family programs in a potential multi-faceted community centre. The facility would be in East Fonthill on the Town-owned lands along Rice Road at Regional Road 20.
In the MOU approved by Council on Monday, March 16th, 2015, the Town of Pelham and YMCA of Niagara agreed on a set of principles and parameters to help guide discussions toward a collaborative operational business plan and related service agreement. This MOU is the first of several steps the Town of Pelham and YMCA of Niagara will take as the concept of a partnership opportunity is considered.
"I am pleased that Pelham Town Council approved this Memorandum of Understanding with the YMCA of Niagara," said Mayor Dave Augustyn. "The MOU signals to the public that we have begun negotiating a possible formal agreement for community service in a new potential Multi-Faceted Community Centre on the Town's East Fonthill lands."
“Partnering with other organizations is an approach YMCAs have used to strengthen our impact,” said Janet St. Amand, CEO, YMCA of Niagara. “This collaborative way of delivering service has proven to be a viable, successful one in several communities and so we look forward to further discussions with the Town of Pelham.”
For a copy of the MOU, click here.
In 2013, the Town of Pelham retained LeisurePlan International Inc. to conduct market research to determine community demand for a multi-purpose community centre (including an arena), and in 2014 Town Council received the consultant’s final reports. The Town of Pelham and YMCA of Niagara began informal discussions in early 2014, and Council directed staff to develop an MOU to help formalize discussions after the YMCA gave a presentation in August. Over the past several months, the YMCA of Niagara has also been an active part of Pelham’s Architectural Design Advisory Committee as an ex-officio member.
The YMCA of Niagara currently serves approximately 3,000 Pelham residents through: Child Care Centres; Day Camp Programs; the Niagara Centre Youth Action Program; Newcomer Services in local schools; and health, fitness and aquatics branches across Niagara.
About the YMCA
As a values-based charity dedicated to healthy living and well-being, the YMCA of Niagara has a positive impact on the health of over 90,000 people of all backgrounds, abilities and stages of life from across the region. Operating from 108 program sites throughout Niagara, the YMCA offers membership, child care, youth outreach, day camp and employment and newcomer services supported by over 900 volunteers annually. The YMCA of Niagara is open to all and is dedicated to providing leadership and opportunities for people and their community to grow in spirit, mind, and body. To learn more about the YMCA of Niagara visit ymcaofniagara.org.
For more information, please contact:
Dave Augustyn, Town of Pelham Mayor
(905) 892-2607 ext. 317
Janet St. Amand, CEO, YMCA of Niagara
(905) 646-9622 ext. 345
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