Barrie YMCA

10/16/2026

What a beautiful day to celebrate one year until the new YMCA in Barrie opens its doors!

On September 26, neighbours, families and friends came together for our YMCA Block Party for an afternoon full of movement, laughter and community spirit.

We also marked a major milestone: a $500,000 RBC Foundation Community Spaces Grant. It will fund accessible wayfinding and Braille signage throughout the new facility, so everyone can move through our space with confidence and independence.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this special milestone for the new YMCA in Barrie.

Follow along as we share more updates and as we count down to opening day!

10/15/2026

So much is happening on site at the new YMCA in Barrie!

From atrium stairs and glass installation to tiling, siding, and an indoor accessible playground, every corner of your new YMCA is taking shape.

Swipe through to see the latest milestones and share which space you're most excited for when we open one year from now!

Want to learn more about the new Y? Visit 100ReasonsY.ca!

10/13/2026

When you look at the new YMCA in Barrie taking shape, you can see the pool. The walking track. The fitness and wellness spaces. The community kitchen.

We see something more.

We see children building confidence. Families finding time to be together. Older adults staying active and connected. New friendships beginning. New skills being discovered. And more people in Barrie having a place where they can truly belong.

Because the new YMCA in Barrie isn’t being built simply to fill a space. It’s being built to create opportunities for people across ages, stages, and generations to thrive. And our community is helping make it possible.

We see the potential. You make it possible. Give today and help bring Barrie’s new centre of community to life.

Visit BarrieYMCA.ca to learn more about the new YMCA coming to Barrie.

10/09/2026

What a stunning autumn view over 535 Bayview Drive! 🍂

Under this beautiful sky, our new YMCA in Barrie grows a little more every day.

Each beam, brick, and finished detail brings us closer to a space where families can play, neighbours can connect, and people of all ages and abilities can feel welcome.

Visit 100ReasonsY.ca to learn more about this centre for community coming to Barrie!

10/08/2026

It’s almost the long weekend!🍂

A friendly reminder to our Y Community that our hours will look a little different this weekend for Thanksgiving.

On Monday, October 12, our Health, Fitness, and Aquatics Centres will be open from 10am-3pm. All other YMCA Programs and Services will remain closed for the statutory holiday. We look forward to welcoming everyone back during regular hours on Tuesday, October 13.

Thank you for your understanding, and thank you for being a part of our YMCA Community!

10/07/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the Kempenfelt Rotary Club for their generous support!

We're thrilled to share that the Kempenfelt Rotary Club has pledged $105,000 in support of the new YMCA in Barrie. This gift helps support our vision for a healthier, more connected community.

Thank you to every member of the Kempenfelt Rotary Club for your generous support and belief in what we are building. Your commitment will help create spaces where people of all ages can grow, connect, and have a sense of belonging for generations to come. Partnerships like this remind us of what is possible when we come together!

Pictured here are Lianne Gorbell, Manager of Executive Services and Jill Tettmann, President & CEO of the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, along with Rotarians Shirley Smith and Ali Khonsari.

10/07/2026

Our tip this week will help you reduce your screentime this fall and enjoy some movement!🍂

As the days get shorter, it's easy to cozy up on the couch and lose an hour (or three) to your phone. We get it. But there's something even better waiting for you.

Joining a group fitness class this fall can:

✨ Lift your mood and shake off the seasonal slump
💪 Boost your energy and support your physical wellness
🤝 Help you meet new friends and feel part of something bigger

Movement feels better together. And here's the best part: group fitness classes are included in your YMCA membership at no extra cost.

Until October 26 when new members join the YMCA, they save $75 and get so much more!

Visit JoinTheY.ca to learn more!

10/06/2026

As we continue to put the finishing touches on the Tamarack North Centre, it has become clear that we still need a little more time before we can welcome everyone inside. While the building is substantially complete, we want your first look at the Centre to be the full experience that we’ve been planning for.

That means that the ceremonial opening and community open house planned for this Thursday, October 8 will be rescheduled to a future date.

We know many of you were looking forward to getting your first look inside the Centre, and we apologize that we won’t be able to welcome you in this week, but we are looking forward to doing just that very soon.

Presale pricing offers will continue until opening day. Register using our YMCA online portal at YMCAOnlinePortal.ca or get help with your registration by contacting our YMCA Community Care team at [email protected] or 705-792-7822. In person pre-sales are not available at this time.

Thank you for your patience. We’re just as excited as you are to open the doors and welcome you!

10/05/2026

Every day on site brings us one step closer to our new YMCA at 535 Bayview Drive, and this next progress update has us especially excited!

Swipe through to see the milestones:

🌟Our new staircase is in place
🌟Linen-coloured brick is taking shape inside and out
🌟Tile work has begun in the change rooms

Each new detail brings us closer to opening a space where Barrie can gather, grow and belong. This is a place where families will play, neighbours will connect, and people of all ages and abilities will find support to live healthier lives.

Want to learn more about the new YMCA coming to Barrie? Visit 100ReasonsY.ca!

10/05/2026

Every day on site brings us one step closer to our new YMCA at 535 Bayview Drive, and this next progress update has us especially excited!

Swipe through to see the milestones:

🌟Our new staircase is in place
🌟Linen-coloured brick is taking shape inside and out
🌟Tile work has begun in the change rooms

Each new detail brings us closer to opening a space where Barrie can gather, grow and belong. This is a place where families will play, neighbours will connect, and people of all ages and abilities will find support to live healthier lives.

Want to learn more about the new YMCA coming to Barrie? Visit 100ReasonsY.ca!

10/04/2026

Every serve, set, and rally is a chance to stay active, have fun, and be part of a supportive community. 🏐

Together, We Shine On. ✨

Learn more about the YMCA's commitment to our community at ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca/shine-on

10/02/2026

We know how excited our community is to experience the new Tamarack North Centre, and we are equally excited to welcome you.

Today, we are sharing that the Tamarack North Centre opening will be slightly delayed. A little more time is needed to complete the final touches on the building and to ensure the team is ready to welcome the community.

We don’t have a new opening date to share just yet, but we remain confident that the Centre will open later in October. We will share another update on Wednesday, October 7 about the opening timeline.

Please note: The adjustment to the opening timing will not impact the ceremonial opening planned for October 8. We are moving ahead with the event as planned and look forward to welcoming you.

We understand this news will be disappointing, and we are committed to opening the doors as soon as possible.

For the latest updates and FAQs, visit TamarackNorthCentre.ca

10/02/2026

More connections. More support. More ways to belong.❤️

The YMCA is so much more than a gym.

It's a space where communities belong and thrive.

Until October 26, when you join the Y, you save $75 and get so much more!

Visit JoinTheY.ca to get started.

10/01/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Janice Laking, a remarkable community leader, advocate, philanthropist, and friend of the YMCA.

As the Honorary Chair of our Barrie YMCA Capital Campaign, Janice's leadership, generosity, and unwavering commitment to strengthening our community helped shape the vision of a more connected and inclusive future.

Her legacy will continue to inspire us and the countless lives she touched.

We invite you to read our full tribute and reflect on the lasting impact Janice made on our organization and our region.

https://www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca/news-updates/remembering-janice-laking/

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

Thank You, RBC Foundation!

We were thrilled to celebrate another exciting milestone at our YMCA Block Party with the announcement of a $500,000 RBC Foundation Community Spaces Grant in support of the new YMCA in Barrie.

This generous investment will fund accessible wayfinding signage throughout the facility, including the addition of Braille signage, helping ensure that everyone who walks through our doors can navigate the space with confidence, independence, and ease.

A sincere thank you to the RBC Foundation and Devinder Gill, RBC Regional President, Ontario North & East, for joining us to mark this special occasion and for supporting our vision of creating a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible centre of community where everyone belongs.

Together, we're building more than a facility. We're creating a space where people of all abilities can connect, thrive, and feel at home for generations to come.

Thank you, RBC Foundation, for helping bring this vision to life!

09/28/2026

Thank you, Barrie, for such an incredible day! 🌟

The Barrie community showed up in the best way possible at our YMCA Block Party on Saturday, and what a joyful celebration it was!

Together, we marked a special milestone: just one year until we open the doors to the new YMCA in Barrie. Neighbours, families, and friends came out to play games, get moving with outdoor Zumba and On The Move, meet some incredible local vendors, and win some fantastic prizes.

Between the laughter and the fun, so many of you shared why you’re excited for what’s ahead, and hearing your hopes for this new space meant the world to us.

Enjoy this time-lapse of all the fun, but STAY TUNED! We have even more beautiful moments to share in the coming days, plus an exciting milestone that was announced at the celebration on Saturday!

09/25/2026

Barrie, we will see you TOMORROW!🎉

The excitement is real as our team is on-site setting everything up, and we can't wait to celebrate this exciting milestone with you.

One year until we open our doors, and we're kicking it off together. ❤️

Here's your friendly reminder of the details:

📅 Saturday, September 26
🕙 10:00am – 4:00pm
📍 535 Bayview Drive, Barrie
🎈 FREE community event

Bring your family, bring your friends, and bring your energy. We'll see you there!

Visit our website to learn more: ymcasm.ca/BlockParty