The air was heavy with the smell of maple syrup at the Innisfil Recreational Complex on Saturday morning.
Sounds of skates slicing through the ice were complemented by knives slicing through pancakes at the Innisfil YMCA’s 16th birthday pancake breakfast.
Located at Yonge Street and Innisfil Beach Road, the Town of Innisfil operates the “cold side” of the building — the rinks — while the YMCA operates the “warm side,” including the pool, gym, and fitness centre, and provides related programming for members and the community. The complex was officially opened on Nov. 21, 2008.
Jill Tettmann, president and CEO of the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, was on hand for the party Saturday and told InnisfilToday the event was to celebrate and thank the community and partners who have been with the Y through the years and are helping it grow again after the COVID-19 pandemic with their support.
“We love celebrating every year our community connection with this gathering, fellowship, sharing, fun and the eating,” Tettmann said.
The first Canadian YMCA was founded in 1851 in Montreal.
Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollan was part of the team that helped design the plan for what the town wanted from the Y and its space when it partnered with the institution to open the townships. She was quite impressed with the design of the Y in Goderich and was pleased they could incorporate many of the features they saw there, including the giant walls of glass so groups could engage visually with each other as they went through the facility. She said she is still proud of the partnership, and even just being in the building gives her great energy.
Serving up the meal and coffee were more than 20 volunteers who were on site Friday night setting up tables and in by 8:30 a.m. Saturday preparing for the 10 a.m. start. Kathleen Atkinson, the YMCA’s child and youth supervisor for Innisfil and Barrie, said the youth leadership volunteers from grades 5 through 12 were key to the success Saturday morning.
Ryan Purdy, general manager of the Innisfil YMCA, wrapped up remarks to the crowd by thanking all in attendance for making the Innisfil YMCA not only the hub of Innisfil, but an essential space that is building a stronger and healthier community.
