Sharing their YMCA memories
Y Lofts short story contest winners revealed by developer
Leonard Minty fondly remembers the days when men and boys swam nude at the former YMCA.
That was until 1962, when women finally joined the Y.
“That was the end of the good times,” Minty said, smiling.
The Peterborough resident won first place in a short story contest where entrants shared memories from their years at the former YMCA on George and Murray streets.
Atria Development is converting the historic building into luxury rental lofts.
Having heard many stories of the impact the former YMCA had on the community, Hans Jain, Atria’s president, decided to run the contest to help share stories with the community.
Of all the entries, three winners were chosen and acknowledged at Y Lofts on Tuesday.
Maria Ferrer earned third place. She shared her family’s experiences with the Y.
Ferrer and her husband immigrated to Peterborough in 1989 with their three-year-old son Bien.
Soon afterwards, they enrolled Bien in day care at the Y and that’s where it all started. Over the years, their two sons attended day care, learned to swim, took karate and went to every camp offered. Ferrer also took aerobics there and her husband played basketball, too.
When her sons got older, they volunteered at the Y and later worked as camp counsellors and lifeguards.
“They signed up as kids and then ended up taking care of kids, so it was full circle,” she said.
Lionel “Butch” Hempstead won second place with his essay.
Hempstead used to live across the street from the Y, where city hall sits today.
He joined the Y at six years old. It’s where he learned how to play chess, checkers, euchre and ping pong. It’s also where he learned how to swim.
“Your dad taught me how to swim,” Hempstead said, turning to Minty.
“I’ve heard that for the last 60 years,” Minty replied. Gord Minty taught swimming at the old Y for years and the larger pool was named after him.
Hempstead reminisced about the Y’s former janitor Jim Young, who “ruled the roost.”
“He was always kicking me out of somewhere,” Hempstead said with a chuckle.
Meanwhile, Minty shared a story about time former prime minister John Diefenbaker was in town.
It was 1962 and Minty was 15. He’d climbed out on a ledge of an upper storey Y window to watch a parade passing by. He saw Diefenbaker in a convertible Cadillac and yelled “Dief the chief,” but Diefenbaker didn’t react.
Then another caddy went by with the city’s mayor Stanley McBride. Minty yelled down,
“Stan the Man.”
In response, the mayor stood up, pointed at Minty and said, “Hi Lenny, it’s good to have friends in high places.”
Minty said he spent six days a week at the Y, and considered it a home away from home.
“It was my second home ... you never know, it may end up being my last home, too.” Minty said, joking about moving into the lofts.
Construction on the apartments project will get underway in the coming weeks. It’s expected to be move-in ready by early 2019.