N.D.G. facility finally reopens in October
The Hampton Ave. YMCA in Notre-dame-de-grâce will reopen for fitness activities on Oct. 4 after being closed for more than a year and a half.
“It is our pleasure to inform you that fitness and aquatic activities will officially resume at the N.D.G. YMCA on Oct. 4. Regular programming in the swimming pool, gymnasium, conditioning room and group classes will be available again as of this date,” the Y said in a statement on its website.
The reopening will kick off with an open house on Oct. 3 at 4335 Hampton Ave., where people can take part in fitness and aquatic activities for free and sign up for memberships.
You must reserve in advance, wear a mask, present your COVID-19 vaccination passport if you are age 13 or older and follow physical distancing guidelines.
The reopening comes 10 months after the city of Montreal stepped in to save the 81-year-old community hub, which faced an uncertain future after closing its doors at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local residents became concerned in August 2020 when the Cartierville, Du Parc and Westmount YMCAS reopened, but the N.D.G. one did not.
The pandemic exacerbated the organization's financial troubles, leading the YMCAS of Quebec to seek a solution to keep the building open.
In December, the city and the Côte-des-neiges—notredame-de-grâce borough struck a deal with the YMCAS of Quebec to purchase the property for $11.5 million. Two-thirds of the 12,000-square-metre green space adjacent to the Hampton Y will become a park, while one-third will become the site of a social housing project. Under the deal, the Y committed itself to maintaining its activities in N.D.G. for seven years.
For more information, visit ymcaquebec.org or email info.notredame-de-grace@ymcaquebec.org.