Working Hard to Open Safely: Y’s Phased Re-Opening Starts May 19

For immediate release

As of May 19, the YMCA of Greater Saint John is taking its first steps to re-open after the eight-week temporary closure of all its facilities in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Y Child Care and After School program centres will resume operations that day as a result of the Government of New Brunswick (GNB) declaring the transition from red to the orange phase of its Recovery Plan on May 8.

The Y is also preparing a phased re-opening of other programming areas for when GNB officially announces the progression from the orange to the yellow phase of recovery. This includes membership, recreation, overnight camp, and in-person supports for newcomer clients.

Once GNB has declared the yellow phase, the Y will announce its operational plan to ensure alignment with required safety measures in preventing the spread of illness. The Y’s safety plans include screening for sickness, the use of personal protective equipment, disinfection practices, physical distancing, limited area access, and more.

“We are doing our best to ensure all of our services will be available to our Y family,” said Shilo Boucher, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Saint John.

“But the safety of our members, clients, children, volunteers, and staff is the top priority to us. We are working hard to meet all of the protocols and guidelines set forth by our Provincial Health Authority for the re-opening of our YMCA.”

There is no set date as to when the Y will resume normal operations. It depends upon the stages of the GNB Recovery Plan to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The Y’s leadership team is continuing to monitor the information being shared for the communities it serves. The team remains in close contact with local health and government officials so that it can make the best and safest decisions for members and staff.

Please stay connected for the latest information on the Y’s re-opening phases through its website, social media channels, and mobile app. Newcomer Connections and administration staff will continue operations remotely for the summer and new community initiatives, like the Y Home Delivery program, will continue to operate and adapt to the needs of vulnerable populations within the Greater Saint John area.

About the YMCA of Greater Saint John

The YMCA of Greater Saint John exists to build healthy communities. As a registered charitable organization, the Y relies on your donations to ensure that no one in our community is turned away from partaking in life-enriching Y services due to financial limitations. Please consider supporting your community by donating today – because there is no Y without you!

For More Information

If you have further questions, please contact the YMCA via email: hello@saintjohny.ca.

For more information on the GNB Recovery Plan, please visit the following website: https://www2.gnb.ca/.