YMCA of Greater Toronto announces official opening date of The Steve & Sally Stavro Family YMCA
State-of-the-art health and fitness centre with multi-purpose spaces will help residents in Toronto’s east end shine
Toronto – July 19, 2022 – The YMCA of Greater Toronto is excited to officially announce that The Steve & Sally Stavro Family YMCA will open on August 15. Starting tomorrow, community members can sign up and book tours of the new 63,990 square-foot centre of community.
The Steve & Sally Stavro Family YMCA will positively impact the lives of thousands of people in the community, and includes a gym, pool, fitness studios and exercise areas; youth programs, and multi-purpose spaces, available to neighbourhood groups and programs outside of the Y. As a charity supporting people through every age and stage, this new Y will be where children swim their first strokes, where young people work their first jobs, where seniors get active and connect with the community, and more.
“We know the community has been keenly awaiting an opening date for The Steve & Sally Stavro Family YMCA and we can’t wait to open our doors,” says Medhat Mahdy, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toronto. “We are confident this centre will help improve the physical and mental well-being of local residents – something that’s even more important as we emerge from the pandemic.”
The Y is located in Toronto’s dynamic east end on Kingston Road at Balsam Avenue, the former location of The East City YMCA which served the community for decades.
The new centre was made possible thanks to the many donors who supported the YMCA’s Strong Start, Great Future Capital Campaign, including The Steve & Sally Stavro Family Foundation. The Y is named for the Stavro family’s deep connection to the east end Toronto community and their support for our charity, including a $1 million donation from The Steve & Sally Stavro Family Foundation.
A passionate sportsman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Steve Stavro and his family settled into what was then the city’s emerging east end in 1932. The founder of the Toronto City Soccer Club, Stavro later became controlling owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, bringing the two franchises together to create Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
The centre’s naming was also supported with a $2 million gift from an anonymous donor and numerous contributions from additional donors. Together, our donors’ generous support means residents in Toronto’s east end are gaining expanded access to essential services and inclusive community spaces.
The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to establishing relationships, nourishing existing partnerships with Indigenous community members, and upholding our responsibilities on the journey to reconciliation. We acknowledge the Sewatokwa:tshera't (Dish With One Spoon) Treaty and that The Steve & Sally Stavro Family YMCA occupies land currently known as Toronto, which is covered by the Williams Treaties and Treaty 13. The YMCA of Greater Toronto is accountable to the 7 Anishinaabe Nations: the Potawatomi, the Odawa, the Ojibwe/Chippewa, the Mississaugas, the Algonquin, the Nbiising, and the Saulteaux, who have been the land’s traditional caretakers and continue to protect and care for the lands that the YMCA of Greater Toronto occupies.
If you are interested in learning more or visiting the new centre, Please visit https://stavrofamily.ymcagta.org/
About the YMCA of Greater Toronto
The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead and give back to their communities. For over 170 years, the YMCA of Greater Toronto has provided opportunities for people to shine through a variety of programs and services including health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families and seniors. Promoting equity and boosting well-being across more than 400 locations in the Greater Toronto Area, the Y is a leading charity that helps everyone shine. For more information visit ymcagta.org.
