Belleville’s YMCA Centre for Life

The city of Belleville is throwing its support behind a proposed new multi-million dollar YMCA Centre for Life.

CEO for YMCA Central East Ontario Dave Allen told city council Tuesday night that plans are underway to move from the old Victoria Avenue location to a site in the west end.

The new $22.5 million facility will be built on about five acres between The Curling Club and Belmont Nursing Home.

Allen tells Quinte News it’s been a long process.

Mayor Mitch Panciuk says the city will take over the old “Y” building which would be torn down and possibly developed for housing.

Former YMCA board member Chris Malette told council he remembers volunteering when “we almost closed the doors on that building. I can’t tell you how proud I am to hear of this plan.”

The YMCA Centre for Life involves partners, the YMCA, Quinte Vocational Support Services and Volunteer Information Quinte.

The YMCA centre section would expect to serve 8,000 people by the third year.

For the QVSS it would mean being able to increase the number of people served with disabilities and the Volunteer Centre would continue its services.

Under the funding formula the partners would contribute $5 million, the city $1 million the province $7.5 million and the federal government nine million.

Approval for the funding could be announced next summer.