A major milestone in the construction of Barrie’s new YMCA was celebrated on Wednesday, as partners, and key supporters gathered to sign one of the final steel beams that will form the gymnasium of the $70-million facility.
YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka President CEO Jill Tettmann called the moment “an incredible day,” marking visible progress on what will become a 77,000-square-foot “centre of community” set to open in 2027.
“We’re literally putting up one of the last beams in our structure,” Tettmann said, standing under the sun-drenched gaze of the facility's steel outline. “This last beam that’s going up is for the gymnasium, and it will go down in history as the signed beam."
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As the signed beam was slowly hoisted into place, applause broke out among the small crowd of supporters gathered below—marking both the progress already made and the community effort still underway.
The site is located in the northeast corner of what was a large parking lot on the north side of Sadlon Arena. Ground broke on the facility in March, a few months after the originally expected start in the fall of 2024.
Representatives from partner organizations, architects, construction managers, project managers, and members of the YMCA’s capital campaign team were on hand as the beam was lifted into place. But the moment carried special significance for one family whose name will be permanently attached to the facility.
Napoleon co-founder Stephen Schroeter joined YMCA leaders to sign the beam, as the company's investment in the project is . Their financial support is helping bring the gymnasium to life—one of the centrepiece spaces inside the new facility.
"We supported the YMCA construction because it aligns perfectly with our values as a family-founded Canadian company," he explained. "We're proud to help build a space that will strengthen our community for generations to come."
Funding for the project is also coming from the Ontario government, which provided the YMCA of Simcoe-Muskoka with a $29.9 million grant for the new build in 2021, requiring that the money must be used by 2027.
The County of Simcoe chipped in $5 million to the Y project, money dedicated to the development of transitional housing for youth and a multicultural space. The City of Barrie added $2.5 million of funding.
Because of Napoleon's investment, the gymnasium will be known as the "Napoleon Gymnasium," in recognition of the support through the project.
The gymnasium will serve as a multi-use space for youth leagues, drop-in sports, fitness classes, and large community events.
Among the features within the facility, there will eventually be health and fitness spaces, an aquatic centre, youth outreach programs, community meeting areas, an indoor accessible playground, transitional housing for youth, and a multicultural space.
The new facility will also have a first-of-its-kind cardiac and cancer rehabilitation program in partnership with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and the Hudson Regional Cancer Centre.
Designed to serve more than 8,000 people across Barrie and Simcoe County, the facility aims to be an accessible, intergenerational hub for newcomers, families, seniors, and young people. Tettmann says "there will be something for everyone" at this location.
“This is the new centre of community well-being in Barrie,” Tettmann said. “And today’s milestone is one we share with everyone who believes in what this YMCA will bring to our community.”
At the beam signing, no updated build timeline was presented, but the initial estimates have the open set to take place in the latter half of 2027.
