Community Building Campaign
New YMCA Centre for Life rendering

It is time for a new YMCA in the City of Belleville that will support the health and wellness of residents for generations to come. The new YMCA Centre for Life will provide a menu of social, educational, health and life skills programs along with our well-known fitness and recreation programs.

YMCA Centre for Life groundbreaking ceremony

We reached a major milestone on Sept. 29 by breaking ground on the site of the new Centre for Life, marking the culmination of six years of planning and fundraising. This new facility will offer the high-quality health and fitness programs that the YMCA is known for in a barrier-free, safe and judgment-free environment.

“An incredible team of people have worked diligently, always believing that our community deserves a modern facility that can offer more space for more programs,” said David Allen, President and CEO of YMCA of Central East Ontario. “Pinch me! It’s really happening.”

Kristin Crowe and Ed Lehtinen have led the Community Building Campaign since 2020 and are just as thrilled to see their commitment come to fruition.

“All along, we stayed motivated by the vision of a facility that would be physically more welcoming to people of all abilities,” Crowe said. “Today, we took a giant step forward.”
“In my 50 years of supporting the Belleville community, this project stands out to me as one of the most necessary and outstanding in recent memory,” Lehtinen added. “We know the Centre for Life will make a huge difference that will resonate for generations to come.”

Thanks to a partnership with the City of Belleville, we have a new site for the Centre for Life on Bridge Street West. Why is it such a great fit?

All this adds up to a healthier community – sooner.

The new YMCA Centre for Life will provide:

Leadership Team

Every member of our campaign leadership team believes in the YMCA’s vision for Strong Kids, Healthy Families, Inclusive Communities. This team of volunteers is committed to our community and making the new YMCA Centre for Life possible. We are grateful for their passion to support this legacy project.

The YMCA has played an important role over generations of our families. We are proud to support an organization whose programs and services continue to impact pressing social issues nationally, and in our own community. Primarily, we are pleased to be raising funds for a facility that will benefit people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities across the region. This new facility will offer the high-quality health and fitness programs that the YMCA is known for in a barrier-free, safe and judgement-free environment. We are proud to support the YMCA Centre for Life and invite you to join us in making an investment that will benefit our community and region for generations to come.
Our family has treasured our relationship with the YMCA for more than 50 years. Just as the Y makes it a priority to provide a caring, safe, and inclusive community for all, we are proud to have made it a priority for us to share our time, energy, and resources to support this remarkable organization. We applaud the YMCA of Central East Ontario for their inspiring vision to revitalize, expand, engage partners, and redefine community through the transformative YMCA Centre for Life. It is a bold and forward-thinking initiative to support the Belleville community—providing a safe and welcoming space for all to gather, learn, flourish, and be healthy. We are truly honored to serve as the Honorary Chairs for the Community Building Campaign.
Ed Lehtinen and Kristen Crowe, Co-Chairs
Wolf & Elaine Tausendfreund, Campaign Honourary Chairs
Kristin Crowe Ed Lehtinen
Wolf and Elaine Tausendfreund
Dave Allen, President and CEO
“The new YMCA Centre for Life represents an uplifting of our spirits and offers hope of a new and better tomorrow for our community. A place where everyone is welcome, where diversity is celebrated and social inclusion is the cornerstone of our foundation, where people will meet new friends, where young and old, families and individuals alike, and our most vulnerable, including those with a developmental disability, will feel they are accepted and belong.”
— Dave Allen, President & CEO

Partnering For Change

The new YMCA Centre for Life is a partnership of four non-profit charities, led by the YMCA. Each partner organization provides meaningful programs and positive relationships for the people we serve. Our values and missions align, and together, we will partner to create an inclusive centre, opening the door for more people in the community to become involved in one safe, accessible, and centrally located facility.

Recognizing Generosity

The YMCA expresses heartfelt gratitude for the generous investments in making the vision of the Centre for Life a reality as a cornerstone for health, wellness, and community connection in the Belleville region for generations to come.
John M. & Bernice Parrott Foundation
The John M. & Bernice Parrott Foundation has made a significant investment of $1 million in the Community Building Campaign, reflecting its commitment to fostering a healthier and more connected community. This generous gift will facilitate transformative change by enhancing initiatives focused on health, wellness, and connectivity. Through this investment, the Foundation is dedicated to enriching community offerings and advancing its mission to create lasting positive impacts that elevate the lives of all residents.
Belleville Toyota
Belleville Toyota has proudly invested $250,000 in the Community Building Campaign for the new Centre for Life. This remarkable and generous contribution underscores their deep commitment to giving back to the community that has continuously supported their ongoing success. In recognition of this significant donation, the therapy pool will be named in honor of Belleville Toyota, offering essential health and wellness benefits for individuals of all ages and abilities.
Duvanco Homes Inc.
Duvanco Homes Inc. has made a substantial investment in the YMCA Centre for Life, reflecting their commitment to building a healthier, stronger Belleville community. In recognition of their generosity, the Kids Fit Zone in the new facility will be named in their honour.
Wayne & Wendy Sheppard
Local philanthropists Wayne and Wendy Sheppard have invested $225,000 in the Centre for Life, furthering their commitment to improving health and wellness opportunities for Belleville families. In recognition of their generosity, the new facility’s Café and Café Seating Area will be named in their honour.
Amer Sports
The Community Building Campaign is excited to announce a generous investment from Amer Sports, a global leader in sportswear and equipment. This contribution will be recognized with the naming of the Amer Sports Fitness Studio at the new YMCA Centre for Life.
Mackay Insurance
The Community Building Campaign is proud to announce a landmark investment of $125,000 from Mackay Insurance, securing the naming rights for Gym Zone A in the new YMCA Centre for Life.
Beatty Family Charitable Foundation
The Beatty Family Charitable Foundation has invested $300,000 to the Community Building Campaign for the new Centre for Life. The family has long admired the YMCA as a promoter of healthy communities.
Lehtinen Family
The Community Building Campaign is thrilled to announce that the Lehtinen family has contributed $200,000 toward the new Centre for Life. Three generations of Lehtinen’s work out at the YMCA as current members.
Rotary Club of Belleville
The Rotary Club continues its 105-year legacy of supporting healthy kids by investing $100,000 in the new Centre for Life.
McDougall Insurance
McDougall Insurance and its CEO Ross McDougall are investing $150,000 in the new Centre for Life.
ALVA Foundation
The ALVA Foundation marked its 60th anniversary with an incredible $100,000 donation to the YMCA Centre for Life in Belleville, helping build a space that supports children, youth, and families for generations to come.
Green initiatives at the YMCA Centre for Life
Economic impact charts for the YMCA Centre for Life

Supporting Local

It is estimated that the construction of the new YMCA Centre for Life will, through the direct spending by the YMCA, and the indirect (rolling over) effects of this spending in the area, generate more than $30M of economic activity, and create the equivalent of 200 full-time jobs over the length of the construction project.

When the new facility is completed, and the membership grows, the YMCA’s operational spending for this new facility will directly and indirectly have an economic impact of more than $12M per year, and support the equivalent of more than 100 full-time jobs in the community.

Why We Invest

Community Services of Belleville and District Community Living Association Volunteer and Information Quinte
“In today’s economy we are all looking for ways to maximize investments and the hub concept of service the YMCA is developing for the Centre for Life makes good financial sense. Four organizations under one roof not only helps for long term sustainability but it opens the door to synergies that probably weren’t explored with all four organizations operating at four different sites.”
— ANDY CALETTI, Owner & General Manager, Belleville Toyota
Brad Horwood
“I like to end my day at the Belleville YMCA and I have been doing this for many years now. As a long-time member, I have seen first-hand the need for a new facility to provide the critically important services the organization offers to the citizens of Belleville. The YMCA Centre for Life that will be built in Belleville’s fastest growing area will support the influx of new residents from children and youth, to those with developmental challenges, seniors and new Canadians. As it has always been with the YMCA, there will be something for everyone in a welcoming environment that fosters inclusivity.”
— BRAD HORWOOD, Owner, Horwood Electrical Services
Stephen and Angie Quickert
“As active Y members, we value our YMCA for its broad support of our local community. The YMCA of Central East Ontario is a vital health partner and connection hub. It provides a safe gathering place for all ages and abilities, regardless of economic status to get physically involved, value social interaction and to reinforce the core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and inclusiveness in its variety of programming and offerings. Giving back to our community is something that we both strongly believe in, and supporting the YMCA Centre for Life Community Building Campaign is the right decision for us. Join us!”
— Stephen Quickert (President, Reids Dairy) & Angie Quickert
It is an exciting project for our club and brings new vitality to our membership. Our club’s pledge to the YMCA Centre for Life will help create a much-needed, deep-community facility in the west end of Belleville. With its five partner agencies, this facility will enhance health, education, support, and fellowship to so many, especially our youth. The Rotary Club of Belleville understands the long-term impact the YMCA Centre for Life will have on our growing community’s health.
PETER MALONE, President, Rotary Club of Belleville

Get in touch with questions about our campaign!