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Calgary Herald

Cochrane residents opposed to YMCA proposal for SLS Centre

A proposal that would shift operations of Cochrane's SLS Centre to the YMCA has been met with backlash from Cochranites who have questions on how this will impact their community. Article content Following media event on June 9, Town of Cochrane CAO Mike Derricott said the proposal would see Cochrane's recreational facility transfer its future management to the YMCA. Article content Article content 'It was about a year ago that [Cochrane] council, in conjunction with our partners at Rocky View County, asked a question about what was the best model for managing recreational service pressures,' Derricott said. 'We have seen sustained sustained patterns of growth, and as that continues, we need to know that that's going to necessitate us evolving our services to match the growing demand.' Article content Article content Currently, the proposed agreement will last for 25 years, which will include quarterly operational and annual governance-level reporting built into the agreement. It will also host a six-month transition period where the YMCA will undergo a detailed process and connect with all users. Article content Article content In financial estimates made to Cochrane council, from 2026 to 2030, the YMCA projects an operating margin increase of 130 per cent in their first year, followed by and 185 per cent increase in year two, and 20 per cent increases over the next three years. Article content This will result in a $392,000 surplus in year one, with a $1.85 million surplus by year five. The YMCA does note that this is before any monumental operating model adjustments that would need to be considered with Cochrane and Rocky View, and as the SLS pursues peak optimization. Article content After the request for proposal closed on July 9, 2024, the YMCA was picked as the best candidate among two other potential options. Following this decision, it has been met with backlash by members of the community that it could potentially be seen as a takeover of the facility by YMCA Calgary. Article content Article content With major user groups of the SLS Centre expressing their concerns on the topic, Derricott said that it is understandable and reasonable there is anxiety around what the change will bring. Article content 'We do not expect there to be changes at the operational level [and] to user experience, both at individual level or to the groups that rely on Spray Lakes and Cochrane Arena to provide their programs,' he said. Article content Cochrane mayor Jeff Genung said that the impetus of the decision is to address the growth pressures of the town. Article content 'If you haven't been around here, you need to come over the hill and take a look and see this community transform almost overnight,' Genung said. 'And that discussion included looking at a second site for another rec facility, and so – where is that? Who's operating it? That was really where the question came from in the beginning, and that's why we find ourselves in this RFP process now.'