Parker: Downtown YMCA to become Eau Claire Athletic Club

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Telsec Property Corp. bought the previous downtown YMCA constructing in 2022. President Kris Van Grieken says he wasn’t positive what he would do with it, however the location within the coronary heart of Eau Claire was a gem, and he was excited to be again within the core.

Telsec was based by his father, Dick, in 1976, and one of many traditional downtown buildings he developed was the enticing dwelling of Supreme Males’s Put on on the nook of 4^th Avenue and 4^th Avenue S.W. The acquisition of the YMCA constructing that had turn into a nice landmark within the metropolis since being in-built 1987 provided 115,000 sq. toes over 4 ranges. First ideas have been to get the positioning rezoned to permit for modifications that may embody excessive density residential.

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In Eau Claire, near the river and strolling distance to anyplace within the core, meant it might be supreme for 2 or three residence towers. One other concept was to supply it for institutional — presumably a downtown campus for a faculty. however Van Grieken says the extra he toured the constructing the extra he fell in love with it and needed a use that might hold the well-built bones.

Touring North America, he checked out leisure, well being and health golf equipment, and did an in depth market evaluation on the viability of restoring the YMCA to its former glory — the infrastructure remains to be there.

There’s undoubtedly a requirement for a high-end leisure membership; there’s a two-and-a-half yr ready record to affix the Calgary Winter Membership, and folks wanting to affix the Glencoe Membership should bide their time for round 13 years.

Former members have been contacted and Van Grieken says he was overwhelmed by the variety of individuals eager to share their private relationships with the YMCA — tales of 5 a.m. swims and drop-in basketball.

The concept quickly galvanized right into a conceivable venture and have become a surety when Telsec employed Alix Williams because the COO of what has been renamed the Eau Claire Athletic Membership (ECAC).

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Williams was introduced up in Victoria however got here to Calgary to earn her effective arts diploma on the College of Calgary. After commencement, she began her personal advertising and marketing consulting agency, primarily working throughout the high-tech sector, with shoppers throughout North America.

After a break to have youngsters, she was invited to affix the chief group on the Calgary Winter Membership as director of technique and expertise; plenty of involvement in company affairs, capital growth and interrelationships with members.

Williams — who says she vastly benefited from the mentorship of the membership’s CEO, normal supervisor and Olympian Kevin Boyles — is worked up to be recruiting and main a group at ECAC.

Lots of the current amenities shall be put again to make use of, together with the 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool, squash courts, gymnasium and operating monitor. Plans are so as to add new applications in these current areas, similar to 4 pickle ball courts within the health club and new tools within the 15,000-square-foot health centre.

New facilities shall be an off-the-cuff eating room and natural café to be constructed on the principle flooring, the place a ten,000-square-foot locker-room was located. In the identical area, she’s going to introduce 4 golf simulators and two Formulation 1One racing simulators. Adjoining to the pool space, plans are to open a Nordic spa, together with scorching/chilly Halo hydrotherapy and infra crimson saunas.

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Excessive-end, custom-milled locker-rooms are to be constructed on the second flooring, boasting showers, steam rooms and premier vainness stations. Selections are nonetheless being thought-about as to contracting out a wellness and medical centre to a 3rd occasion.

Williams is gung-ho about launching the ECAC, working onerous however nonetheless discovering the time to be again at Haskayne College of Enterprise nearing the completion of her MBA.

Van Grieken says he’s hopeful of an ECAC opening date in early 2025. In the meantime, it’s gearing as much as supply company, particular person and household memberships.

Notes:

Adrian Stimson, a member of the Siksika (Blackfoot) Nation, has been appointed as chair of the board of governors of Alberta College of the Arts, its first Indigenous chair. He succeeds Carol Ryder, who served as board chair for the previous 10 years, beginning when the college was previously the Alberta School of Artwork and Design.

David Parker seems usually within the Herald. Learn his columns on-line at calgaryherald.com/enterprise. He might be reached at 403-830-4622.

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