Statement from YMCA Fredericton CEO Darcy Delaney
Regarding Online Discourse on Fredericton Aquatic Infrastructure
The decision by Fredericton City Council on March 9 to decline an additional $1M annual funding request from the President of UNB has sparked significant online discussion about the current state of aquatics infrastructure in our region. Within that discussion, one online post referred to the YMCA as “the Y…members only. In no position to absorb the FAST swim organization, the Silver Dolphins,” and other groups. While I do not believe the author intended to disparage the YMCA, the statement does present an opportunity to clarify the role our organization plays in the community.
The YMCA is not a “members only” organization. Many of our programs and services are available to the general public. Some are offered for a fee and others free of charge. Our membership model helps share the operational cost of running our facilities, and in return members enjoy access to a broad range of aquatics opportunities including aquacise, lane swims, open swims, swim lessons, and advanced aquatics courses. Our membership rates remain competitive when compared with other recreation and wellness facilities.
Today, more than 6,000 people in our region are members of the YMCA, represented by a duly elected volunteer board of directors. Importantly, more than 16 percent of those members receive some form of financial assistance to support their participation. The YMCA does not receive municipal operating subsidies or funding for membership assistance. As a registered charity, we raise funds through donations and community support to ensure people can access important aquatics, wellness, social, and recreational programs. In 2025 alone, the Fredericton YMCA provided more than $500,000 in community support through subsidized memberships, reduced camp fees, and free programming for individuals and families who might otherwise face barriers to participation.
In 2023 our membership supported a long-term building condition assessment for our facility to ensure our infrastructure and building envelope are maintained well beyond their expected life cycle. This type of stewardship is made possible through the commitment of our members. In 2025 our membership also funded a feasibility study exploring the addition of a new pool at our York Street YMCA location. The results of that study were positive. However, a capital project of that scale is beyond what our YMCA can undertake on its own.
I do agree with the author of the post on one important point: the YMCA is not in a position to absorb multiple competitive swim organizations within our current facility. Our aquatics centre was designed to operate sustainably within the capacity of our membership.
That said, when the SMA pool closed indefinitely in September 2025 and the Fredericton Indoor Pool closed at the same time for roof repairs, the YMCA and our team worked quickly to adjust operations to support as many swimmers and organizations as possible. Our members accepted temporary disruptions so we could welcome swimmers from UNB Reds, FAST, Fredericton Artistic Swimming, as well as lane swimmers and aquacise participants from the closed pools. We also invited the Silver Dolphins to participate in our aquacise and lane swim programs. We extended operating hours and condensed our regular programming to create as much access as possible. While the SMA pool continues to operate on reduced hours, we are still running a modified schedule to help support the broader aquatics community.
Our four-lane pool and membership-based structure simply cannot accommodate additional user groups during the peak hours competitive programs require. That limitation reflects the size and design of our facility, not a lack of willingness to support our aquatics partners.
All three pools in Fredericton operate under a reciprocal agreement that allows swimmers to access each other’s facilities during scheduled annual maintenance shutdowns. In both 2023 and 2024 the YMCA did not require a shutdown, but we did host swimmers from other pools. In the past nine months alone we have hosted swimmers from SMA and the Fredericton Indoor Pool three times and expect to host a fourth during scheduled maintenance at SMA in April. These situations often arise because of deferred maintenance challenges at aging facilities.
The YMCA works hard to mitigate similar risks within our own facility through careful planning, responsible governance by our board of directors, and the generosity of our donors and members.
On a personal note, I am writing this while sitting in the lobby of the CEPS Louis J. Robichaud pool in Moncton, where both of my children are competing this weekend. One swims for FAST and the other for the YMCA Ignite swim team. More than 280 swimmers from across New Brunswick are here competing, building community, and developing the life skills that sport and recreation make possible.
Like many in our aquatics community, I share the disappointment that we have not yet seen more progress toward a new Regional Aquatics Centre. At the same time, I believe our focus should remain on the work each partner and organization is doing to help move that shared goal forward.