News Flash

COQUITLAM, BC, Sept. 27, 2022 – Coquitlam and the Burquitlam neighbourhood will soon benefit from key civic and community facilities with the imminent opening of the Bettie Allard YMCA.

In their Sept. 26 update to Coquitlam City Council, representatives for the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and City staff shared that the Bettie Allard YMCA, as well as the other associated civic amenities, will receive occupancy this fall. Celebration events, tours, and YMCA membership purchases will begin in November. All facilities will be open to the public toward the end of 2022 with full operation beginning in January 2023.

The Coquitlam Bettie Allard YMCA project is a unique and innovative partnership at the heart of the Burquitlam neighbourhood that brings a range of significant new public facilities, infrastructure and benefits for generations to come. This includes: 

• A 55,000-square-foot YMCA with an indoor pool, gym, fitness studios and equipment, multi-purpose space, child minding, a family development centre and other amenities;
• A 3,700-square-foot Community Policing Station;
• A 222-stall underground parkade, including stalls dedicated for park-and-ride;
• 2.55 acres of new parkland, including the expansion of Cottonwood Park and a redesigned Burquitlam Park; 
• Transportation improvements such as new multi-use paths and an upgraded and realigned Emerson Street; and
• Residential rental and strata towers developed by Concert Properties, with 100 non-market rental suites operated in partnership with 43 Housing Society. 

Bettie Allard YMCA to Bring Services to the Community

Once fully operational, the Bettie Allard YMCA will be open between 12 and 18 hours a day, 364 days a year and is expected to see approximately 800,000 visitors a year. Services offered will include public swim and swimming lessons, child development programs, sports and recreation programs, arts and culture programs, fitness, wellness, day camps, family and seniors programs, as well as childminding. 

The City and the YMCA worked collaboratively to establish an operating agreement that places community need and benefit at the centre of this partnership. Residents will have 30 hours a week of pool access, and 13 hours a week of fitness centre access at rates equivalent to City facilities. Additionally, the City and the YMCA will meet regularly to review hours and offerings to ensure they are complementary and reflect changing community needs. The YMCA is a community-based charity, committed to equal access and opportunity for all, and raises funds to ensure that no one is turned away from programs and services due to an inability to pay.

Coquitlam’s Bettie Allard YMCA will also: 

• Act as a hub for service delivery in the provision of a range of neighbourhood-based programs supporting children, youth, adults, seniors and families;
• Make multi-purpose rooms available to community organizations at minimal or no rent, as available;
• Work collaboratively with non-profit and community organizations in the provision of community services; and
• Provide reciprocal rights (with a valid YMCA Annual Pass) to use at any other YMCA in the Metro Vancouver area, Canada and most YMCAs around the world.

For information on program, services and memberships, visit www.BettieAllardYMCA.ca. 

Other Civic Amenities

Part of the new development includes a new Community Police Station to replace the one that has been serving the Burquitlam area for the past 24 years. The Community Police Station will deliver all of the RCMP’s current core community programming for example Cell Watch, Foot and Bike Patrols, Lock Out Auto Crime, special events and community outreach. 

The new 3,700 square foot Community Police Station, located at street level, was designed to accommodate general duty officers and volunteers so they can have direct contact with the community.

The other major civic component to this development is a shared-use underground parking facility with 222 parking stalls accessible to the public. This includes 115 spaces co-owned by the YMCA and the City, 107 park-and-ride stalls owned by the City and seven stalls dedicated for the Community Police Station. 

Partnership Offers Value to Community 

The $101-million project was announced in 2016 as a partnership between the City of Coquitlam, Concert Properties and the YMCA to jointly develop a community recreation facility with mixed-use development. Coquitlam provided construction funding of $57 million, primarily funded by developer fees. 

YMCA of Greater Vancouver will operate the Bettie Allard YMCA facility and co-own it 50/50 with the City. They contributed $38 million in capital funding and will pay all operating costs for the life of the building, along with bringing more than 136 years of experience running recreation facilities and delivering community programs in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and Sunshine Coast. 

Central to the project was a land exchange between the City and Concert Properties: a 2.1 acre portion of Burquitlam Park from the City in exchange for Concert Properties’ 2.55-acre parcel to expand Cottonwood Park plus a $700,000 donation from Concert for park improvements. 

Quotes

“I am excited to see the Bettie Allard YMCA nearing completion. This project is many years in the making and brings core City and community services not just to the Burquitlam neighbourhood, but to all Coquitlam residents. This cornerstone development is going to shape the heart of the neighbourhood and I am grateful to the YMCA and Concert Properties for being valued partners in making it all come together.” – Richard Stewart, Mayor, City of Coquitlam

“Thank you to our partners the City of Coquitlam and Concert Properties for helping to creatively bring important community amenities to Burquitlam. At the YMCA, we know that families, friends and communities who are active together are healthier, happier, stronger and better connected. We are thrilled the Bettie Allard YMCA is nearing completion and will be a special place in Coquitlam where people of all ages and stages, backgrounds and abilities can come together, to connect and to grow.” – Heidi Worthington, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Vancouver

About the City of Coquitlam

Coquitlam is home to more than 150,000 people and is a vibrant, regional centre in the lower mainland of British Columbia. The City is positioned to experience significant growth over the next 25 years, with the population expected to reach over 220,000 by 2041. Coquitlam is committed to carefully managing the City’s future while continuing to deliver the highest level of service to the community through leadership, sustainability and innovation. www.coquitlam.ca

About the YMCA of Greater Vancouver

The YMCA is a community-based charity powered by people with a shared commitment: to strengthen community. We accomplish this goal by helping children and families thrive, promoting healthy living and fostering connection and belonging. Each year, the YMCA helps more than 120,000 children, youth, adults, families and seniors become stronger through life-enhancing programs and services. The YMCA of Greater Vancouver has been serving the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and Sunshine Coast for 136 years and currently offers programs at more than 270 locations. www.gv.ymca.ca 

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