Parents get a break at the new YMCA Simcoe/Muskoka

The real estate brokerage donated $150K to support a sensory friendly child-minding space.

Participation in sports is next to impossible when you have small kids.

That’s where the Peggy Hill Team Real Estate Brokerage reaches out a helping hand to all parents who will be attending the new YMCA in Barrie.

A new Child-Minding space is being incorporated in the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka to help families join programs to strengthen their health and well-being.

“For us, this was never just about putting a name on a room. It was about helping create a space where every child feels welcome and every family feels supported,” said Peggy Hill, CEO & Broker of the Barrie real estate brokerage.

“The YMCA is a cornerstone of our community, providing a safe, inclusive environment where people of all ages can learn, grow, build confidence, and form meaningful connections. We are proud to support an organization that enriches lives, strengthens our community, and creates opportunities for people to thrive every day. And we are proud to invest in a community that has always invested in us.”

Hill has donated $150,000 to support the inclusive Child Minding place which will provide short-term, on-site care so parents and caregivers of children three and under can take part in YMCA activities knowing their children are nearby and well cared for.

The children’s space will be adapted into a Sensory Support Zone.

It will be equipped with specialized items such as sensory bins, sand tables, adjustable lighting, noise-cancelling headphones, and calming tactile surfaces.

“We are deeply grateful to the Peggy Hill Team for their generous support,” said Jill Tettmann, president & CEO of the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka.

The new YMCA in Barrie is currently under construction at 535 Bayview Drive.

It will be a 77,000-square-foot building expected to serve more than 10,000 people across Barrie and Simcoe County.

Opening in 2027, the $70 million project will feature a full aquatics centre with swimming programs for all ages, a gymnasium and indoor track for fitness, recreation and community gatherings, as well as 12 units of youth transitional housing offering safe and supportive accommodations.

The new Y will also include health partnerships with RVH to deliver cancer and cardiac rehabilitation programs, along with accessible, intergenerational spaces where families, seniors, newcomers and youth can connect.

“Building a facility like the new YMCA in Barrie is only possible when local partners step forward to invest in the people around them. Their gift helps ensure that families, and especially children with unique needs, will find a space that truly belongs to them. Community partnerships like this one turn a vision into a place where thousands can connect and thrive,” Tettmann said.

Learn more about the new YMCA in Barrie and its fundraising efforts here.