beautiful and sustainable Beautiful, modern, and welcoming; these are the most commonly used words to describe the new building on Laurentien Blvd. created by architect Renée Daoust. Its streamlined, open- concept design allows all of the centre’s users and visitors to view the entire facility from the ground floor.
The new Y boasts an impressive 88,000 square feet spread over four floors. It has a double gymnasium and aquatics facilities with a 25-metre pool, whirlpool, recreational pool, sauna, and access for people with reduced mobility. The centre also has a conditioning room, multi-purpose studios for group fitness classes, and an indoor jogging track. It also has a daycare for 52 children, as well as a day camp.
This prized new community centre is not
just visually
stunning. Many elements of sustainable development have been integrated into the project, such as geothermal energy and heat recovery systems. Also, the facility’s proximity to bus and train routes promotes the use of public transportation. Dedicated bicycle parking with a capacity for a 110 bicycles has also been installed to encourage active transportation.
impact already being felt “The Cartierville Y centre is an aquatic, fitness, and community centre providing thousands of residents with an improved quality of life. This public-community
partnership model is innovative because it offers both free and paid activities at the same time,” notes Ronald Cyr, Director of the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville.1 Pierre Gagnier, Mayor of Ahuntsic- Cartierville, echoes this sentiment: “I’ll say it again; the Y centre is a true beacon for the community. It’s incredible how the area has completely changed for better.” 2
the
The arrival of the new centre has had a direct impact on employment, as well as the social and economic life of the entire neighbourhood. The Cartierville Y centre has 80 employees and 75 volunteers, 60% of whom come from the immediate vicinity. After one year of operation, more than 8,600 people already benefit
from
free access to the pool, and more than 5,700 paying members, including 442 families, make use of the facilities. In addition, 40 organizations from the community hold regular activities there.
“The centre is a gathering place for the entire community. It is a source of great pride, for youth in particular. Over 900 youth have access to group fitness classes and the conditioning room thanks to our Teen policy,3
and more
than 200 benefit from our free Friday teen nights every week!” comments Néhal Nassif, Director of the Cartierville Y centre. And however trivial it may seem, there are some telling signs; after one year of activity, the building’s white walls still have no graffiti on them...
1 DVD, 2010 Québec Public Administration Excellence Awards, video clips of the finalists. 2 Le Centre Y de Cartierville a un an, Courrier Bordeaux-Cartierville, April 28, 2011. 3 The YMCAs of Québec’s Teen policy requires that youth aged 12 to 17 years participate in three mandatory sessions in order to safely use our facilities and equipment.
From left to right: Renée Daoust, Architect, Stéphane Vaillancourt, President and CEO of The YMCAs of Québec, Émilie Thuillier, City Councillor for the Ahuntsic District, Pierre Gagnier, Mayor of the Borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Jeannine Laurin, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Complexe aquatique, sportif et communautaire de Cartierville (CASC), Harout Chitilian, City Councillor for the Bordeaux-Cartierville District, Benoit Tremblay, General Manager of Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal Foundation.
portrait: néhal nassif, Director of the cartierville y centre
Néhal Nassif has been working in the community recreation milieu for over 20 years. She worked in various capacities at the YM-YWHA of Montreal which led her to become the Metropolitan Director of Sports, Fitness, and Health in 1990, where she was also responsible for member services.
In addition, after having worked for six years as Head Delegate, Néhal was the 2001-2002 Director of JCC Maccabi Games; an Olympic-style event in which 1,500 athletes aged 13-16 years participated from all corners of the world.
Thanks to this vast experience, Néhal became the Director of the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Y centre in 2005 and the Director of the Cartierville Y centre in November 2009. She played a pivotal role in the planning of this new centre.
During the 1890s, fitness activities were first introduced and in 1892, The YMCAs of Québec invented basketball.
The YMCAs of Québec - 7
In addition, there has been an economic revitalization in the area. Since the announcement of the construction of the centre in 2007, at least four major residential projects have been completed or are underway, and many new businesses have opened.
Accolades already! The Cartierville Y centre project received an honourable mention for its partnership model between the borough of Ahuntsic- Cartierville and The YMCAs of Québec. This award was given in the Prix Monde municipal category during the 2010 Québec Public Administration Excellence Awards held at the National Assembly on October 13th
.
Néhal Nassif, Director for the Cartierville Y centre, was also named the October 2010 business personality by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Saint-Laurent to highlight her contribution to the area’s economic development.
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