HALIFAX – Funding for the new YMCA in Halifax has received a major shot in the arm. The Lindsay family is a longtime supporter of the ‘Y’ and has donated 3-million dollars.
The new facility will be constructed at the intersection of South Park and Sackville Streets in Halifax. It’s expected to cost 30-million dollars. At a news conference on Thursday, the family of the late John Lindsay Sr. announced it had donated 3-million toward that goal. Two-million dollars of that money will come from his widow, Marjorie.
The ‘Y’ has also begun a 9-million dollar fundraising campaign to raise more of the money needed for the building.
“Myself and my wife Ann and also my partners at East Port Properties are together contributing a million dollars,” says John Lindsay Jr.
John Lindsay Sr. was involved in the YMCA for four decades and before his death in 2006 he was inducted into the YMCA National Fellowship of Honour.
“My father believed in the ‘Y’ where he was a volunteer, a member, and ambassador, a philanthropist and a perennial steward for over 40 years,” says John Jr. “and he didn’t miss an exercise class on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday,” he smiled as the audience at the Lord Nelson Hotel gave resounding applause.
The new name of the facility was unveiled at the news conference. It will be called the “John W. Lindsay YMCA”.
“To see John and to hear him – it’s very emotional,” says his widow, Marjorie, after seeing a video of him played for the audience.
She also told the audience how important the ‘Y’ was to her family. “We took our children to the Saturday club with several families and what wonderful times we had, so the ‘Y’ is special.”
Marjorie Lindsay is the honorary campaign chair – just the type of person to help lead the fund-raising.
Bette Watson-Borg, the President and CEO of the Greater Halifax/Dartmouth YMCA says “I’m truly, truly overwhelmed by the generosity of their gift and also the incredible time and talent that both John and his father have given the YMCA as volunteers.”
The new YMCA is expected to open in 2018.
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