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The McDonald Family YMCA Centre of Community in Toronto Certified LEED Platinum

19 February 2026

Three adults stand in front of a teal tiled wall with the words The McDonald Family YMCA in large white letters. From left to right: a woman with dark hair pulled back wearing a beige blouse (Sarah Beldick); a man with short gray hair and beard wearing a dark blazer and holding a round glass LEED Platinum certification plaque (Alex Versluis); and a man with short dark hair and a beard wearing a black YMCA jacket (Rahul Jaya Prakash). All three are smiling and facing the camera.From left to right, Sarah Beldick, General Manager, McDonald Family YMCA, Alex Versluis, Senior Vice President, Property Management & Development, YMCA of Greater Toronto, and Rahul Jaya Prakash, Facility Manager, McDonald Family YMCA pose at The McDonald Family YMCA as Versluis holds the YMCA’s LEED Platinum certification plaque.

February 19, 2026 – The YMCA of Greater Toronto is thrilled to announce The McDonald Family YMCA is now certified LEED® Platinum. 

LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is the preeminent program for the design, construction, maintenance, and operations of high‑performance green buildings. The Platinum certification is the highest possible rating and recognizes the YMCA’s holistic approach to sustainability, including its commitment to environmental stewardship and innovative green building practices. 

The McDonald Family YMCA offers programs and services within the historic Toronto Waterworks Building to support the physical, social and mental well-being of those living in Toronto’s King West neighbourhood. This YMCA Centre of Community offers a full-sized gymnasium, a 25‑metre swimming pool, group fitness studios, and spaces for children, youth, and community programs. 

The McDonald Family YMCA incorporates highly efficient mechanical and electrical systems to save energy and water while reducing emissions. This includes: 

  • The installation of WaterSense-certified washroom fixtures, which achieve an impressive 41% reduction in potable indoor water use, more than double the LEED requirement of 20%.
  • Transforming part of a historic building with development constraints and promoting the health of the local environment and community.
  • Minimizing environmental impacts and enhancing indoor environmental quality by ensuring all HVAC systems including domestic hot water equipment, pumps, motors, fans and more, meet or exceed the energy efficiency requirements of the Ontario Building Code (2017).
  • Supporting materials circularity and aligning with efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the building by using materials that contain over 32% recycled content (compared to 20% credit requirement). 
  • Focusing on regional and sustainable sourcing of construction materials. Over 94% of the wood used in the building is certified as sourced from sustainably managed forests, and is visible in the gymnasium and pool areas. 

The McDonald Family YMCA officially opened in July 2025 and has quickly become a community hub for health, wellness, and connection in downtown Toronto.

“Sustainability at the Y begins with our community spaces where people gather,” says Lesley Davidson, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Toronto. “Three of our most recent YMCA Centres of Community – including the McDonald Family YMCA – are certified LEED Platinum and we hope they inspire other organizations to build sustainability into their work.”

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is grateful for the donors, funders, and partners who made this Centre of Community possible, including the generous support of Jenifer and Steve McDonald and the City of Toronto.

As a community‑focused charity, sustainability has long been an important part of the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s efforts to create vibrant communities where everyone can shine. To learn more about the Y’s sustainability efforts, visit ymcagta.org/green.

About YMCA of Greater Toronto

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead and give back to their communities. For more than 170 years, the YMCA of Greater Toronto has provided opportunities for people to reach their potential through a variety of programs and services including health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families and seniors. Promoting equity and boosting well-being across about 500 locations in the Greater Toronto Area, the Y is a leading charity that helps everyone shine.

To learn more about the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s sustainability efforts, visit ymcagta.org/green.