The Kamloops YMCA-YWCA is making programming changes because of financial pressures, in the hopes of saving about $450,000 annually.

Included in the changes will be reduced hours at both Kamloops locations, and a reduction in services for its anti-violence program.

“We’re re-purposing our John Tod site to be a community centre more so than a fitness centre, where we are going to be focused on group activity,” said CEO Colin Reid. “We’re going to stabilize program here. We’re going to re-tool some spaces and we’re hopeful to add more programs in the group focus area.”

Reid says the organization has spent more than it has earned in the past two years, and the changes are needed.

“So that we can stay stable and strong and continue to serve the community. It’s those bumps that organizations get from time to time and we’re experiencing a bump in multiple areas and so we’ve unfortunately been forced to adjust a few things.”

Reid says about two dozen mostly part-time staff have been let go with shift changes for other employees, which he adds is unfortunate.

Expenses are up because of the cost to employ people, minimum wage increases, a 38 per cent carbon tax, the cost of buying goods, the cost of implementing IT systems, the cost of compliance and the cost of making sure activities are secure noted Reid.

He says revenues have flat-lined with a reduced number of members and fees collected, a change in government contract funding, as well as a decrease in donations year over year among other things.

The John Tod location will see reduced hours initially to a Monday to Friday operation from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. The hours will be expanded as new services and demand increases while all group activity will be focused on Children, Young Families, Youth, Adults and Seniors.

The Y downtown location on Battle Street will close one hour earlier Monday to Friday, while the weekend hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with closures on all statutory holidays. Reid says most evening programming from John Tod will relocate to Battle Street.

“We plan to continue this for decades to come,” Reid said. “These changes are designed to retain as many services as possible, to provide alternative locations for programs that many citizens enjoy and rely on, to minimize the impact on members, program participants, staff and volunteers.”

He is hoping things return to normal by next fiscal year.

One in four members at the downtown Y, and one in three members at the John Tod Y have their memberships subsidized by the organization, and the Y is committed to that continuing.

The Anti Violence PEACE Program will see a reduction in staff and services to children, and it will move to the Y’s Women’s Shelter by the end of the year.