Former YMCA becomes home to clinics, dental care and more

The old Skid Watson YMCA building has transformed into the Friden Health and Wellness Centre, intentionally renovated to become a multi-service health hub in the city.

Owner Brent Frith purchased the building in 2021, after the YMCA closed in 2020.

“Early in the process after acquisition, we decided the building would be best suited to support the health care community in Orillia,” he said. “From that decision, we have been very diligent in putting in place a specific group of health care professionals who best suit the health care needs of our community.” 

The Centre is already home to several health-related businesses, and there’s more to come.

In the fall, the new Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) medical clinic and Family Medicine Teaching Unit will be housed in approximately 7,000 sq. feet. Currently under construction, the space will include patient areas and office space for newly recruited doctors to the community.

“That’s a huge big win for the community,” said Matt Miller, owner of Miller Health, who is the largest tenant in the building with approximately 10,00 sq. ft. in what was the old gym. He’s been in the building for approximately three years.

Miller grew up in Orillia and went to the old YMCA as a child. While it was sad that it closed, Miller said people are happy to see how it’s being repurposed into a health hub.

“I’ll hand it to Brent Frith, he’s making sure the right tenants are in here. He definitely wants this to be a medical hub,” he said. “The more medical and health professionals we have in here, the more we reinforce the vision for the property,” he said.

Miller operates several clinics in the large space. There’s Miller Dental Care, Simcoe Muskoka Rehabilitation, Simcoe Muskoka Orthopaedic, Ontario Workers Network (OWN) and Bremnar Orthopaedic Bracing. The space houses offices for five orthopaedic surgeons including Dr. Brent Mollon, who does surgery at OSMH.

“It’s a great space for us to be able to take care of people in a setting that does not require us to be in the hospital,” Mollon said.

Formerly in a group of three orthopedic surgeons in a downtown location, the group has moved and grown to five surgeons.

“We’ve been able to re-purpose ‘the Y’ into a comfortable setting for us to chat about surgeries,” he said.

Then, if people need physiotherapy after surgery, they can come back to the same space under Miller Health.

Crystal Cabural is the owner of Functional Fitness who moved to moved to 300 Peter St. N. in February, 2024. She too grew up in the area and came to the YMCA.

“I’ve always loved the building, and I appreciate how accessible it is. I love the idea that it is being repurposed into something that is still health-focused,” she said.

Functional Fitness is a unique gym that bridges the gap between physiotherapy and a regular gym. Most of her clientele is older adults who have some physical or cognitive limitations. A physiotherapy assistant by trade, her staff member is a kinesiologist.

“We have that rehabilitation background, but we operate as a gym,” she said.

Her business dovetails with Miller’s physiotherapy services, as people who are discharged from physio need to keep building their strength and get mobility back. Cabural also expects to gain some clientele when the new medical clinic opens.

“Being in a building like this is helpful because if people are discharged from physiotherapy or they are in at their doctor and they’re told they need exercise,” Cabural said. “We are a safe place to come to because we have equipment for them and staff that are trained to be gentle and low-impact, but still gain the benefits of the movements and the strengthening exercises. It’s like a continuation.”

It’s also helpful to have multiple services under one roof, as it makes it convenient for people to “take the next step and do the exercises for themselves.”

“I’m also excited for Orillia to embrace a new model,” Cabural said. “I think it’s a great vision for what the community needs as a whole.” 

Sharon Brown, office manager of Miller Dental Care, said their practice offers co-pay free dental care for people under the Canadian Dental Care Plan. 

“A lot of seniors are on a pension. We are not collecting that co-pay,” she explained. “We have a lot of those patients, and many of them haven’t been to a dentist in 30 years. Having this government plan is extremely helpful.” 

Couchiching Pharmacy will be opening at approximately the same time as the OSMH clinic. Resolve Martial Arts Academy is also in the building, at the back where the squash courts used to be.

Frith is continuing to negotiate leases with other businesses, as there is still plenty of available space in the building.