The old YMCA was part of ‘90s urban renewal initiative that failed. It included not only the Y, but a new plaza, river promenade, market, cafe, pub, cinema, hotel and restaurants with residential development surrounding it including the redevelopment of an old bus barn site with 1,100 new homes. But it failed to create the urban vitality expected.

Many Calgarians, back in early 2021 were sad to hear the downtown’s Eau Claire Y, was closing after 33 years. I am happy to report it will reopen in early July as the Eau Claire Athletic Club. The mega makeover retains the pool, gym, running track and two squash courts, but also includes designated spaces for several golf simulators, separate pilates, yoga, spin and dance studios and a state-of-the art weight room. There is even a Nordic spa. There are also office spaces for private healthcare service providers to rent.

And yes, it if family friendly! Kids will love the pool, gym, programs for all ages and they even have their own virtual games room. There will also be daily childminding services.

The interior décor is elegant with its four-storey high water feature in the middle of the central staircase being the highlight. On the main floor is a members and guests only restaurant, bar and lounge, as well as a small public café accessible from the new Eau Claire Plaza. The pool is spectacular with its huge window onto Eau Claire Plaza.

The Eau Claire Athletic Club is like the old Eau Claire Y on steroids.

The pool area has been retained and is better than ever.

The lounge restaurant on the main floor is very welcoming.

There are several golf simulators that I expect will be very well used in the winter.

Backstory

The Eau Claire Y opened in 1988 to much fanfare as one of the anchors of the City’s ambitious revitalization plan for the neighbourhood which included the new Sheraton Hotel, Eau Claire Market (with IMAX and Cineplex), restaurants (like Hard Rock Café and Joeys), along with new residential redevelopment along the Bow River.

In its heyday, i.e. the late ‘90s, the Y had 10,500 members. But over the years that number dwindled to 1,300 while the cost of operating the building increased dramatically, as did the cost for repairs and upgrades to a 30+ year old building. It became too much for the YMCA to manage.

Some City Council members thought the City of Calgary should buy the building and convert it into a public recreation centre, but a motion by Councillor Farkas to do so was defeated. I expect administration told them it was not cost effective to upgrade and operate the building as a public recreation centre based on the revenue that would be generated by the fees the City could charge.

The building was put up for sale and Telsec bought in late in 2021. They explored various options - from converting it into a hotel to tearing it down and building a residential tower. But in the end, they decided to refurbish it and create a luxury private recreation centre.

Kudos to Telsec for retaining the building - as its human scale and timeless brick façade will create a people-friendly edge to the new Eau Claire Plaza. I was invited by Kris Van Grieken, President of Telsec, to tour the old Y building when they were contemplating what to do with it and again for a preview tour. I am amazed at how they have kept the building’s bones the same, while transforming it into an upscale 21st century athletic club. It is an impressive and expensive makeover.

Who is Telsec?

Telsec, originally established in 1976 by Dick Van Grieken, remains a family-owned, Calgary-based business. It initially focused on providing small office spaces with administrative support, effectively acting as a precursor to modern coworking spaces with their "Fully Equipped Offices For Less Than The Cost Of A Secretary" tagline.

Over the years, Telsec Property Corporation has expanded its portfolio to include a wide range of commercial real estate, encompassing office, showroom, warehouse, and retail developments, as well as land parcels for future projects. It currently provides homes for 200+ small businesses in Calgary.

Eau Claire Athletic Club is their first recreational project and speaks to their commitment foster Calgary’s downtown as an attractive place to live, work and play.

The pool space looks out directly to the Eau Claire Plaza

Downtown Amenity

The Eau Claire Athletic Club (ECAC) should attract and retain more people to live, work and play downtown. Currently, there are 1,300 members signed up, with another 2,000+ waiting to see what it looks like when it opens. They range from corporate members to locals who live inner-city and even some from further away. While new office and residential developments have some recreational facilities, ECAC’s state-of-the-art equipment will be attractive to many of the residents in existing and new residential developments in East Village, the Beltline and communities on the north side of the river. Ideally, it will be the anchor a more vibrant Eau Claire neighbourhood – one of the goals of the City’s billion dollar plus Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan.

Eau Claire Plaza

At the same time as the Eau Claire Athletic Club opened so did redesigned the Eau Claire Plaza next door. The Plaza creates a welcoming entrance to Prince’s Island and to the Bow River Promenade. It is part of a pedestrian corridor linking Stephen Avenue Walk (pedestrian mall) offices to the river. The new plaza has a small beach area with 11 lounge chairs and umbrellas along with misting area, small festival/event site and a table and chairs area.

In the future it could be linked to a LRT Station planned just to the east with perhaps more commercial uses. It creates another gathering node along the two kilometer Bow River Promenade from Cowboy’s Park to Fort Calgary at the Confluence.

A view of the Eau Claire Plaza under construction from Eau Claire Athletic Club

Eau Claire Plaza is designed as as both a casual meeting and chill places as well as space for small events.

The walkway is shared by pedestrians, cyclist, scooters, delivery and maintenance vehicles.

The Eau Claire Olympic Arch was created in 1987 for the 1988 Winter Games held in Calgary.

On warm days these misting stations will cool you off and adds some fun to the plaza.

The Bow River Promenade has several of these long communal benches next to the lagoon.

Last Word

Many Calgarians living downtown, as well as those north of the Bow River, lament the lack of major public recreation centre in their ‘hood. And unfortunately, that will not be addressed by the private Eau Claire Athletic Club. Perhaps we can convince the next City Council to transform the City-owned, old Greyhound Station further west, into a public recreation centre. However, I suspect the cost of conversion vs the revenue generated won’t work even for the City. But a guy can dream, can’t he?

Note an edited version of this blog was published in the Calgary Herald’s New Homes + Condos section, July 5, 2025.

Old Eau Claire Y’s Mega Makeover

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