Markham YMCA

This YMCA location in Markham really improved — I went from a 3-star experience to 5 stars. The staff are friendly, the facilities are clean and well-maintained, and the overall service has gotten much better. Great place for the community

Best time to go is mornings or between 3-5 pm. It starts to get crowded after 4 and you might not find machines. They need to replace machines. For example I have never seen the biceps machine and the waist machine being used and I go four times a week. They should add chest, back and shoulders ones. Very clean, nice environment, and spacious.

A vibrant, predominantly Chinese community center.
The main hall is well used.
Lane swimming is often crowded and is more of a social event with lengthy, lane-end conversations,
Most of the staff are friendly and helpful.
4 months in, and so far from my experience, overall, it is a good place, :)

The staffs at this location are amazing.

Facilities, yes and no. The pool and the hot tub are hit and miss, sometimes very cold, sometimes good temperature. They recently fixed the hot tub, drained all the water and then the water was very clean for like a week. When I wash my bathing suit that week, water was cleared. Other times, yellow like pee. If they would change the water more often, it would be great.

Fitness classes has good mix of varieties.

Aquafit, instructors are great, except one doing exact same moves almost every single class and few times a week, boring. The others would change things up. Also very different vibes from the other three. Also the classes starts at 12pm, and they wouldn't let people in until 12pm, then getting equipment, lining up to get in pool, already 5+ mins passes. The class would only be 35-40 mins, especially that one instructors tends to end the class few minutes early too. We understand they have to change the settings but often times the pool is ready at least 5 minutes before the classes, we don't understand why we can't get in and have full 45 minutes classes.

Member etiquette, most people are nice. Some are ridiculous. For example,
1. Thinking themselves are "police" and yelling at others. No respect. We are all grown adults and she yells at the seniors.
2. Racist comments made on others.
3. One of the members aka was previously one of the Latin dance instructors but now with leg injuries was so rude and cursed another member's mom dead as a "joke".
4. Some bullies don't like people in front of them in aquafit classes and would intentionally splashed water high up on those people's head while no splash was created from the rest of the class from. The move.
5. Taking up 2 or more lockers when others have none and would careless, even peak hours.
6. Same for fitness classes, they would take up and hold most of the spots+equipment for their friends bullying other members to corners not in their group, especially Ella Kong's Chairfit classes. Yet half of their friends would not even show up at the end. Then her superior would assign the late comers those seats. The person really have no shame bullying seniors. She holds the seats at the middle of the room and bullies the other members mostly seniors to the end of room where they would not be able to see as clear. A normal person would let the seniors in the middle of the room so they can follow clearly. Other members also commented everyone is paying the same membership fee, but why does she have the right to hold extensive seats and equipment. The two months she was away recently, the classes were lovely and all members were happy, felt welcomed and enjoyed the classes. Now that she returns, the class is not welcoming like a private class for her and her friends only. Others can only beg for seats and take the unwanted leftovers. Oh one more thing, the instructor knows it all but they are clearly friends and let her be (*private class*).
Just some ignorant people.

Tho the staffs are very nice, but some of the members' etiquette and behavior can be managed. There should be warnings and membership suspensions if they treat others like that, with no respect. It should be a comfortable place for all paying members, you know your mission vision and value.

Now you are warned.