Healthy Communities • YMCA Camps and Outdoor Education
York Region Staff take over YMCA Cedar Glen
30 September 2016 - by Talía Noya
Earlier this week, the YMCA of Greater Toronto hosted unique experiential education activities for York Region staff members to celebrate their dedication and passion. Usually, the York Region Staff Forum is held in office space, so moving it to YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre was a breath of fresh air!
The Staff Forum is an opportunity for staff from across all programs to connect and learn from one another. Medhat Mahdy, President and CEO of YMCA of Greater Toronto, dropped by to thank staff for their unwavering commitment to the Y.
He noted that since 2010, the number of YMCA locations in York Region has tripled! A potential partnership with the Town of East Gwillimbury would include a new YMCA Centre of Community at the Health & Active Living Plaza. Another YMCA is set to open in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
Staff had the opportunity to give back by participating in team-building legacy projects. The staff’s volunteer work will have a lasting impact and resonate with the 23,000+ guests who visit Cedar Glen every year.
Timmy, a Contact Centre Agent, chose to take part in forestry management because it was an activity he had never experienced before. His team removed invasive grapevines and buckthorn from a forested area on the grounds.
Nadine, District Manager of Child and Family Development in York Region, had fun on the Organic Farm with colleagues and new acquaintances. Some unruly tomatillos growing on top of other rows were harvested to clear the squash patch.
The third project launched the Wiigiwaam Reconciliation, the YMCA’s new cultural learning project developed and delivered in a newly-formed partnership with Motivate Canada's GEN7 Program, and the 4R's Youth Movement. Led by First Nation Elder Gerard Sagassige, staff and partners built a Wiigiwaam, a structure used for shelter and ceremony for the First Peoples of the land where Cedar Glen is located.
In building the Wiigiwaam, a home, participants are reminded of the connectedness to each other and their relations to the land, the plants animals and our spirit.
“It has always been our goal to bring together change makers from diverse backgrounds to work towards a common goal and that is exactly what we achieved at YMCA Cedar Glen,” says Rebekah Wilson, GEN7 Program Manager.
“This first step is just the beginning of a long journey towards reconciliation for our generation and those to come and Motivate Canada is honoured to have played a role in it.”
Thanks to a grant provided by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, this Aboriginal program will be available to groups participating in Cedar Glen's cultural education programs and the traditional Wiigiwaam will serve as its main gathering space.
"We made history at Cedar Glen,” exclaims Leland MacLeod, a Gen7 Messenger. “I've never seen so many people work so fast to construct a Wiigiwaam before! Everyone was motivated and passionate about seeing it come together in one day.”
Expanding in York Region
The Staff Forum is an opportunity for staff from across all programs to connect and learn from one another. Medhat Mahdy, President and CEO of YMCA of Greater Toronto, dropped by to thank staff for their unwavering commitment to the Y.He noted that since 2010, the number of YMCA locations in York Region has tripled! A potential partnership with the Town of East Gwillimbury would include a new YMCA Centre of Community at the Health & Active Living Plaza. Another YMCA is set to open in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
Legacy Projects
Staff had the opportunity to give back by participating in team-building legacy projects. The staff’s volunteer work will have a lasting impact and resonate with the 23,000+ guests who visit Cedar Glen every year.Timmy, a Contact Centre Agent, chose to take part in forestry management because it was an activity he had never experienced before. His team removed invasive grapevines and buckthorn from a forested area on the grounds.
Nadine, District Manager of Child and Family Development in York Region, had fun on the Organic Farm with colleagues and new acquaintances. Some unruly tomatillos growing on top of other rows were harvested to clear the squash patch.Building a Wiigiwaam
The third project launched the Wiigiwaam Reconciliation, the YMCA’s new cultural learning project developed and delivered in a newly-formed partnership with Motivate Canada's GEN7 Program, and the 4R's Youth Movement. Led by First Nation Elder Gerard Sagassige, staff and partners built a Wiigiwaam, a structure used for shelter and ceremony for the First Peoples of the land where Cedar Glen is located.
Whenever human beings come together under the neighbourhood for all of creation without domain, I think that is the spirit of harmony,” explains Gerard of Curve Lake First Nation.
“It’s like having a chance to braid or weave a learning place. All the people that were here today were building hands-on, creating, sharing, and loving.”
In building the Wiigiwaam, a home, participants are reminded of the connectedness to each other and their relations to the land, the plants animals and our spirit.
“It has always been our goal to bring together change makers from diverse backgrounds to work towards a common goal and that is exactly what we achieved at YMCA Cedar Glen,” says Rebekah Wilson, GEN7 Program Manager.“This first step is just the beginning of a long journey towards reconciliation for our generation and those to come and Motivate Canada is honoured to have played a role in it.”
Thanks to a grant provided by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, this Aboriginal program will be available to groups participating in Cedar Glen's cultural education programs and the traditional Wiigiwaam will serve as its main gathering space.
"We made history at Cedar Glen,” exclaims Leland MacLeod, a Gen7 Messenger. “I've never seen so many people work so fast to construct a Wiigiwaam before! Everyone was motivated and passionate about seeing it come together in one day.”
