Our New YMCAs

Building safe spaces for programs and community

The $50 million Strong Start, Great Future Capital Campaign is our promise to bring essential services, opportunity, and community to more people by building more Ys across the GTA.

Why Build New YMCAs?

Too many people in the GTA are being held back by barriers that are impossible to overcome on their own.

Mental health is suffering, children and youth are “socially malnourished” after years of lockdowns and physical distancing, there aren’t enough child care spots to go around – these challenges and more are taking a toll on people’s health, well-being, and prospects for the future.

Watch our video to see how people overcome these barriers and reach their true potential at the Y.

Play button

Currently In Development

The McDonald Family YMCA
Projected opening: 2023

As the King-Spadina neighbourhood ballooned, growing thirty-fold since 1996, the City of Toronto identified a shortage of healthy infrastructure to support this dense community.

The new McDonald Family Y will help fill this gap, co-locating relevant programs for easy access all under one roof.

Completed as part of Strong Start, Great Future

What Happens Inside A Y

The Y delivers essential services, from licensed child care to employment services, shelters for unhoused youth, camps, and more. But many of these programs can't happen without a safe, brick-and-mortar place.

After all, there’s no such thing as virtual child care. Unhoused youth need somewhere to sleep. Kids can’t learn to swim on their iPads.

When we build a new YMCA, it means more people in more neighbourhoods can access these essential services they need to thrive.

The Impact You Can Make

When you give to help bring a YMCA to a new neighbourhood, you open access to these essential services…

Free Teen Nights

teen boys playing basketball

YMCA Teen Night is a free weekly drop-in program that provides youth aged 13–18 with access to YMCA Health and Fitness Centres.

The need: Many youth in our communities are facing systemic barriers, from racism to low income, disengagement, and a lack of opportunities for physical activity. Many cannot afford the for-profit activities that give youth from wealthier neighbourhoods friendships, community, and healthy ways to spend their free time.

How the Y helps: 50% of our Teen Night participants come from lower income households. When they come to Teen Night, they get active, meet positive role models, make new friends, volunteer, and more, ultimately discovering the sense of community and inclusion they might otherwise find in gang membership and participation in risky behaviours, such as substance use.

Free Youth Leadership Development Groups

teen smiling at the table

The YMCA Youth Leadership Development (YLD) program is a free, structured, weekly program designed to help young people reach their true potential.

The need: The last three years brought unprecedented layoffs, job insecurity, and financial struggle. Even pre-pandemic, a precarious labour market was keeping many skilled, educated people in low-paying, unstable jobs.

How the Y helps: In YLD, youth build the skills they need to succeed in school, work, and life; grow a network of friends and adult allies; and find a sense of community and belonging.

Free Newcomer & Refugee Youth Groups

teens outside together

Free Newcomer & Refugee Youth Groups are designed to help newcomer youth and their parents have a positive settlement experience. These groups provide safe, supportive, and fun environments where youth can meet new people, build new skills, and get involved in their new community.

The need: Youth often face multiple barriers upon arrival in Canada after fleeing war, violence, and other challenging circumstances. Over 60% of youth in our newcomer groups, and even more young people in our refugee groups, describe their household incomes as low or low-to-middle.

How the Y helps: Our groups tailored for newcomer and refugee youth help them improve language skills, build social networks, get involved in the community, and support their overall settlement journey.

Give today to help build a brighter future.

You can make a real difference in your community by donating to the Strong Start, Great Future Capital Campaign.

Make your donation online, or contact Tony diCosmo, Vice President, Campaign Giving to discuss your gift:
Tony.diCosmo@YMCAGTA.ORG
416-305-2792

 

Thank you to our generous Strong Start, Great Future Capital Campaign Donors

$5,000,000-$9,999,999
David Braley Charitable Foundation

$3,000,000-$4,999,999
Jenifer & Steve McDonald
Daphne Wagner, David Green, and Michael & Lita Green

$2,000,000-$2,999,999
Michael Cooper & Krystal Koo
Anonymous (1)

$1,000,000-$1,999,999
BMO Financial Group
Martine M. Irman
Steve & Sally Stavro Family Foundation
TD Bank Group

$500,000-$999,999
CIBC
Cortel Group
Longo Family Foundation
Estate of Adrienne Dympna Magennis
OPUS Homes
Scotiabank
Toronto Blue Jays — Jays Care Foundation
Eric Tripp & Maria Smith
Anonymous (1)

$250,000-$499,999
Estate of Valerie Brook
Nesbitt & Lawlor Family
Ontario Trillium Foundation
Tim & Pat Penner
Helen Sinclair & Paul Cantor
TACC Group/De Gasperis Family
David & Shelagh Wilson
Anonymous (2)

$100,000-$249,999
Paul Bailey
Brampton Brick Limited
Janet & Bryan Dawson
Deloitte
Fleet Complete
Barry & Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust
Gucciardi Family
Kinross Gold Corporation
Paul & Elizabeth Langill
Jon & Nancy Love
Ann & Medhat Mahdy
Steven & Sharon Ranson
Chris Shepherd
Diane & Rick Sinhuber
David & Michelle Skurka
TD Securities Underwriting Hope Foundation in honour of Martine Irman
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
Anonymous (4)

$50,000-$99,999
Bolton Railings Inc.
The Brain Family
Katherine Cochrane-Brink & Paul Brink
Employees of Miller Thomson LLP
Roger & Kevin Garland
Giovanni & Concetta Guglietti Family
The Haynes-Connell Foundation
Lynn & Ewout Heersink
Moti Jungreis
Henry Labatte
Luca & Loren Lettieri
LiUNA Local 183
LiUNA Ontario Provincial District Council
Robert & Patricia Lord
Rob Moubarak — Sutherland Law
Steve & Sue Murphy
Power Corporation of Canada
Margot L. Ritchie
The Jacqueline Rosevear Fund
SigNature Communities, Andiel Homes & Plaza Corp
The Henry White Kinnear Foundation
Anonymous (2)

$25,000-$49,999
Aberdeen Asset Management Charitable Foundation
Michael Adams
Aird & Berlis LLP
Jennifer Babe
Rich & Nancy Bailey
The Harold E. Ballard Foundation
Andre Craig & Family
Anne & Ron Fawcett
Four Point Financial Corporation
Graywood Developments
Patrick Hodgson Family Foundation
Melanie Laflamme
Irene Markus
Wendy & Chris McDowall
Judy McLeod
Mosaik Homes
Onex
Carl, Julie, Scott & Haley Oxholm
Reliance Home Comfort
Sheena Macdonald & Phil Schmitt
Mark & Jody Shulgan
Brian Valvasori
Wenda Yenson & Ken Hurdle

$10,000-$24,999
Altas Partners
Katherine M. E. Alyea
Renee Beneteau
The Bitove Foundation
Cavendish Farms Corporation
The Chee-Wong Family
Dr. Gordon J. Chong
Linda Cottes & Family
Desjardins
Estate of Amy Mary Downs
Sakina Fazel
Sharon, Paul & Carlyn Ferriss
Diane Flanagan
Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.
David & Judy Galloway
General Electric Canada
Goldman Sachs Gives
Jack & Linda Goodwin
Mickey & Janet Jawa
Ali Kashani
Eve Lewis & Woodcliffe Landmark Properties — In memory of David Layton
Leanne & George Lewis
James P. Long
Rahima Mamdani
Mansteel Rebar Ltd. Masters Insurance Ltd. MNP LLP
Ontario Realtors Care Foundation
Dean L. Prevost
George & Ann Rodger
Debbie & Glenn Sevenpifer
Manjit K. Sharma
Rania Shuggi
Jeff & Leah Snowden
Soil Engineers Ltd
M. Spears
Earl Stuart
Trevor & Judie Thom
Toromont Industries
Jeff Watchorn
Vicki White & Damien Cox
Leslie E. Woo
Tom & Ruth Woods
Anonymous (1)

$5,000-$9,999
Sam Balsamo
Komal Bhasin
Kaye Bland
David G. Broadhurst
The Brookfield Foundation
Chum Charitable Foundation
Vilma Cortellucci-Fiuza
Don Cranston
Michelle Digulla
Enterprise Canada
Sid Finkelstein
Dr. Erica Fischer & Mr. David Harrison
Dilprit & Rajbinder Grewal
Scott Henshaw
Highland Farms Inc.
Darlene Holowachuk
Jauernig Family
Sandra & John Kalpouzos
Lenczner Slaght LLP
John Macfarlane
Don & Susan McCreesh
David McCullum
Etienne Middleton
Margaret & Rhiannon O’Brien
Rogers Communications
Margaret Taylor-Sevier
Zobeiry Family
Anonymous (1)

We continue to accept gifts to our Strong Start, Great Future Capital Campaign and are grateful to all of our donors who have given since this list was compiled on March 31, 2022.