YMCA Stories

Meet Abdullah. He grew up in Kenya, but in December 2023 he came to Canada with two of his children. He says the decision to come wasn’t easy, but it was necessary as it was no longer safe for his son to be himself. 

Every Friday in the summer, Turkstra Lumber Hamilton hosts a charity barbeque in their parking lot. The Angus hamburgers and footlong hotdogs, for just $5, include a drink and your choice of toppings—condiments, pickles, onions, and tomatoes—and all proceeds go to the charity of the week!

Following years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brian and Micheline saw their son Jason was spending more and more time alone in his room, he wasn’t socializing with the children in the neighbourhood, and he wasn’t contributing to their conversations at home. 

Randy is an aspiring comedian who has lived at the YMCA Men’s Residence, in Downtown Hamilton, for more than a decade.  For Randy, the Men’s Residence offered him an opportunity to be independent—to live on his own while he chases his dream. It’s his home, and the people there have given him a sense of community. 

Meet Eric. He is A full-time early learning assistant at the Les Chater YMCA Child Care Centre. 

Momina is a Grade 11 student at Glendale Secondary school.

Meet Yousif. His family arrived in Canada from Iman, Iran in 2021, and they have been a part of the YMCA of Hamilton | Burlington | Brantford community for the past two years.

Meet Lakhbir. She completed her license to become a Registered Nurse in 2023 and proudly calls herself a permanent resident of Canada, but she’s had quite a journey to get to this point.    

“When times were hard, and I couldn’t see the light, she gave me reason to believe.” Meet Sharon, an employment coach with the YMCA and an important figure in many people's search for employment. She is a beacon of support and guidance at YMCA Employment Services and has helped hundreds of people find a job.