YMCA Stories

Meet Camp Wanakita’s 2024 T-shirt Design Contest Winner.

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.

Hamilton, Ontario, April 22, 2024 — The YMCA of Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford is about to transform countless lives through its ambitious philanthropic initiative, The Y Saves Lives. This campaign seeks to raise $25 million to significantly enhance the YMCA’s capacity to meet urgent community needs, aiming to double the reach of crucial

Meet Mariia. She is a Ukranian National and in June 2023—as the war with Russia continued—she made the difficult decision to leave her home country, come to Canada, and start a new life. 

Meet Honza. He’s a lifeguard with the YMCA working with our local day camps and in our swimming pools.  Last week, many of our swimmers graduated from their levels and programs. It was a week full of confidence and seeing how our staff ignite potential in our community. 

Meet Don. He’s been a member of the YMCA for 27 years. He joined with a friend, and until that friend’s recent passing, they would meet up to have lunch once a week. 

Meet Ella. She’s a 12-year-old athlete playing a variety of sports and she’s been coming to the YMCA with her family since she was a baby. Ella does gymnastics, plays soccer, takes part in skating lessons, and she swims and trains at the Y alongside her parents and brother.