Celebrating 40 years with the YMCA: Mardoqueo “Mardo” Erazo

Meet Mardo.

In 1984, Mardo left Costa Rica to come to Canada and wound up in Hamilton, Ontario.

Not speaking a word of English, Mardo went to the Hamilton Downtown Family YMCA with a letter of recommendation from the Director of YMCA Costa Rica—and a hopeful heart.

“I gave it to the Resident Manager at the time, who introduced me to George Sousa because he could speak a bit of Spanish,” he says.

Mardo told them he was looking for a job, and over the next six months, he took an English as a Second Language (ESL) course to be better prepared for a new life in Canada.

His English improved, and in September of 1984, he got a call from YMCA Program Director, Jim Allen, asking if he was interested in working at the Y.

“I came in and I stood by [what was then] the Residence Hotel because I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t know what to do or how to get a hold of anyone. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it.”

Mardo says he stood there for two hours until someone from the residence asked if he needed help, and he told them he wanted to talk to George.

“[Geroge] said they would train me for a couple of days and see how things go.”

On September 20, 1984, Mardo officially became a YMCA employee.

“And I’ve been here ever since.”

That was over 40 years ago, and a lot has changed since the 1980s.

Mardo started off working with members as a Basketroom Attendant. He was someone who greeted members, answered their questions, grabbed their towels and did whatever he could to make sure they had a positive experience while at the Y.

“I got the most satisfaction from making them happy. If I was able to achieve what they asked of me and if it made them happy, then I was happy.”

“It was beautiful. It was so calm, you never felt like you were in a rush, you could take your time [to make sure members were happy]. I felt relaxed.”

He says they had over 500 baskets for members. Mardo remembers he and the other Basketroom employees would take the time to memorize each member’s basket number so that when they saw them coming in, they would have their basket ready and waiting. 

It was a small thing, but he says it was something that always made the members smile.

“It would make them feel welcome.”

Eventually, the Basketroom would no longer exist, and in 1995 Mardo would step into an opportunity to work at the Residence Hotel, what we now know as the YMCA Men’s Residence.

“The Residence Manager approached me and said, ‘I want you to work for me,’ so that’s what I did.”

“It’s a different environment altogether. I like working with the residents, it’s very challenging, but it’s rewarding too.”

Just like with the members, Mardo says it makes him feel good when he can meet the residents’ needs.

“I just try to help out whenever and wherever I can. Whenever they ask me to do things, I like to do them.”

It’s Mardo’s humble way of saying that he’s a team player. When asked about the Y staff he’s worked with over the last four decades, he fondly recalls some of his earliest influences, thanking them for their guidance and care as he learned a new job, and integrated into a new country.

“They trusted me and had faith in me.”

The Y has been more than a workplace for Mardo. It was 1986, just two years after he started working at the YMCA, he got married—at the Hamilton Downtown Family YMCA.

“I got along well with my boss, and he said the auditorium was available if I wanted to have my reception here. I said yes!”

What are now offices for the YMCA Child Care and Philanthropy teams in the basement of the Hamilton Downtown Family YMCA, were once an auditorium and reception hall.

It’s one of the many changes Mardo has seen over his time with the YMCA, but regardless of the changes, he says it’s always been the people who make the Y such an incredible place to work.

“Everything I’m saying here—the reason I wanted to share my story—is in memory and in honour of the thousands of staff and members that I’ve met since I came here who are no longer around.”

Mardo wants to especially thank Allan Will and Victor Disyak for their mentorship and guidance. He’s also grateful to his original coworkers and fellow Basketroom Attendants—Cliff, Alex, Mike, and Jim—for making him feel so welcome.

“I hold those memories with me, always.”

#BeTheSpark #ShineOn #IgnitePotential