YMCA HITS POTENTIAL

When the YMCA launched in Britain in 1844, organizers hoped it would address the social ills that existed at the end of the Industrial Revolution.

Fast forward 173 years and it’s inspiring to see how that organization has taken root, with branches around the world finding new relevance in our 21st century digital world.

The YMCA first sprouted up in Calgary in 1902, when civic-minded folks rented space to set up reading rooms, a library and some classes for men and boys.

The city’s population sat around 4,300, but some Calgarians worried the community was growing too quickly and an undesirable element was emerging.

“I think Calgary can boast of the worst lot of boys to be found anywhere, and unless the police take a hand to them pretty soon, there is going to be very serious trouble,” Calgary Herald reader John Work wrote in a letter to the editor.

Supporters of the YMCA agreed program expansion could help set youth on the right path.

A $90,000 Y building was completed in 1907, thanks to the community coming together: Canadian Pacific Railway donated the land and individual donors pitched in amounts both large and small.

Two men — W.J. Stokes and V. Raby — each donated $100 a year to cover fees for 20 boys from economically-challenged families.

Programming quickly evolved and by 1909, the YMCA was assisting Asian immigrants; its doors were open to new Canadians — a theme that continues more than a century later.

Along the way, the YMCA supported war efforts, retrained veterans, and provided help during economic depressions.

Courses expanded from athletic pursuits and swimming to trades, arts, culture, child care and kids’ camp programs.

And, when the community needed help, the Y was there, as seen recently when all YMCAs in Alberta and B.C. invited wildfire evacuees to use facilities free of charge.

In this increasingly virtual world, the YMCA’s relevance has only grown because it’s a place where connections don’t just occur in the cloud. The connections are real and at ground level, being made person to person.

That relevance isn’t lost on some of the city’s most notable philanthropists, such as Jim Gray, Melcor Developments and its founding family, the Meltons, Shane Homes and the Wenzels, Brookfield Residential and the Calgary Foundation.

Their contributions have helped the YMCA achieve its largest ever fundraising goal — the $30-million Power of Potential campaign.

“Not only is this good news, it’s great news,” says Ken Lima-Coelho, vice-president of marketing and communications for YMCA Calgary.

The city’s economic picture was much rosier when the campaign started more than four years ago, but Calgarians opened their wallets despite the downturn.

“People care about their community,” says Lima-Coelho. “People stepped up ... It is special.”

The overwhelming success of the campaign, along with the generosity of Calgarians, is an investment in the wellness and vibrancy of the city for decades to come.

With the innovative and inclusive course of action set by the YMCA, it’s sure to be a safe investment.