YOUR YMCA eVerY DaY
Ty Lenius has been a member of the YMCA for over two decades. He joined as a young child, grew up in the programs the YMCA offers and is now a volunteer for the organization, passing on to a new generation what the YMCA has given him. “I’ve been a member for over 20 years. My parents registered my sister and
I for the youth activities when we were quite young,” said Lenius. From the start, the core values of the YMCA were instilled in Lenius. Caring, respect, honesty, responsibility and inclusiveness are fundamental to all the programs that the YMCA runs, along with the physical services they offer the community. Growing up in that environment gave Lenius the desire to give back and become a volunteer. “The YMCA is like a second home. The atmosphere and the people involved — it’s a community that serves the outside community. Everyone involved shares the same ethics and morals,” said Lenius. As a youth, Lenius joined the Leaders program. The YMCA offers several youth leadership programs for young people between Grades 4 and 12. These programs are designed to combine fun physical activities with community initiatives and interpersonal skill building to create a lifetime of health, wellbeing and responsibility. “The Leaders program built my confidence and leadership skills,” said Lenius. Now, as a single father with two children of his own, the values that the YMCA instilled in Lenius play a part in all aspects of his life as he has become a volunteer for the YMCA and already has his children in programs provided by the organization that gave him great opportunities, first as a child and then as a young man. “Currently, I volunteer as a spin instructor, but have in the past volunteered in the Leaders program. It’s great to be involved in confidence-building with today’s youth, and seeing each young person developing their own potential,” said Lenius. He had both of his children in the YMCA day care program from around age one until just recently, when they transitioned out, and will soon be involved in the various children’s programs that the YMCA offers for school-aged children. “It’s great that I can see that transition starting with myself — going from a child to a young adult, and now seeing my kids involved. It’s important that we have always felt so comfortable at the YMCA. The ethics they instill are so similar to our own, and the people there take such pride in their work,” said Lenius. The YMCA has always worked with local volunteers as a way to strengthen the communities they are a part of. In addition to providing services to individuals and families on a variety of levels from physical to mental, the YMCA draws on the resources within those same communities, bringing together people who are helping people in all the best ways. “If any families are searching for help or looking to get involved, the YMCA instills their pride in their work in the people they work with. They create a sense of inclusion and acceptance that makes every YMCA a safe space,” said Lenius. The YMCA has been a part of Ty Lenius’ family throughout his life. And he couldn’t be prouder. To find out more about the YMCA and how you can be involved, visit www.regina.ymca.ca or call 306-757-9622.