Think you know the Y? Think again . . .
Taking a fresh look at an old neighbourhood friend
Even though the YMCA made its North American debut in Montreal more than 170 years ago (it was founded in the United Kingdom seven years earlier, in 1844), there are still plenty of misconceptions about the organization.
Maybe it’s because of its original name — Young Men’s Christian Association — or because of its origins as a place for young men, predominantly, to stay fit and healthy.
What the Y offers today is much more than you might think. MYTH: The Y is just a fitness centre. FACT: The Y is a fitness centre — complete with state-of-the-art equipment, Olympic-sized pools and well-trained staff. But, it’s much more.
In fact, the Y has always promoted values that build spirit, mind and body (that’s what the three angles in the logo’s red triangle represent).
Different Ys offer different programs, depending on the needs of the areas they serve, but you can expect to find day and overnight camps, youth clubs, leadership and volunteer opportunities, daycare facilities, education and training programs. The Y helps people find jobs, offers career counselling, workforce reentry programs, mentoring and more. It offers newcomer services, transitional housing and youth exchanges. And the YMCA Academy helps high school students with learning disabilities.
MYTH: The YMCA is a Christian organization and therefore open only to Christians.
FACT: The Y started as a place where Judeo-Christian values were put into practice, where young men could go to a home away from home and to discourage them from less acceptable pastimes, such as gambling, drinking alcohol and prostitution. The YMCA still stands behind its founding principles, but it is a diverse and inclusive organization that welcomes everyone, every age, no matter their sex, religion, ethnicity, income, abilities or personal beliefs. MYTH: The YMCA is a club. FACT: The Y is actually a registered charity, a non-profit organization that is dependent upon donations and philanthropic gifts, membership and program fees, grants and contracts.
MYTH: The YMCA is a chain, connected to other Ys around the world and operating in much the same way as one another.
FACT: The basic principles and mission of the YMCA are the same in the 125 national organizations around the world, but individual Ys are tailored — in terms of policies, programs and memberships offered — to the communities in which they are located. YMCA Canada serves as a resource to the country’s 45 YMCAs and six YMCA-YWCAs and advocates on their behalf in the global community.