NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New YMCA BC aims to combine strengths and expertise for more reach and impact, today and tomorrow
YMCA of Northern British Columbia, YMCA-YWCA of Kamloops and YMCA of Greater Vancouver announce completion of legal unification
NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – January 9, 2023 | The YMCA of Northern British Columbia, YMCA-YWCA of Kamloops and YMCA of Greater Vancouver have officially completed their legal unification to become one entity – YMCA BC. Collectively, the new YMCA will employ 1,800 British Columbians and serve 150,000 individuals, with hundreds of service locations across the province, from Fort St. John to the Sunshine Coast.
The strategy is consistent with YMCA amalgamations taking place across the country and throughout the Canadian charitable sector. The focus, said YMCA BC Chief Executive Officer Heidi Worthington, is to combine collective strengths to achieve even more, together.
“Each organization came to this unification from a position of strength and we knew that by coming together, we could have even more impact in communities across the province,” said Worthington. “As one strong, unified team, we will continue to build communities, transform lives, provide unique opportunities for people of all ages, stages, backgrounds and abilities to learn, grow, thrive and reach their potential.”
The vision of YMCA BC is providing those we serve with even more opportunity today and for the future, including our staff, confirmed Amanda Alexander, former CEO of YMCA of Northern British Columbia and now Vice President, Northern BC with YMCA BC.
“Unification will help us increase our impact today and for generations to come,” said Alexander. “We’ll accomplish this by serving local communities more broadly and deeply, of course, and also providing more opportunities and resources for our valued staff and volunteer teams, who are the backbone and the heart of the YMCA.”
Colin Reid, former CEO of YMCA-YWCA of Kamloops and now Vice President, Greater Kamloops with YMCA BC, emphasized the continued focus on local needs and responsiveness.
“While we will experience immediate gains in strength and effectiveness as a larger team, we also remain committed to meeting the unique needs of each of the communities we serve,” confirmed Reid. “That was a core value of unification and a commitment we are making through YMCA BC.”
Members, participants and clients should not expect any changes in programming or experience in the short term, said Worthington, but the opportunity to explore how YMCA BC can have even more impact on local communities is coming soon.
“Community needs are dynamic and ever increasing,” says Worthington. “It is crucial for us to be as strong as we can to meet these needs, and by becoming YMCA BC, we are proactively doing just that.”
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More information:
Oliver Lam
Director, Marketing & Communications
778.227.7170
oliver.lam@bc.ymca.ca
About YMCA BC
YMCA BC is the result of the unification of YMCA of Northern BC, YMCA-YWCA of Kamloops and YMCA of Greater Vancouver. Families, children, and seniors—in communities from the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and Sunshine Coast to Prince George, Vanderhoof and Kamloops, British Columbia—all have the opportunity to belong, grow, lead and thrive through YMCA BC.
We are part of an international and national movement that has brought lasting social change for over 136 years; we’ve cared for children, shaped leaders for tomorrow and helped generations of people come together to find support, get healthier and make friends for life. Together we create vibrant and healthy communities with a shared sense of social responsibility, where children and families reach their potential.
As one association with one mission to strengthen our impact for communities across British Columbia, YMCA BC combines the strength of each association and we’re able to collectively achieve more with more, together.
YMCA BC works collaboratively with the YMCA of Southern Interior BC and YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island to serve British Columbians.
