The YMCA of Northern BC has both been awarded one of four national YMCA Innovation Awards for their outstanding work with the District of Vanderhoof and the Integris Credit Union for the establishment of a centre of community serving rural Canadians.
The YMCA of Northern BC was recognized for excellence in the inaugural award ceremony in the category, ‘Expanding Horizons’. This award is based on recognizing innovative operational models that extends services to communities, regions, and populations currently not served through traditional YMCA programming.
Over the past four years, The District of Vanderhoof, the Integris Credit Union and the YMCA have worked collaboratively to build a community centre, one that provides services that support health, connection and inclusion in Vanderhoof. Together, the partners in this project have leveraged multiple funding sources in order to design and build a welcoming, inclusive centre that provides the community a recreation, child care, arts and community program space.
The District of Vanderhoof, as leaders in this project, are excited to see this innovative and successful model recognized. Mayor Gerry Thiessen shares, “The District of Vanderhoof has built a great relationship with the YMCA, we have seen our offering, capacity and reliability of services to add great value to our community. We could not be happier than we are with our present situation”.
The Integris Credit Union, as recognized champions in community engagement and corporate citizenship have made invaluable contributions to this project. “Integris is deeply committed to enriching life for Vanderhoof families and our communities as a whole,” says Alison Hoskins, Integris CEO. “We accomplish this by leveraging our financial expertise and strategic partnerships to provide innovative solutions to our communities. The importance of the YMCA’s work cannot be overstated – their positive impact is transformative and we are honoured to support their mission! Our partnership with the YMCA and District of Vanderhoof is another example of how Integris invests our profits locally for the benefit of everyone who calls here home,” says Hoskins.
Since the Integris Community Centre has been open, it has proved itself to be a busy community hub of activity! Since the spring of 2015, 3,170 children, youth and adults have taken part in recreational programming, 426 children have taken part in spring break, summer break and field trips and the centre was booked 607 times by community groups. In child care, there are eight infant toddler, sixteen 3-5, 20 preschool and 24 afterschool child care spots in the centre.
The YMCA of Northern BC is committed to a future where communities in Northern BC are vibrant and healthy because children, families and seniors belong, grow, thrive and lead. We are proud to have the Integris Community Centre recognized as an initiative that supports this impactful vision.
For more information please contact:
Amanda Alexander, CEO
Amanda.Alexander@nbc.ymca.ca
250 562 9341 ext 116
