The YMCA was established over 160 years ago as a charity dedicated to the health of both individuals and communities. Our focus on inclusiveness and accessibility means we serve people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through all stages of life. Through YMCA financial assistance programs, the YMCA is accessible to all.
Today, there are 45 YMCAs and 5 YMCA-‐YWCAs in Canada that offer programs and services tailored to each community's needs. Together, we serve 2 million people in more than 1000 communities across Canada.
Thanks to nationally accredited Chid Protection Standards and Procedures, YMCA programs safely build assets or critical factors children need to become healthy, caring and responsible. These factors include support, empowerment, positive identity and values, a commitment to learning, boundaries and many others. Our programs instill values of caring, respect, honesty, inclusiveness and responsibility.
The YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia is a registered charity dedicated to promoting growth of our people in Spirit, Mind and Body. As a charitable organization, the YMCA invests all its resources in the provision of programs and services focused on wellness, health and fitness, childcare and personal development needs of all. This was especially evident in 2014 as the Lunenburg County YMCA branch invested in new fitness equipment and facility upgrades, resulting in the largest facility refresh since its inception.
Thanks to the exceptional efforts of our members, program participants, volunteers and guests, the YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia is able to champion our vision of being the hub of the community. Together we continue to fulfill this purpose more effectively every year -‐ thank you.
Sincerely,
Building healthy communities
Welcome & Thank You
YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia2014 Annual Report
2associations
98staff
1mission
Elspeth McLean-Wile Chair
YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia
Yvonne Smith Chief Executive Officer
YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia
39,000times in 2014
accessed over
nearly
8,000swimmers enjoyed our facility pool
• Annapolis Basin Conference Centre • Annapolis County Recreation Committee • Armstrong & Armstrong Law • Annapolis Valley Health / South West Health -‐ 4 The Health of It , Way to Wellness, Safe Talk • Cornwallis Physiotherapy • Digby & Area Recreation Committee • Fairway Insurance • Hutchin’s Pharmacy Annapolis Royal • Foam Worx • Oliver Janson Law • Senior Living: Tideview Terrace, The Meadows & Mountain Lee Lodge • Tri-‐county Regional School Board & Annapolis Valley Regional School Board: Swim to Survive School Trips Schools Plus Teacher’s Union • Searidge Foundation • Shopper’s Drug Mart Digby • Wagner’s Refrigeration
Community Connections• Over 900 members per month used the facility a total of 39, 001 times
• Our Membership Assistance Program provided financial assistance to 1 in 3 members who would not have been able to join the YMCA otherwise
•59 volunteers contributed more than 1,431 hours to YMCA programs and policy
• On average, nearly 30 fitness classes and 18 youth activities were offered per week
• Over 3,000 participants attended Water Art classes
• Nearly 8,000 youth and adults enjoyed swimming at the Fundy YMCA
•1,376 people (mostly children/youth) used the pool on a day pass
• Every month, over 400 people completed lane swims
•45 children took part in Swim to Survive while over 400 children and adults enrolled in our Aquatics Swim Lessons in 2014
Facts & Figures
+900members
59volunteers
1,431contributed
hours
Fundy YMCAreview of 2014
The Fundy YMCA gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of
The County of Annapolis Without their financial contribu]ons, we
would not be able to build healthy communities
What started with 2 women at Fundy YMCA in Cornwallis, NS, morphed into a 3 year Cross Canada Swim Challenge for more than 20 lane swimmers who swam a total of 217,911 pool lengths (5,034kms) to cover the distance from Newfoundland to British Colombia.
The challenge was initially generated by lane swimmers Sandra Brown and Valerie Wilson, who were regularly swim 60-‐80 pool lengths three times weekly at Fundy YMCA. Their lengths were quickly adding up, so they decided to turn their efforts into a challenge by swimming across Canada by going from one provincial capital to another. They did the math: 40 lengths of a 25 meter pool = 1 km. When they realized that as individuals this challenge could take them several years they invited other lane swimmers to join them. The start date of Fundy YMCA Cross Canada Swim Challenge was November 5, 2012.
“We asked everybody,” says Sandra, “whether they were swimming 2 or 100 lengths of the pool.”
The two women encouraged swimmers of all ages and abilities to join the challenge. Participation grew and there were soon more than 20 lane swimmers tracking their daily swim distance. Richard Chapelhow, YMCA Facilities Manager, generously donated a provincial flag that was hung over the pool for each border crossed by swimmers. Provincial capitals included in the challenge were; Charlettown, Halifax, Fredericton, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Regina and Victoria.
“It took us a total of 113 weeks to reach Victoria,” says Valerie. “We finished January 11, 2015. It was absolutely amazing to see so many people participate and equally amazing that most of the people who started the challenge stuck to it for the entire swim. We applauded everybody’s efforts. It was especially satisfying to see people who initially couldn’t swim a stroke sign up for swim lessons and go on to participate in this challenge”.
Y Story
Fundy YMCA International Swim Challenge is next!Our destination Tokyo, Japan – a distance of 7,579 kilometres
“It was especially satisfying to see people who initially couldn’t swim a stroke sign up for swim lessons and go on to participate in this challenge”
Valerie WilsonFundy YMCA Member
Go swimmers !
• 58,309 visits were recorded by over 1,050 YMCA members
• Over 160 members received financial assistance towards their YMCA Membership
• More than 170 toddlers, juniors, pre-‐schoolers and school-‐age children received registered child care from YMCA Educators
• The Youth Leader Program contributed 2,570 volunteer hours to community programs in Lunenburg County
• 1,979 youth visits were recorded by the King Street Youth Centre• Supportive funding resulted in piloting the YMCA Youth Leader Program in New Germany and Chester
• 1,582 children and youth participated in our free Friday night Youth Zone program
Lunenburg County YMCA
Community Supporters• Town of Bridgewater • Municipality of the District of Chester • Municipality of the District of Lunenburg • United Way of Lunenburg County • The Lunenburg County Community Health Board • Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness • Nova Scotia Department of Justice • Nova Scotia Health Authority
Community DevelopmentThe YMCA King Street Youth Centre has formed affiliations with a number of organizations within the community and continue to develop opportunities in 2015 for youth that are not presently available to them.
• Employment SoluVons Society • Luneburg Queens Volunteer Partnership • Town of Bridgewater Police Department • South Shore Council of Canadians • South Shore School Board (Coop & O2 programs) • South Shore Big Brothers Big Sisters • Be the Peace Project • Second Story Women’s Centre • NOW Lunenburg County • Grinders Square Commi^ee • Family Resource Centre • The Youth Project • Nova ScoVa Sea School • Mermaid Theatre Group • Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme • Mining AssociaVon of Nova ScoVa • Town of Bridgewater Department of Parks, RecreaVon and CultureMunicipality of the District of Lunenburg, Municipal RecreaVon Dept.
• Municipality of the District of Chester, Municipal RecreaVon Dept. • ParVcipACTION
review of 2014
Facts & Figures
+1000members
58,000times in 2014
accessed overvolunteer hours2,570
were recorded by theYouth Leader
Program
number of children who received registered child care:
175
Y Story “My wife, our three children and I are new immigrants to Canada. We came here as a visitor and instantly loved Nova Scotia. On our visit, we met with a few families who lived in Halifax. When we spoke to them about immigrating to Canada, they wanted us to settle down in Halifax with them as we shared the same culture and values. Me, my wife and our kids on the other hand, found Mahone Bay to be a much more comfortable and a beautiful place to begin our life here in Canada.
We immigrated to Mahone Bay leaving our jobs and career paths behind, It was hard in the beginning without any jobs and even the families who we knew in Halifax decided to cut off all ties with us as we did not move closer to the community that shared the same culture as ours. For a month or so, we simply mingled with families that were in our neighborhood and the children’s school. But then, things changed. We were very fortunate to see a poster of a ‘Conversation Circle’ happening in Bridgewater for newcomers and immigrants. Me and my wife decided to attend the Circle with our kids and from that day, we never looked back.
Today, me and my wife enjoy a delicious lunch every Tuesday, practicing English with other newcomers while our children are taken care by professional staff in a licensed day care facility for free. I would like to express my gratitude and approval for the YREACH program and its liaison executive, Tina, as she has in numerous accounts been there for us.
Both me and my wife were referred to the local Employment agency in town and have developed a work profile to begin our search for job opportunities. We have also received a lot of help with processing our paper work for immigration. Living in a rural community it can get very expensive to keep on traveling to Halifax when we have a question or need help in filling out immigration documents. Tina’s expertise in immigration bridges the gap between families and individuals living in rural communities to immigrant services in Halifax. Along with providing immigration support to our family, the Lunenburg County YREACH program advocates different cultures and diversity in the community. Tina introduced our cultural holiday to the fellow members of the conversation circle. There was a potluck event in the community where we did a presentation to talk about the celebration of Hanukkah. She also supported us to present on this holiday in our children’s school. All this has made me and my family feel very welcomed in our neighborhood and our community as a whole.
The YREACH program has certainly changed and continues to change our life here in Mahon Bay. We would definitely recommend the program and how Tina could support them. We feel very fortunate for the existence of the program and for meeting such remarkable staff.”
“ I would like to express my gratitude and approval for the YREACH program ! ”
YREACH ParticipantLunenburg County YMCA
members at the Fundy YMCA receive financial assistance !
1 in 3
Our YMA Financial Assistance program serves those individuals and families who have the greatest need in our community by offering reduced rates for membership.
We are extremely grateful for the generosity of individuals and organizations whose financial and in-‐kind contributions make our programs and services accessible to those in financial need.
of all members at the Lunenburg County YMCA receive financial assistance …
7%While
Donors of our annual YMCA Strong Kids Campaign help our families build a better community for the future.
We believe that everyone deserves a chance to realize their full potential.
Did you know…Youth programming is offered free at the YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia?
By eliminating the financial barrier, we encourage all young people in our communities to participate in YMCA youth programs!
Lunenburg County YMCA 75 High Street Bridgewater NS B4V 1V8 T: (902) 543-9622
Fundy YMCA 1043 Highway 1 Cornwallis NS B0S 1H0 T: (902) 638-9622
YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia
ymcalunenburgcounty.org fundyymca.com
ymcacanada.ca
In April of 2014, the members of the Lunenburg County YMCA and the Fundy YMCA agreed to a name change to better reflect their current operations. At special membership meetings held in Bridgewater and Cornwallis, YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia was adopted as the name for the governing organization for the Lunenburg County YMCA and Fundy YMCA.
The name change reflects the joint operation of the two organizations under one management and governance structure. Each branch will continue to serve the needs of their respective communities as the Fundy YMCA and Lunenburg County YMCA.
The YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia is dedicated to building healthy communities by nurturing the potential of children, teens and young adults, promoting healthy living, and fostering social responsibility in order to create lasting personal and social change.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Who We Are
FINANCIAL REPORT Year Ended December 31 (Audited)
Statement of Operation 2014 2013 Total Revenue 1,717,258 1,815,960 Total Expense 1,808,407 1,832,279 Fundraising Activities 80,444 34,572 Excess (10,705) 18,253
Statement of Financial Position
Current Assets 434,472 569,354 Property Plant and Equip 770,157 743,263 Total Assets 1,254,629 1,312,617
Current Liabilities 190,235 218,975 Deferred Capital Contributions 650,946 669,489 841,181 888,464 Net Assets 413,448 424,153 1,254,629 1,312,617
YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia
Lunenburg County YMCA 75 High Street Bridgewater NS B4V 1V8 T: (902) 543-‐9622
Centre Manager [email protected]
Director of Children’s Services [email protected]
YMCA King Street Youth Centre 416 King Street Bridgewater NS B4V 1A9 T: (902) 530-‐3392
Youth Coordinator [email protected]
YMCA School Age Program Y-‐SAP Lunenburg County YMCA 75 High Street Bridgewater NS B4V 1V8 T: (902) 543-‐6399
Y-‐SAP Hebbville Academy 16147 Highway #3 Hebbville, NS B4V 6Y1 T: (902) 543-‐6399
Fundy YMCA 1043 Hwy 1 Cornwallis NS B0S 1H0 T: (902) 638-‐9622
Centre Manager [email protected]
Charitable registration # 123648594RR0001
Yvonne SmithChief Executive [email protected] T: (902) 521-‐3599 F: (902) 543-‐6545
Locations
Jill SutherlandChief Financial [email protected] T: (902) 543–9622 F: (902) 543-‐6545
Elspeth McLean-‐Wile, Chair Janice Tanner Ernst, Vice-‐Chair John Wright, Secretary Louis Tousignant Brit Mathisen Alan McMullin Carroll Publicover Matthew Naugler Ken Smith Beth Earle Lawrence Garner Yvonne Smith, CEO
2014 Board of Directors