While normally the YMCA Community Report was held in person at a Strong Kids breakfast – and there was certainly talk about how the pancakes had run out – there was a lot to celebrate for the YMCA of the Northeast. of Ontario (YMCA), though some of the celebration just breathed a sigh of relief.

First, the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario is even further northeast with the complete amalgamation of the YMCA of Timmins with the YMCAs of Sudbury and North Bay.

And although the YMCA lost $ 5 million in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those who gave the report were thrilled that the “ My Y is Resilient ” community fundraising program is already reaching 75%. of his goal in just eight months.

The staff are so happy with the initiative that instead of announcing the total during the community report, as they would have done in the past, they have decided to wait until next year.

“We want to have a big party,” said Helen Francis, President and CEO of the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario.

The community report also included other reasons why YMCA staff and members should celebrate. Not only will the facilities have a chance to reopen as the province reaches Stage 3 of the reopening plan, but August 2021 will bring the YMCA’s At Home membership program to northeastern Ontario.

Featuring health and wellness tips, exercise videos as well as family activities, the program aims to help members stay healthy and combat some of the sedentary lifestyles imposed on people by the pandemic. It also aims to help tackle the mental health crisis in this country.

The mental health crisis is a crisis that Francis called a “phantom pandemic”. It affects both young and old alike through the devastation of isolation, and the goal of the At Home program is to encourage well-being, activity, and interaction with others in your community.

“We ended up healthier than expected,” Francis told the Community Report Virtual event, “with more net contributions than expected. But we cannot underestimate the challenge that 2021-2022 will bring us. “

It was at this point that Francis echoed previous presentations by thanking the frontline staff at the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario. Not only grateful to the staff at the daycare, the services deemed essential and the challenging work throughout the pandemic, but also the new challenges the center faced in Sudbury with the opening of the warming center and the hospital. shelter at the Durham Street site.

Staff also raised funds. Francis announced that staff contributed $ 13,000 of their own funds to the My Y is Resilient campaign.

Francis closed the community report with a quote from Winston Churchill, a quote she said would guide how the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario is heading into the future, a quote that is uncertain.

“Never let a good crisis go to waste,” she said.

The full version of the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario Community Report can be found here.