The document summarizes the evolution of the YMCA in the Greater Toronto Area over the past 160 years. It discusses the YMCA's plans to invest $250 million over the next 10 years to build 10 new community centers in underserved neighborhoods. The goal is to provide facilities and programs that promote health, employment, social inclusion and education for youth. The YMCA has expanded its services beyond fitness and recreation to help at-risk youth, newcomers, the homeless and those living in poverty.

1. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 SECTION Y ON ON1
The
evolution
To build a healthcitizenry you’ve
got to get
,
em while they’re young.
It’s 160 years since the YMCA first
opened its doors in the GTA in 1853, but
today its vision is as clear as ever. Em-
barking on an ambitious 10-year plan,
the organization is renewing its commit-
ment to tackling issues of poverty, un-
employment and inactivity through a
great new vision for the future, providing
hi-tech facilities and services in carefully
selected communities across Toronto.
INSIDE
Five dynamic
projects and how
they will serve
the city Y4-5
How the summer
camps keep kids
on their toes
during the long hot
school recess Y6
YMCA STRONG START,
GREAT FUTURE

2. Y2⎮TORONTO STAR SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 ON ON1
>>STRONG START, GREAT FUTURE
Even though the YMCA made its
NorthAmericandebutinMontreal
more than 170 years ago (it was
founded in the United Kingdom
seven years earlier, in 1844), there
are still plenty of misconceptions
abouttheorganization.
Maybe it’s because of its original
name—YoungMen’sChristianAs-
sociation—orbecauseofitsorigins
as a place for young men, predomi-
nantly,tostayfitandhealthy.
What the Y offers today is much
morethanyoumightthink.
MYTH:TheYisjustafitnesscentre.
FACT: The Y is a fitness centre —
complete with state-of-the-art
equipment, Olympic-sized pools
and well-trained staff. But, it’s
muchmore.
Infact,theYhasalwayspromoted
values that build spirit, mind and
body(that’swhatthethreeanglesin
thelogo’sredtrianglerepresent).
Different Ys offer different pro-
grams, 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.
TheYhelpspeoplefindjobs,offers
career counselling, workforce re-
entry programs, mentoring and
more.
It offers newcomer services, tran-
sitional housing and youth ex-
changes. And the YMCA Academy
helps high school students with
learningdisabilities.
MYTH: The YMCA is a Christian or-
ganizationandthereforeopenonly
toChristians.
FACT:TheYstartedasaplacewhere
Judeo-Christian values were put
into practice, where young men
couldgotoahomeawayfromhome
and to discourage them from less
acceptable pastimes, such as gam-
bling, drinking alcohol and prosti-
tution.
The YMCA still stands behind its
founding principles, but it is a di-
verse and inclusive organization
that welcomes everyone, every age,
no matter their sex, religion, eth-
nicity, income, abilities or personal
beliefs.
MYTH:TheYMCAisaclub.
FACT: The Y is actually a registered
charity, a non-profit organization
that is dependent upon donations
and philanthropic gifts, member-
ship and program fees, grants and
contracts.
MYTH: The YMCA is a chain, con-
nectedtootherYsaroundtheworld
and operating in much the same
wayasoneanother.
FACT: The basic principles and mis-
sion of the YMCA are the same in
the 125 national organizations
aroundtheworld,butindividualYs
are tailored — in terms of policies,
programs and memberships of-
fered — to the communities in
whichtheyarelocated.
YMCA Canada serves as a re-
source to the country’s 45 YMCAs
and six YMCA-YWCAs and advo-
cates on their behalf in the global
community.
Think you know the Y? Think again . . .
Taking a fresh look at an
old neighbourhood friend
NORA UNDERWOOD
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Mehdat Mahdy knows the impor-
tanceofbeingwelcomedintoanew
community.
A Muslim immigrant from Egypt,
he began working with the GTA’s
YMCA as a part-time tennis coach
in1976.NowheisitsCEOandpresi-
dent, leading the organization’s vi-
sion for change for the ever-ex-
pandingmetropolitanarea.
Celebrating its 160th anniversary
this year, the Y of the GTA is evolv-
ing to meet the needs of the city
aroundit.
“The vision is that our communi-
ties will be home to the healthiest
children,”Mahdysays.
Thenewplanisaboutimplement-
ing a modern community health
strategy,buildingonstrongfounda-
tions the Y has carefully laid for so
manyyears.
To this end, key areas in the city,
where the need is greatest, have
beenidentified,andtheYhascom-
mitted to building 10 new commu-
nity centres, starting off with work
on the Kingston Rd. location (East
Toronto), Vanauley Rd. (Queen
West), Bridletowne (North Scar-
borough), Cherry St. (Pan Am Ath-
letes Village) and Kipling Ave.
(Etobicoke). In order to achieve its
goal, the YMCA must fundraise
$250millionby2020.
As the name suggests, the original
Young Christian Men’s Association
began its life as a health and fitness
club predominantly for men in the
1800s,buttodaytheorganizationis
an inclusive place for everyone, no
mattertheirfaithorsex.
“The organization hasn’t moved
away from its ethical centre,” says
Gordon Chong, chair of the YMCA
board. “But for a Christian organi-
zation to have a Muslim CEO from
Egypt and a Chinese-Canadian as
their chair, well, it’s changed for
sure.”
These changes have made the Y
moreresponsivetotheneedsofthe
population.
“Government money is dwin-
dling, so we need to expand our
programstoberelevanttoourcity,”
Chongsays.
“We need to think about what we
provide aside from the swim-and-
gymoptions.”
One of these expanded programs
includeshelpingyoungpeoplewho
liveonthestreet.
Last spring, the YMCA started a
drop-in centre for homeless youth
in the Queen St. W. area. The shel-
ter runs on weekdays with 50 to 70
young people using the facilities
each day, says Louise Smith, the
YMCA’s youth outreach co-ordina-
tor.
The Y also runs an emergency
shelter for young men between 16
and 24 across the street from the
Queen W. centre. It’s been operat-
ing at full capacity with 45 beds
sevendaysaweek.
“We’re definitely thinking about
thedeterminantsofsocialhealth—
such as targeting poverty and in-
creasingsocialinclusion,butit’sre-
ally about bringing change to the
wholecommunity,”Smithsays.
John Kahled, an Afghan-Canadi-
an, has been using the Y for five
years. He regularly attends Teen
Nights — one of the new initiatives
launched under Mahdy’s leader-
ship — at the Scarborough centre.
He currently works at the Y on a
co-op placement five days a week,
but also goes to the Y about three
timesaweektoplaysports.
“The Y just makes me feel wel-
come,” Kahled says. “It’s a second
homenow.”
The Y also has a leadership pro-
gram for newcomer youth, says
Mahdy,whorosethroughtheranks
over the years, and even met his
wifeattheY,wheresheworkedasa
volunteer.
Hesayshealwaysappreciatedthe
YMCA’scommitmenttodiversity.
According to Chong and Mahdy,
thebiggestchallengefortheYMCA
hasalwaysbeenfundraising.Inthe
early 1970s, the YMCA was on the
vergeofbankruptcy.
“The Y steps up when times are
tougher. . . . Someone has to do it,
but we need to be better at selling
the story of the impact we have,”
saysMahdy.
To help do this, the Y has intro-
duced a new research element to
track the impact of its programs —
suchastheTeenNights—andhow
it affects the social determinants of
health.Sincetheprogramlaunched
inMarch,10,000youngpeoplehave
participated,Mahdysays.
“I think once people have seen
what the Y does, they get con-
vinced,”Chongsays.“Ilearnedhow
to play basketball, volleyball and
swimming there when I was 10
years old,” he said. “Now, I want to
givebacktothoseyoungpeople.”
Chongbelievestheorganizationis
the best integrator of children and
youth services outside the school
system.“TheY’spotentialhasyetto
beunleashed,”hesays.
Gordon Chong, centre, is chair of the GTA’s YMCA board and Mehdat Mahdy, its CEO. The men are spearheading a plan to build 10 new community centres in the GTA area.
STEPHANIE LAKE/THE CANADIAN PRESS
The Y’s the limit for communityThe YMCA is moving beyond swim-and-gym
options, helping newcomers, street kids, homeless
TAMARA BALUJA
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
1Employment and working condi-
tions: One out of every six young
people in the Toronto area can’t
find work. The YMCA offers co-op
placements and summer jobs in
addition to job-searching advice
and resumé guidance.
2 Social environments: Four in 10
young adults in the GTA report a
weak sense of community belong-
ing. The YMCA offers programs
specifically for newcomer and
immigrant youth, where they can
participate in leadership activities.
3 Physical environments: Nine out
of 10 young Canadians aren’t get-
ting enough physical activity. The
YMCA offers youth space for
recreational nights, including Teen
Nights.
4 Income and social status: One
in five children under 17 in Toronto
lives in a low-income neighbour-
hood. The YMCA is developing 10
new centres in areas where re-
search shows the need is greatest.
5 Education and literacy: Twenty
per cent of Canadian youth be-
tween 15 and 19 are not pursuing
education, according to the Orga-
nization for Economic Co-opera-
tion and Development. The YMCA
has a private academy providing
alternative learning opportunities
for students disengaged from a
traditional classroom setting.
FIVE KEYS TO SOCIAL HEALTH

3. ON ON1 SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 TORONTO STAR⎮Y3
>>STRONG START, GREAT FUTURE
Foryoungpeoplewhoneedahand,
the YMCA is more than swimming
pools and fitness facilities. On Va-
nauley St., the Y provides a vital
serviceforat-riskyouthwhowould
otherwise spend their days roam-
ingthestreets.
“It’saplacewhereyoucancomein
andgetsomerespitefrombeingon
the street because it’s difficult to
survive there,” says Louise Smith,
manager of youth outreach and in-
tervention for YMCA of Greater
Toronto.“Youcangetconnectedto
services and supports and people
whocanhelp.”
TheVanauleySt.YMCAbeganop-
erating in early May of last year in
response to a need for drop-in ser-
vices in the Queen St. West area
after other similar programs shut
down.TheYMCAhasbeenrunning
ayoungmen’semergencyshelterin
the area since 1986 but wanted to
expanditsservices.
From2006to2009,thenumberof
youngpeopleusingshelterservices
grewby16.2percent.
“Given that information, the pop-
ulation seems to be increasing; the
serviceneedsaredefinitelyincreas-
ing,”Smithsays.
Before the YMCA took over the
space, 7 Vanauley St. was occupied
by another drop-in group that de-
cided to shift its focus to Scarbor-
ough. There was some concern
among members of the homeless
populationinthearea,whoworried
aboutwheretoaccessservicesonce
the drop-in closed at the end of
March2012.
To alleviate those concerns, the
YMCAwasabletooperateatempo-
rary drop-in service in the base-
ment of their nearby shelter while
the Vanauley St. location was being
prepared.
“Weknewtherewasa. . .subsetof
people who needed somewhere to
goduringthedayandweneededto
beabletoprovidethat,”Smithsays.
When it was ready to open its
doorsaboutamonthlater,thefocus
was on providing necessities such
as hot meals, showers and laundry.
Since then, the YMCA and the Va-
nauley St. staff have been working
to provide services based on what
theirvisitorsneed.
“One of the ways that we work is
makingsurethatweinvolvepeople
who are using the service in deci-
sions around the types of supports
that are operating there,” Smith
says.
Visitorscancurrentlytakeadvan-
tage of yoga and meditation, em-
ployment placement and self-em-
ploymentservices,andtheYMCA’s
connectionwithmental-healthser-
viceproviders,amongotherthings.
Sofar,theresponsehasbeenposi-
tive;between50and70youngpeo-
plecomebyeachday.
“I don’t know what those young
people would do if they didn’t have
that space,” Smith says. “There
aren’t services in this neighbour-
hood that are similar. People are
relievedthisserviceisavailable.”
Helping at-risk youth on Queen West
Up to 70 young people
attend Vanauley St.
YMCA every day
JACLYN TERSIGNI
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
“People are relieved this service is available,” says Louise Smith, manager of youth outreach and intervention for YMCA of Greater Toronto.
STEPHANIE LAKE/THE CANADIAN PRESS
á More than 1,000 youth visited
in September alone.
á The number of youth staying in
shelters increased by 16.2 per cent
from 2006 to 2009.
á Two-thirds (66.8 per cent) of
the homeless population of the
City of Toronto can be found in the
Toronto East-York Community
Council District (which includes
the Kensington/Chinatown neigh-
bourhood).
á The overall number of homeless
people in Toronto remains largely
unchanged between 2006 (5,052)
and 2009 (5,086).
á After shelters, drop-ins remain
the service most used by home-
less people (51.6 per cent).
VANAULEY ST. YMCA
DesignaY
Have your child construct their dreamYMCA from building blocks, or sketch
out ideas on paper and see how their design can come to life.The best ideas
may even be given to our architects and design team to help inspire their
creativity when building our new YMCA Centres of Community.
*No purchase necessary. Closes Feb 12/13 (11:59:59 p.m. ET). Open to residents of Ontario (18+) who are the parent, legal guardian or authorized representative of a
child sixteen (16) years of age or under. Enter online and full rules at: ymcagta.org/BuildingContest. One (1) prize available (LEGOLAND® Discovery CentreToronto annual
family pass; ARV: $237.20). Skill-testing question required. Odds depend on number of eligible entries. Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or
associated with Facebook.
Read the rules, fill out the entry form and start creating!
ymcagta.org/BuildingContest
You couldWIN* an annual FAMILY PASS (four
persons) to the new LEGOLAND Discovery
Centre inVaughan!
DDD iD s g aDesignaYDee iignaD
ANDWIN!
Lego and the Lego logo are trademarks of the/sont des marques de commerce
de 2012 @The LEGO Group.

4. Y4⎮TORONTO STAR SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 ON ON1 ON ON1 SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 TORONTO STAR⎮Y5
>>STRONG START, GREAT FUTURE
With the population of the city set to grow by over one
million people by 2025, theYMCA of Greater Toronto is
planning a raft of innovative projects in key neighbourhoods.
These five ‘Centres of Community’ will provide programs
and services for thousands of people to ensure the health of
current and future generations
N
1
2 3
5
4
L a k e O n t a r i o
G a rdi ner E x pr es swa y
4 2 7
4 0 1
4 0 0
4 2 7
4 0 1
D unda s S t . W .
K
ingston
Rd.
4 1 0
5 Kingston Rd.
The current YMCA building, near Victoria Park Ave.,
will be demolished, and a 24,000-sq.-ft. facility built in
its place, providing a new gym, pilates studio, youth and
community programs and more. The centre is slated to
open October 2015.
NEED | This neighbourhood has a high rate of youth
polled in the area are not currently members of a health
and fitness facility and 84.7% would likely consider a
future membership at the re-developed YMCA.
SNAPSHOT
3 Front St. & Cherry St.
The new Cherry St. Y will be converted into a large, modern community
50,000-sq.-ft. YMCA centre following the 2015 Pan Am Games, opening
in the summer of 2016. The centre will provide services to more than 8,000
people and will include a gym, swimming pool, fitness studio and exercise areas.
NEED | The surrounding community is a diverse neighbourhood with 41%
belonging to visible minority groups. The area is made up of mainly rental
households where 30% of families have children at home.
SNAPSHOT
1 Kipling Ave.
Near Kipling subway station, this proposed new build
will be a large, modern 60,000-sq.-ft. centre, part of a
It is scheduled to open in Nov. 2017. The facility will include a
gym, swimming pool, child minding facilities and spaces for
youth and community activities.
NEED | In 2006, top countries of birth for immigrant youth in
this area were Korea, Ukraine, Poland, Philippines and Bosnia
This new centre will provide services to support more than
8,000 people in the neighbourhood.
SNAPSHOT
4 Bridletowne Circle
This proposed 100,000-sq.-ft., multi-service centre, in the Steeles-
L’Amoreaux neighbourhood, will be part of a facility of community and health
services, including a 40,000-sq.-ft. area given over to Scarborough Hospital
with a dialysis unit and other outpatient services.
NEED | This area faces many challenges including poverty and
incidences of youth violence. The new space will give more youth a safe
place to connect with peers and mentors and improve their overall mental
and physical health.
SNAPSHOT
32%of the youth
population in
the area are
immigrants
32%belong to
a visible
minority
51.8%of homeless people
said they needed at
least one addiction,
health or mental
health related service
in order to help
them find housing
66.8%of the homeless
population of the
City of Toronto are
located in the
Toronto and
East-York area
16.2%the percentage
of youth staying
in shelters
increased by
from 2006 to
2009
52,005children, teens and young
adults currently live here
(within a 3 km radius)
65%of area residents
are newcomers
15.5%have high blood
pressure, 5.3% diabetes,
and 7.9% heart disease
40%of the population have
a weak sense of
community belonging
13.5%the percentage this
community is expected
to increase by 2020
16%lives in a
low-income
household
36%have a weak
sense of
community
belonging
53%of people are
physically
inactive
17.5%of youth are
unemployed
27%of youth aged 24 and
under, 55% of working
age adults and 18% of
seniors 65+ make up
the population
2 Vanauley St.
The Vanauley St. YMCA, near Queen Street West and Spadina
Ave., will be remodelled to include a homeless shelter as well as
employment services and programs for street-involved and at-risk
youth. The 11,400-sq.-ft. centre will open in 2013 and will include
youth substance abuse and gambling awareness programs.
NEED | The overall number of homeless people in Toronto
remains largely unchanged between 2006 (5,052) and 2009
where particularly high numbers of at-risk youth congregate.
SNAPSHOT
YOU Children, teens and young adults are our future
Why not challenge ourselves to build a community that gives them
the skills, experiences and opportunities they need to bring their
dreams to life?
Through theYMCA of GreaterToronto, we can all do something to
help young people get those essentials.
TheY is where young people learn to stay active and healthy, and
where they get skills to help them create the futures they want.
TheY is where you can be a part of giving young people the
confidence to achieve anything they put their minds to.
For them – and for the future – go to askYnot.ca

5. Y6⎮TORONTO STAR SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 ON ON1
>>STRONG START, GREAT FUTURE
Whileitseemstogobyinaflashfor
kids, summer can feel like a long
time for parents, especially if said
kidsarejustsittingaroundwithout
muchtodo.
Across the Greater Toronto Area,
the YMCA operates 25 day camps
that are a godsend to parents
looking for ways to keep their kids
learning new skills, making new
friends, happy, engaged and, most
of all, physically active during the
summerweeks.
FromasmalldaycampataUnited
Church in Port Perry to a large one
at the Kelso Conservation Area in
Milton,Ydaycampscomeinavari-
etyofshapesandsizes.
Butwhetherit’sacampfor30kids
at a public school or for 300 at an
outdoor conservation area, camp-
ersareofferedthesamebasicactiv-
ities — lots of games, skits, crafts,
activities,songsandsilliness.
According to John Schmitt, vice-
president of camping and outdoor
education at the YMCA, no matter
where the camp is located, kids
have access to the outdoors and to
nearbyfitnessfacilities.Inaddition
to the traditional day camps, there
are also specialized camps, offering
more intensive lessons in such ac-
tivities as golf, soccer, basketball,
dance,dramaandmore.
“Weallknowthatphysicalactivity
and childhood obesity are impor-
tant issues,” says Schmitt. “What
peopleneedtoknowaboutcampis
thatthekidsareactiveallday.Even
more important than that, it’s a lot
of fun. We’re linking fun and activ-
ityforagoodcause.”
This year, the day camp at Cedar
Glen Outdoor Centre, which is lo-
cated on 106 hectares in Schom-
berg, near Newmarket, will be of-
fering off-site specialty camps for
the first time, including horseman-
shipandmartialarts.
On-site opportunities at Cedar
Glen include an aquatics program,
through which kids can work on
theirswimminglevels,highandlow
ropes courses, outdoor adventure
(general survival skills, knot-tying,
fire-building,etc.)andmore.
“The focus is on the children, al-
ways,” says Tony Richard, summer
camp team leader at Cedar Glen.
“To provide a fun and safe environ-
mentforkidstoflourishandtofos-
teragreatlovefortheoutdoors.”
Richard says staff members make
sure everyone has access to every-
thingthecampoffers.
“We provide a balance of things
that are focused specifically to out-
doorsandalsothingsthatarehigh-
ly active — fun things that kids can
do here that they can’t do else-
where.”
Like,say,jumpinamudpit.
“IliketoplayCapturetheFlagsoI
canrunformylife,andthat’sreally
fun,” writes 11-year-old Cedar Glen
camper Liam Berger. “I especially
love the mud pit, because you can
dowhateveryouwantinitandthen
get to clean and cool off in the cool
rivernexttoit.”
And,mostly,headds,“Ilovetoget
away from the city and be in the
country.”
Not only are YMCA day camps
great for young kids, they’re also a
wonderful opportunity for young
menandwomenbetween17and24.
Thissummer,accordingtoSchmitt,
the Y will hire about 850 young
people to work in the day camps.
Somehavebeenwiththecampsfor
fiveorsixyears;forothers,itwillbe
afirstjob.
“Some start as a counsellors and
end up as camp directors,” says
Schmitt. “These are the best of the
best. They love working with chil-
dren; they might play high school
basketballandarebringingthatex-
pertise. We pick them out from ev-
erywhere. We have three times as
many applications as we can take,
andweputtogetheragreatteam.”
YMCAstaffspendatleastfivedays
trainingthecounsellorspriortothe
children’s arrival. They work
throughalltheprogramsandantic-
ipatedbehaviour-relatedscenarios,
and by the time the campers arrive
the counsellors are well-trained in
the Y’s child policies and how to
work together to help the children
getalong.
“A lot of the counsellors are hop-
ing to work with children in the
future,” adds Cedar Glen’s Richard.
“But it’s not limited to those indi-
viduals. When you experience
camp,it’ssomethingyouwanttodo
each summer and something you
alwayslookforwardto.Everyoneis
freetobethemselves.Allofourstaff
heretendtowanttocomebackyear
afteryear.”
Carry on
camping
High-flung rope courses, martial arts and mud pits
get kids excited about an action-packed summer
NORA UNDERWOOD
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
The YMCA runs 25 day camps across the GTA, where the focus is on kids and the environment is fun and safe.
Future leaders get a jump-start
working with children.
“What people need to know
about camp is that the kids
are active all day.”
JOHN SCHMITT
VICE-PRESIDENT OF CAMPING AND
OUTDOOR EDUCATION, YMCA
Attheageof11,SydneyGeewasthe
third generation of her family to go
toCampPineCrest,aYMCAcamp
on 263 hectares surrounded by
lakesinMuskoka.
Buteventhoughshehadgrownup
hearing stories about Pine Crest —
fromherfatherBruceandhiscous-
ins, who’d gone as campers and
staff,andhergreat-uncleBob—the
prospect of being away from home
for two weeks was making her re-
allynervous.
But within moments of being at
camp and meeting the counsellors
forthefirsttime,shefeltathome.
“I remember being so excited and
happy,andallmyworriesjustwent
away,”shesays.
Six years later, Sydney, 17, is re-
turning to the camp, heading into
its 103rd summer this year. This
time she’s a counsellor, and is
looking forward to creating an
equally wonderful experience for
youngcampers.
For Sydney, as for so many Pine
Crest campers, the opportunity to
get away from the city, be a part of
nature, be active, try new things, go
on a long canoe trip (if that’s what
you sign up for) and make lifelong
friendsisahighlightofeveryyear.
“It does become your second
home,”saysSydney.
Infact,hermother,Dana,saysthat
through the school year, nightly
family dinners (Sydney’s brothers,
JacksonandMatthew,arealsoPine
Crest campers) pretty much follow
apredictablepattern.
“We all talk about what happened
duringtheday,”shesays.“Andthen
afterthreeorfourminutesthecon-
versationrevertstocamp.”
Both Sydney and her father say
experiences at Pine Crest helped
them become the people they are.
Sydney has developed organiza-
tionalandleadershipskillsthatshe
connectstocamp,and,shesays,she
makesnewfriendseasily.
Bruce, who spent 12 summers at
Pine Crest as camper, counsellor
and program staff, says the experi-
encetaughthimhowtotakecareof
himself and of others, how to be a
partofacommunityandbealeader
—not tomentionhowtocookfora
bunchofkidsonatripinthemiddle
ofnowhere.
“It offered a lot of consistencies
over 12 years,” says Bruce, “but it
threwalotofchallengesatyouthat
you had to adapt to. I learned to
makethebestoutofwhattoolsand
assetsIhadatthetime.”
Those are abilities, he adds, that
servehimwelltothisday.
Unlike six years ago, Sydney is
countingthedaysuntilcamp.
“Youfeelsosafeandwelcomeand
you’re having the best time of your
life,” she says. “It’s more than you
couldaskfor.”
Camp Pine Crest,
a family tradition
Three generations call this site a ‘second home’
NORA UNDERWOOD
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Kids jump off the dock at Pine Crest camp in Muskoka.
Camp Pine Crest sits on 263 hectares surrounded by lakes.
thestar.com/ymca160
Take the YMCA’s polls, one
every week for the next six.
First up: How healthy are you?
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6. ON ON1 SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 TORONTO STAR⎮Y7
>>STRONG START, GREAT FUTURE
Formerly a sprawling grey vista of
old industrial lands, the West Don
Lands is on its way to becoming a
vibrant community, thanks to his-
toric revitalization plans that in-
clude affordable housing, green
space and the 2015 Pan/Parapan
AmericanGamesAthletes’Village.
Located at Cherry and Front Sts.,
thevillagewilllaterbecomeastate-
of-the-art YMCA and George
BrownCollegestudentresidence.
“ThePanAmVillagewasanatural
(fit) for the West Don Lands pre-
cinct because it was already
planned and ready to go, so shovels
could go in the ground very quick-
ly,”saysPamMcConnell,aToronto
councillorwhosewardincludesthe
WestDonLands.
“In the precinct plan, there has
alwaysbeenadesignatedneedfora
communitycentre,soitwillfillthat
need,” McConnell says. “It will also
fill a need for community activity
andforhealthyactivity.”
And the need is great. The sur-
roundingcommunityisexpectedto
grow by13.5 per cent by 2020. Cur-
rently,30percentofthecommuni-
ty’s families have children at home
and 40 per cent report having a
weak sense of community belong-
ing.
For the YMCA, the location at
Cherry and Front Sts. represented
opportunities to become a part of a
great partnership, improve the
healthindicatorsinthecommunity
and to contribute to the develop-
mentoftheneighbourhood.
“It’s a big open space that’s flex-
ible,” says Alex Verslius, vice-presi-
dent of property management for
theYMCAofGreaterToronto.
“It allows for a vision for a com-
munity space where things can
happen based on the goals of the
community.”
Verslius has been involved with
planning for the facilities, along
with the project’s other partners –
WaterfrontToronto,Infrastructure
Ontario,theToronto2015Organiz-
ing Committee, the Ontario Min-
istry of Health Promotion and
Sport,andGeorgeBrownCollege.
“One of the really great features,
certainlyfromanathlete’sperspec-
tive,isthefactthatit’snotatempo-
rary,smallspacethat’sbeingrepur-
posed,” says Allen Vansen, senior
vice-presidentofoperationsforTo-
ronto 2015, the Pan Am organizing
committee.
“There’s a huge advantage from
that perspective, compared to
many other athletes’ villages that
take an empty commercial space
andtemporarilysetitup.”
The Pan Am Athlete’s Village —
and subsequently the YMCA and
GeorgeBrownCollegestudentresi-
dence — will be built to LEED
(Leadership in Environmental and
Energy Design) gold environmen-
talstandards.
Asanathlete’svillage,thefacilities
will accommodate between 7,400
and 8,000 athletes during the
games’ peak period. There will be
swimminglanes,anindoorrunning
track and fitness equipment for
athletestotakeadvantageofduring
theirtimeinToronto.
Once the games have come to an
end, the facilities will undergo a
transition to suit their new pur-
pose.
“Theuseofanareaforanathlete’s
village is pretty unique,” Vansen
says. “There’s a lot of temporary
infrastructure — tents and a dining
hall,thingsofthatnature—thatwe
havetotakedownwhentheGames
areover.”
The site later gets handed to the
province and developer Dundee
Kilmer to finish the retrofitting “to
repurpose the site in its entirety to
itsfinalcondition,whereitwillbea
veryvibrantcommunityineastTo-
ronto,”Vansensays.
Once converted, the new centre
will have 4,645 square metres
(50,000 square feet) of space for
community activities, a gymnasi-
um, fitness studios, a swimming
pool, multi-purpose rooms and an
1,020-square-metre (11,000-square-
foot) accessible green roof. Its ser-
vicesandprogrammingwillbeable
to support over 8,000 people in the
community.
“It’sahugewin-win-winforevery-
body,”saysCynthiaWilkey,chairof
theWestDonLandscommittee.
Wilkeyhasbeenanintegralpartof
plans for the West Don Lands revi-
talizationsince1997,whenthecom-
munity came together and became
proactive about the future of the
area.
The group’s years of dedicated,
community-based planning —
which focused on affordable hous-
ing, sustainability and community
space—formedthefoundationand
vision of Waterfront Toronto’s
plansforthelands.
Now15yearslater,Wilkeyissatis-
fied that the future looks bright for
this long undeveloped Toronto
community.
“Decisions that kept it right on
trackhavebeenmade,”Wilkeysays.
“We’reveryhappy.”
Going for gold in West Don Lands
How Pan Am Athletes’
Village on Cherry St.
will morph into super Y
JACLYN TERSIGNI
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
An artist’s impressions of the Cherry St. YMCA above and below left. It is scheduled to open after the Pan Am Games.
The sod is turned at the Pan Am site last January.
ARCHITECTSALLIANCE AND MACLELLAN JAUNKALNS
INFRASTRUCTURE ONTARIO
Miss Beaton instructs swimmers at McGill St. YMCA, 1908.
CITY OF TORONTO
In 1987, March break activities included
a popular gymnastics camp.
This 1972 picture shows the “pied
piper” of the West End Y, Harry
Stewart, 60, playing a children’s game
with a German shepherd.
Soldiers recruited
for World War I line
up for baths at the
Central YMCA in
January 1915.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: 160 YEARS OF REACHING OUT
This selection of
historical
images from the
Toronto Star
archives — from
Miss Beaton’s
swimming
instructions in
1908, right up to
a 1987
gymnastics
camp — reflects
the YMCA’s core
values of staying
active and
working closely
with young
people, just as
important today
as all those
years ago.

7. Y8⎮TORONTO STAR SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 ON ON1
Give her a Strong Start
to a Great Future
Imagine a healthier community where kids belong,
families thrive and healthy lifestyles are possible.
Block by block. Neighbourhood
by neighbourhood. It starts at
the centre – with you.
Support the Strong Start, Great Future campaign today.
ymcagta.org/strongstart
416-928-3362