A New Life, and the Courage to Begin When Samah arrived in Canada in 2023 with her three children, she brought with her a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a Project Management Professional certification, and a deep sense of purpose. What she didn’t bring was a roadmap. Moving to a new country is rarely just about geography—it’s about finding your footing in unfamiliar systems, understanding where you fit, and rebuilding [...]
A 13-year member of the Niagara West YMCA, Don currently completes a full-body workout of 100,000 pounds three times a week, a routine he’s followed consistently for the past five to six years.
How One Instructor Sparked a New Wave of Wellness at Niagara West YMCA Sometimes, traditional fitness classes don’t meet everyone’s needs. At the Niagara West YMCA, Tamara—a creative and caring instructor—recognized a gap and stepped in to fill it. What started as a one-on-one pool session has grown into a thriving small-group program that inspires members, builds confidence, and creates new connections. It all began with Christine. Living with [...]
Listening, Leading, and Inspiring: Jéda’s Story A Vision for Change When you meet Jéda Anderson, it doesn’t take long to feel the power of her resilience, creativity, and commitment to change. At just 17, she has already achieved what many spend a lifetime aspiring to—a lasting impact on her community. From her early advocacy efforts as a member of her school’s Student Equity [...]
The Power of Play In the summer of 2023, an idea took root within the Niagara community, driven by a shared commitment to creating meaningful experiences for refugee families temporarily residing in hotels. Launched in partnership with the McCall MacBain Foundation, this initiative aimed to provide more than just a refuge from the transitory nature of hotel living. That it did. As the program unfolded, it blossomed into a [...]
From Program Participant to People Leader From her first swim lesson to leading the YMCA of Niagara’s people and culture initiatives, Connie’s lifelong journey with the YMCA is one of growth, resilience, and dedication. Beginning as a young swimmer hesitant to get her face wet, she overcame countless challenges to become a mentor, a first-generation university graduate, and now an HR Manager. Throughout every chapter, the YMCA has provided Connie [...]
Where Fitness and Friendships Unite: Mark Crecco's Story By Jen Schmaltz When Mark Crecco moved to Beamsville in the summer of 2023, he knew only a handful of people. Though his family had been in the area for over a decade, Mark was starting from scratch as a newcomer from Montreal, looking for ways to connect with his new community. He didn’t expect the local YMCA to become a [...]
Meet Anthony & Joey: A Father-Son Duo on a Wellness Journey, Strengthening Their Bond at the YMCA By Jen Schmaltz Anthony and his son Joey were no strangers to fitness. Before the pandemic, they had been members of the YMCA of Niagara in Grimsby. Still, like many others, their routine was interrupted when the world came to a standstill. With the reopening of the YMCA post-COVID, Anthony and [...]
