Community

Ahmed’s WHY: Choosing Health, Family, and Connection at the Y

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.

2025-09-22T12:23:41-04:00September 19th, 2025|Community, Connection, Fitness, Health, Well-being, Y Stories|

Celebrating Community Connection at the Niagara West YMCA

Celebrating Community Connection at the Niagara West YMCA Saturday, October 4 · 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Niagara West YMCA – 325 Main Street East, Grimsby The Town of Grimsby and the YMCA of Niagara are proud partners in creating opportunities for residents to connect, be active, and support their well-being. Together, we continue to invest in making the Niagara West YMCA a brighter, more welcoming space for the community [...]

Moved to Connect: Glennis’s Y Story

At 80 years old, Glennis Ferguson is a familiar and friendly face at the Niagara West YMCA, a place she’s called her second home since it opened in 2011. From aquafit to group exercise classes, Glennis has spent the past 14 years staying active, social, and connected. “I like doing aquafit and talking with the friends I’ve made here,” she says. “We laugh, we share recipes, we sit [...]

A Place to Be Seen: Stephen’s YMCA Connection

When Stephen joined the YMCA in 2020, it was more than a new fitness routine—it was a new chapter. Stephen was looking for ways to stay active and social during the isolation of the pandemic. His sister had recently moved to the area and they decided to check out the local Y. They’ve been coming together ever since with his loyal guide dog, Austin, by their side.  Stephen [...]

2025-08-08T14:12:09-04:00August 8th, 2025|Blog post, Community, Connection, Fitness, Health, Well-being, Y Stories|

Finding Belonging and Opportunity: Sai and Karthic’s Journey

A New Beginning in Niagara When Sai and her husband, Karthic, left India to pursue their Master’s degrees in the United States, they dreamed of building a bright future together. But as the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the world, they felt called to Canada — drawn by its strong pandemic response and reputation for welcoming newcomers. Arriving in the Niagara Region was exciting but challenging. Even with postgraduate degrees, [...]

2025-07-22T12:51:30-04:00July 22nd, 2025|Blog post, Employment Services, Newcomers, Y Stories|

Building Belonging: Rachel’s Story of Inclusion

When Rachel’s son was diagnosed with a rare disease during the pandemic, many of the supports her family relied on vanished overnight. But the Niagara West YMCA in Grimsby stayed open and ready to help. “The YMCA was still open and thriving,” she says. “So, we joined the YMCA and utilized their pool for hydrotherapy for my son every single day.” For the past five [...]

Strength, Service, and Staying Power: Don Moor’s Y Story

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.

2025-05-12T10:30:07-04:00May 12th, 2025|Community, Connection, Fitness, Health, Well-being, Y Stories|

The Power of Play

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 [...]

2024-11-27T13:35:23-05:00November 27th, 2024|Child and Youth, Newcomers, Well-being, Y Stories|

Dr. Ian Brown, one of 12 outstanding Canadians appointed to the YMCA Fellowship of Honour

At a ceremony in Ottawa on Wednesday, September 25, the Honourable Senator Ratna Omidvar presented a small group of Canadians with the YMCA’s most prestigious award: The YMCA Fellowship of Honour. These 12 committed individuals have provided distinguished service to the YMCA in communities across Canada. Senator Omidvar presented the YMCA Fellowship of Honour medal, designed by award-winning artist Dora de Pedery-Hunt, to the following appointees. Each also received a [...]

2024-10-07T10:11:10-04:00October 3rd, 2024|YMCA of Niagara News|
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