2022 Impact Report: Message from the Presidents

To inspire and encourage all people to fulfill their potential, thrive and contribute to their community.

This past year has been tumultuous. An ongoing pandemic. Isolation. Inflation. Mental health. Humanitarian crises and conflicts. Academic struggles and increased school dropout rates. It seemed that as soon as we managed to wrap our heads around one challenge, another bigger one was right around the corner. And amid all this uncertainty, the only certainty was change.

If the pandemic profoundly altered our world, changed our daily fitness routines, and exacerbated societal issues, it also showed us that change was not only inevitable but necessary. At the Y, we understood that to increase our social impact we needed to transform our business model and service offering to ensure our operational sustainability. In 2019, we began implementing our strategic plan, with an expected return to profitability by 2025. Now at the midway point in the process, we see how many of these changes are taking root and allowing us to better meet the growing needs of our communities.

In 2022, we added a new investment fund to our long-term financial strategy. We invested in philanthropy and are extremely grateful to our donors who placed their trust and confidence in us. We reassessed our daycare model and made the difficult decision to close two sites. But we also built partnerships to take our programs and services outside our walls. Our integrated programming at the Olive-Urquhart Sports Centre, Pointe-Claire’s newly opened complex on the site of the former West Island YMCA, is one example.

In 2022, we also amped up our efforts to support youth. We saw record numbers of teens in our TeenZones. We expanded our Alternative Suspension program thanks to the social impact bonds and reopened Camp YMCA Kanawana after two years of closures. But as we move forward, we need to make sure no one gets left behind. Our Social Inclusion and Reintegration sector continues to focus on supporting some of the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. And the fully reopened YMCA Residence provides housing and integration services to asylum seekers.

Last, but certainly not least, we focused on taking better care of our teams this year. Through an enhanced Employee Assistance Program that now also offers telemedicine, mental health workshops, and a new mentoring program, we want to ensure all employees have the support and opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. Because without them, none of the work we do would be possible.

But there is still a lot of work to be done. Change is a process. One we would never have been able to start without the support and generosity of our incredible donors, staff, members, volunteers, and partners. We hope that as you read through the pages of our impact report, you will be inspired and continue to support us in driving positive change in the community.

Because together, we can build a stronger tomorrow.

Nancy Audette, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors | YMCAs of Québec, Stéphane Vaillancourt, President and CEO | YMCAs of Québec, Claudie Imbeau-Chagnon, President | YMCAs of Québec Foundation

To watch our Annual General meeting of March 28: