Fall programs, pool maintenance, new equipment & more! Rob's Blog

Dear Friends of the YMCA:

As summer starts to wind down, it’s a good time to give you an update on the many things going on at your YMCA of Eastern Ontario.

New equipment

I hope you have seen the great news that we announced last week regarding new equipment arriving at our Kingston and Brockville facilities. My team and I are very happy to be able to provide updated equipment and machines thanks to the generous donations of key stakeholders totalling almost $500,000. We hope this will make your workouts even more enjoyable. Don’t forget that we offer free orientations on cardio and weight equipment so if something looks unfamiliar, please reach out to a member of our fitness team for assistance.

Fall programs

Our fall program guide is available with registration opening on August 29 at 8 a.m. and programs beginning the week of September 18.

Annual pool maintenance closure

We will soon be winding up our summer pool season with our annual pool maintenance closure. In Kingston, the pool will be closed from August 28- September 11; in Brockville from August 25 to September 11.

Fundraising milestone!

New members of the Y may not yet be familiar with our financial assistance program (FAP) that provides subsidies so that everyone may access healthy programming regardless of ability to pay. Each year, we hold our Strong Communities fundraising campaign to raise money for FAP. In addition to individual and corporate donations, here are three cornerstone events: Send a Kid to Camp, the Gord Brown Memorial Golf Tournament and the George E. Smith Memorial Fire Truck Pull. Send a Kid to Camp is wrapping up and I am very happy to announce that we are one-third of the way to achieving this year’s fundraising goal of $420,000! To everyone who has contributed to this success, please accept our sincere thanks. We literally can’t do what we do without you. If you are interested in finding out more or making a contribution, please visit our website. I will provide another update once we have the numbers in from the golf tournament.

George E. Smith Memorial Fire Truck Pull

Watch for the launch of this year’s Fire Truck Pull, taking place on October 14 at Brockville YMCA. This event has grown over the years to become a much-anticipated event with teams vying for fastest time and a trophy that comes with bragging rights. We will notify you as soon as you are able to register your eight-person team and/or make a donation. A huge shout-out to the wonderful employees of Burnbrae Farms who spearhead the event!

Summer vacation

I hope you have had time to spend with family and friends, to relax and enjoy the summer weather. I will be travelling to B.C. for my son, Holden’s wedding at the end of the month. (Jean and Declan beat me there, having left last week.) A family wedding is an exciting time and I am very much looking forward to having us all together for a few weeks of preparation and post-wedding sight-seeing.

I wish you all well and look forward to seeing you at your Y in September.

Rob Adams
CEO, YMCA of Eastern Ontario