Upcoming events and special days Rob's Blog

Dear Members and Friends of the YMCA:

It has been a busy few weeks at your YMCA and things are not slowing down!

Youth programs are underway along with swim lessons and school-age care – it’s great to see so many kids back at their Y.

Let me give you a rundown of our upcoming events and special days. I invite you to be part of them with us.

• This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brockville Y, we are hosting the first of three vaccination clinics at Brockville Y in partnership with the Leeds, Grenville, Lanark District Public Health Unit. Subsequent clinics will be held at Brockville Y on Wednesday, September 29 Friday, October 29from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. This means that anyone getting their first shot in September will be able to return in October for their second. And there’s more good news. We are giving a three-month YMCA membership to everyone receiving their second shot! You may drop in or pre-book online.
• On Sunday, September 26, we hope to see you at the Kingston Pride Parade. We are very happy that the parade has returned to “in-person” this year and look forward to sharing the positive message of inclusivity. The parade musters at Skeleton Park at 9 a.m. We’ll have lots of Y swag to hand out along the route.
• September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the harm that was done to Indigenous children who were sent away to residential schools. In 2018, YMCAs unanimously declared our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and communities. Read our Statement of Reconciliation here and we hope you’ll join us on Thursday and wear an orange shirt in honour of residential school survivors and their families. #EveryChildMatters
• The George E. Smith Memorial Fire Truck Pull is on October 16, starting with check-in at 8 a.m. The George E. Smith Memorial Fire Truck Pull raises funds for the YMCA’s financial assistance program that provides support to those in our community who would not otherwise be able to access the Y’s programs and services. The need in the community has grown during the Covid-19 pandemic. Get your team of eight together and see if you get bragging rights for the fastest pull! You can find information on our website.

Finally, I’d like to thank my Y team for getting our facilities up-and-running after the third Covid lockdown – this time with the added pressure of implementing vaccination policies and the new provincial passport mandate. They are managing admirably. It has never been more true than now that we all have to pull together, and to treat each other with patience and respect, recognizing that this is a difficult time for all of us as we find our footing through the pandemic.

Wishing you a happy first week of autumn.

Rob Adams
CEO, YMCA of Eastern Ontario