About the YMCA

The YMCA is one of Canada’s oldest and largest charities with a presence in Canada since 1851 and serving more than 2.25 million people each year across 1,700 program locations.

The YMCA story began in London, England more than 170 years ago with George Williams who had an idea about how to make his community stronger. From that idea, sprang a movement that would spread across the globe, inspiring millions to grow in spirit, mind and body. Throughout the years, we’ve evolved with the times, from the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Revolution and made many important contributions to society along the way.