children leadership living communicationplan qualified social facilities diverse inspire edmontdevelopment on active working evaluate YMCA feedback engaged contribute measure partners within technology information endowment deliver team ensure responsiblecontinuous completion equality complimentary strive manner association strategic advancing opportunities programs succeed ongoing funds variety support secollaborationrvices region inclusion active resources work priority prevention staff families communityholistic lasting strategic need youthasset stakeholders seek delivery evidencerelevant engaging ongoing outcomes dedicated goals values strong succeed healthy More Than Words 2009 Annual Report YMCA of Edmonton is an inclusive, charitable organization that values diversity. Please consider the environment before printing this report. Table of Contents Chair/CEO Message Renewal for Impact Welcome Village Update Indoor Playgrounds Face-Lift for Family Centres Child Care Developments Community Programs Homeward Bound Youth Transitions Goes Sky High Employment / Education Exchanges Recognition Strong Kids Campaign Heritage Club Community Partners Leadership Awards & Scholarships Financial Contact / Locations Message from the YMCA Intuitively we know that there can be no personal growth and development without ongoing renewal. Resilience in this modern world requires that each of us renew spiritually, develop mentally and seek physical health. This ongoing need for renewal occurs within organizations as well. During 165 years of engagement on our planet and the 102 years in Edmonton, the YMCA has undergone many generational renewals. New and expanded programs, new facilities and upgraded equipment are all ingredients of YMCA renewal over time. 2009 renewals: • Continued expansion of our child care programs with the opening of 3 new centres in Edmonton and 1 new centre in the County of Grande Prairie. • With our many partners, completion of the community design of the YMCA Welcome Village as an integral component of the Boyle Renaissance Project Phase I. • Completion of $1.3 million upgrades in our YMCA Family Centres. • Addition of new, two-storey indoor playgrounds to the Castle Downs, Jamie Platz and William Lutsky Family YMCAs. • Creation of several new community program initiatives in direct response to the community needs, including Homeward Bound and ASIST. • Entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the YMCA of Wood Buffalo to provide accounting and administrative support services. The theme of this year's Annual Report and AGM Celebration is "More Than Words". From the complete text of each article, a computer-generated "word cloud" was created based on the number of times a word appears in the article. The largest words represent the words that appear most frequently. These "word clouds" are a true representation of the article content and are interesting to consider. The overall design is built around this concept. At the YMCA of Edmonton, our words come together in a most exciting way. Message from the YMCA Board Chair/President & CEO 2009 impact: • Served in excess of 83,000 in our community • More than 1,500,000 visits by members • Average of 17% of those we served were assisted with fees • 1,350 donors in our Strong Kids Campaign who gave $643,224 • Volunteer and staff team of more than 1,500 We extend gratitude to our many partners, including the United Way and the City of Edmonton, for the cooperative efforts that enabled the delivery of our programs. Each year identifies new needs and challenges within the community. The YMCA of Edmonton remains grounded in our values and ever committed to remain relevant. We will continue to focus on a positive and lasting impact for children, individuals and families within our community. John Lilley Franco Savoia YMCA Board Chair President & CEO 2009 YMCA OF EDMONTON ANNUAL REPORT The YMCA of Edmonton has researched the housing needs in the community. We have identified a relevant program strategy to be Renewal the provision of safe, affordable, appropriate housing and practical supports to assist people to make change in their lives. In addition to this background work, the YMCA of Edmonton has recently completed its Strategic Plan to 2013. This plan includes a crucial strategic priority, “Preventive and Proactive Healthy Living” which includes a housing element. Housing is a basic need, a human right and a social determinant of health and well-being for all individuals and families. “When a person’s housing has been stabilized, they can begin to address other crucial needs in their lives.” Joan Baker General Manager Bill Rees YMCA Community Programs & Housing Services Welcome Village Update Our vision is 150 units for families, youth, adults and couples, a child care and family resource centre, an indoor and outdoor playground and small and large meeting spaces. Our partnerships in housing services includes Capital Region Housing Corporation. We have partnered with the City of Edmonton and the Boyle Community League to operate the Family Resource Centre / Community Hub / Child care complex. The YMCA of Edmonton continues to sit on the Boyle Renaissance Advisory Committee to further support the renewal of the Boyle Community in keeping with the vision of the Boyle Renaissance Project. ATB Architects have been hired to complete the design and Clark Builders have been contracted to manage the construction. Timeline: Project start date Fall 2010, Completion Spring 2012 Funders: Alberta Urban Affairs and Housing; Anonymous Donor housing We are on our way to creating our YMCA Welcome Village! manage families includes people Renewal for Impact Indoor Playgrounds The YMCA of Edmonton involves between 8,000 and 9,000 preschoolers and children each year in health and wellness programs that encourage development in spirit, mind and body. With funding provided by the Government of Alberta Community Facility Enhancement Grants (CFEP) and Ronald McDonald House Charities, new two storey, indoor playgrounds were built in the Castle Downs, Jamie Platz and William Lutsky Family YMCAs in 2009. These projects provide an indoor playground experience for children and preschoolers. The playgrounds are accessible to children of all abilities. Over 25% of the indoor playgrounds are accessible to children in wheelchairs. The YMCA sees approximately 100 children enjoy each The new indoor playgrounds feature a play of these facilities every day. structure including: • climbing ropes The YMCA is open to the entire community, and the • tunnels indoor playgrounds are accessible for both members • slides, and and public access. • music and discovery centres. Supported by: 2009 YMCA OF EDMONTON ANNUAL REPORT Family Centres Get a Face-Lift YMCA membership centres received over $1.3 million in facility and equipment upgrades in 2009. Funding for these upgrades came from the 2002 Straignt from the Heart Capital Campaign, as well as grants from the Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program. RInC is part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada's multi-faceted plan to ensure a quick recovery from the current economic downturn. Facility upgrades include: • high security lockers • slip-resistant tile in locker rooms • privacy showers • refinished flooring in work out centres and gymnasiums • new equipment for work out centres • interior paint • pool lighting Our five-year capital plan anticipates more upgrades in the years to come. Supported by: Western Economic Diversification Canada Child Care Developments The YMCA is the largest provider of not-for-profit child care in the country. YMCA child care centres in Edmonton operate at full capacity. Many of the centres have long waiting lists for placements. While there is great demand for more child care spaces in the Edmonton community, being a charity, the YMCA is able to do only as much as funds will allow. Enter Christenson Developments. Impressed by the YMCA child care facility built in the Kipnes Centre for Veterans in 2005, Greg Christenson approached the YMCA with an interest in developing a partnership - Christenson would provide the space in their seniors' residence in Devonshire Village and the YMCA would provide the child care. Proudly, the Joyce Christenson/Devonshire YMCA Child Care Centre opened in south Edmonton in October of 2009 - the second inter-generational child care centre in our city. "There is no doubt the impact that the YMCA has in Edmonton. We are incredibly proud of this relationship and we hope that by working together we can improve the quality of life of families in the Edmonton area." -Greg Christenson There are currently plans to open 2 more child care centres in Christenson Development seniors' residences. 2009 YMCA OF EDMONTON ANNUAL REPORT Community The economic slowdown over the past 18 months has meant greater demand for programs and services in the region as well as a reduction in available funding. This has created stress on the stretched social service system. Many of the YMCA community programs currently operate at full capacity. Last year, YMCA employment programs saw application numbers of over 115 for less than 75 available placements. Similarly, YMCA Transitional Housing is frequently required to turn away people in need of housing because there are no available rooms. Immediate community demand to expand tried and true YMCA programs like the Youth Transition Program, Family Ties and Kids’ Club could be in place at even more locations in the Edmonton area with increased funding. To weather