2020 was a year like no other. Much of it was spent in a state of fear and anxiety, while life as we knew it changed in unimaginable ways. To stay safe, physical distancing, mask wearing, and reduced social contact became a necessary part of every day life.
The changes didn’t stop there. For many of us, events that took place over the course of the year also
opened our eyes
and hearts to how others experience the world. What became clear was that COVID-19 is more than just a
health crisis.
It’s been a crisis of disparity, highlighting the economic, racial, gender, and identity inequities that
exist in our
society. In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and with the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, the
overt and
covert racism plaguing Canada and the world can no longer be denied.
At the YMCA, we know this is not the Canada We Want. The Canada We Want is a place where oppressive and
systemic
barriers have been removed and replaced by opportunity. And we know a lot more work, by a lot more
people
and
organizations, including ours, is needed to get us there.
Not surprisingly, 2020 slowed our progress as the ongoing pandemic took its toll. We had to make tough
decisions to
ensure we remain financially sustainable, especially now, when charities like the YMCA are needed more
than
ever to help
recover from the pandemic. But even as we struggled, we never stopped working toward our goal, with
every
YMCA across
the country mobilizing quickly to answer the question, “How can we help”?
In this year’s Annual Report, we place a spotlight on some of the ways YMCAs supported their communities
during an
incredibly challenging period. These examples represent the greater story of how the people who make up
the
YMCA helped
others, while demonstrating leadership, empathy, and resilience throughout what is likely the most
difficult
times we
have ever known.
In sharing the YMCA’s impact in 2020, we must give our sincerest thanks to our staff, volunteers,
participants, donors,
partners, young leaders, guardians, advocates, and YMCA Member Associations. You have added a chapter to
the
YMCA legacy
that will be admired for years to come. Because of people like you, the YMCA has been there for Canadian
communities for
over 170 years. And because of you, the YMCA will continue to be here long after this pandemic is over.
Chair, National Board of Directors
President & CEO, YMCA Canada
Since first coming to Canada in 1851, the YMCA has survived some of the greatest challenges to ever face
our
nation,
including World Wars, natural disasters, economic crises, and much more. Through it all, the heart of
the
YMCA
has never
changed.
As part of our 2020 Annual Report and broader YMCA story, we are pleased to share the following video,
which
reflects on this extraordinary moment in time.
When the pandemic first hit in March, most organizations had to close their doors, including child care
centres. Yet
without a safe place for their children to go, a lot of essential workers would not have been able to do
their jobs as
doctors, nurses, and emergency responders. At many YMCAs across Canada, emergency child care was
provided for these
frontline heroes. It was our honour to keep their children safe as they kept us safe.
Hear from Cathy Poole, VP, Children and Youth Services, and Hazel Noronha, Team Lead, Early Years Child
Care, about
their experience in launching YMCA Emergency Child Care at the YMCA of Greater Vancouver.
With the shutdowns caused by COVID-19, a significant number of people unexpectedly found themselves out
of work.
Unfortunately, growing numbers of Canadians also found themselves in situations where they struggled to
afford food. In
response, YMCAs throughout the country sprang into action, partnering with other community agencies to
hold food drives,
deliver food boxes, and use their buildings for distribution.
Hear from Kristen Wheaton Clayton, Chief Development Officer, YMCA of Greater Saint John, about their Y
Home Delivery
Program, which arranges for volunteers to pick up essential food/items from food banks and deliver them
to those in need
for free.
With YMCA Health, Fitness, and Aquatic buildings closed, several YMCAs were able to work with community
partners to
offer their facilities to support the homeless population throughout the pandemic, especially during the
colder months.
Whether making their shower amenities available, or offering pop up shelters and warming centres, these
Ys provided much
needed safe spaces to vulnerable residents.
Hear from Kendra MacIsaac, General Manager of Health, Fitness & Aquatics, YMCA of Northeastern Ontario
about how they
transformed the Sudbury YMCA into a warming centre.
The heart of the YMCA lies in bringing people together. But when we could no longer do that in-person,
YMCAs quickly
pivoted to moving the YMCA experience online. From virtual appointments for employment and newcomer
services, to
Facebook Live fitness classes, Y staff found ways to ensure people could stay healthy and connected.
When a principal in Edmonton, Alberta recognized that her staff were showing signs of stress, worry, and
burnout, she
encouraged them to participate in YMCA at Home’s 7 Day Challenge. Hear from Amy Komarniski, Centre
Manager, Northside
Community Centre at the YMCA of Northern Alberta about the impact virtual fitness options had on this
group of teachers.
COVID-19 changed so many things, from our daily routines to new public health measures that limited
in-person programs.
But recognizing that there were still significant needs in the community, YMCAs looked for innovative
ways to help.
While many new virtual offerings sprang up, new in-person programs were also being created.
The YMCA Adventure Club from the YMCA of Niagara is one such
example. Partnering with other community
agencies, YMCA
Adventure Club is a referral-based program for children who are at-risk or in vulnerable situations.
Hear from Carly
Milani,
Child/Youth Program Coordinator, about the impact of this program.
YMCA staff are special people who share a commitment to making their community a place where everyone
belongs. In 2020,
COVID-19 took its toll, with unprecedented layoffs, and for those still working, an environment of
uncertainty and an
unknown future. Despite everything, YMCA staff rose to the occasion, responding to this moment in
history with
action-oriented solutions. Whether learning new skills to take programs virtual, reimagining spaces to
adhere to public
health requirements, or delivering essential in-person programs, YMCA staff gave us all something to be
proud of.
Sophie, from the YMCAs of Quebec, is a shining example. Laid off from her job in the YMCA’s
communications department,
hear how she still found the power to make a difference.
As at December 31, 2020
| 2020 | 2019 |
|---|
| Assets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current Assets | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $2,279,626 | $1,577,459 |
| Accounts receivable | 911,648 | 679,313 |
| Prepaid expenses | 58,512 | 80,367 |
| 3,249,786 | 2,337,139 | |
| Investments | 19,708,655 | 18,662,231 |
| Accounts receivable | 219,779 | 400,888 |
| Capital assets | 47,947 | 65,041 |
| Intangible assets | 21,798 | 2,775,811 |
| Other long-term assets | - | 58,169 |
| $23,247,965 | $24,299,279 |
| Liabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current Liabilities | ||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $1,275,545 | $772,862 |
| Deferred contributions | 416,798 | 228,278 |
| 1,692,343 | 1,001,140 | |
| Deferred capital contributions | - | 2,265,558 |
| Deferred lease inducement | 13,166 | 32,916 |
| $1,705,509 | $3,299,614 |
| Net Assets | ||
| Endowments | $16,535,113 | $15,580,786 |
| Board restricted reserves | 3,752,367 | 3,327,447 |
| Unrestricted | 1,185,231 | 1,093,666 |
| Investment in capital and intangible assets | 69,745 | 997,766 |
| 21,542,456 | 20,999,665 | |
| $23,247,965 | $24,299,279 |
For the year ended December 31, 2020
| 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | ||
| Allocations from YMCA Member Associations | $4,646,299 | $9,591,322 |
| Amortization of deferred capital contributions | 2,265,558 | 12,284,767 |
| Government grants | 626,192 | 7,000 |
| National meetings and conferences | 2,231 | 212,176 |
| Dividend income | 968,761 | 693,563 |
| Recoveries from YMCA Member Associations | 583,714 | 602,016 |
| Foundation and other grants | 64,209 | 286,614 |
| Miscellaneous income | 133,639 | 231,361 |
| $9,290,603 | $23,908,819 |
| Expenses | ||
| Salaries and employee benefits | $2,333,664 | $3,515,673 |
| Purchased services | 1,508,985 | 2,173,530 |
| Travel and meetings | 247,644 | 1,134,128 |
| YMCA Lead and other Member Association agreements | 191,177 | 801,476 |
| YMCA Resource Development Centre dues | 1,087,304 | 1,780,741 |
| YMCA Resource Development Centre support | 164,665 | 244,552 |
| Communications | 716,334 | 702,425 |
| Uncollected Member Association charges | 165,835 | - |
| World YMCA services | 105,389 | 376,067 |
| Rent and office | 154,651 | 266,157 |
| Licence fees | 36,244 | 304,356 |
| Affiliations, professional services, and insurance | 146,344 | 133,949 |
| Amortization of capital and intangible assets | 551,930 | 530,096 |
| Impairment of intangible assets | 2,140,448 | 14,666,622 |
| Grants distributed | 64,209 | 237,418 |
| $9,614,823 | $26,867,190 | |
| Deficiency of revenue over expenses before the undernoted | (324,220) | (2,958,371) |
| Change in fair value of investments | 597,745 | 1,276,260 |
| Excess (Deficiency) of revenue over expenses for the year | 273,525 | (1,682,111) |
| Interfund transfers | (181,960) | 1,468,648 |
| Increase (Decrease) in unrestricted fund balance | 91,565 | (213,463) |
| Beginning unrestricted fund balance | 1,093,666 | 1,307,129 |
| Ending unrestricted fund balance | $1,185,231 | $1,093,666 |
A full set of audited YMCA Canada financial statements is available on our website.
Marcel Lauzière - Chair
Mary Beck - Vice Chair
Laurie Skinner - Vice Chair
Brenda Flaherty
Mostafa Abd El Meguid
Colleen Albiston
Daniel Boisvert
Nicole Callihoo
Sourov De
Neil Desai
Daniel Doiron
Tyril Froese
Ruhee Ismail-Teja
Leanne Standryk
Wan-Peng Sun
Bruno Suppa
Mary Williams
Thank you to the following private, public, and non-profit organizations that have collaborated with us in 2020, helping us to fulfill our mission over the past year.
Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada
Cooperation Canada
Public Policy Forum
BGC Canada
CIBC Youthvision Scholarship Program
Employment and Social Development Canada
Imagine Canada
Lifesaving Society of Canada
Loblaws Inc.
The Students Commission of Canada
Unicef Canada
United Way Centraide Canada
As part of our commitment to the YMCA global movement, YMCAs in Canada have been working collaboratively with partners in the YMCA global network for more than a century. The following is a list of our current global partners.
Africa Alliance of YMCAs
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
Latin American and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs
World Alliance of YMCAs
YMCA Europe
YMCA of the USA
YMCA of Ethiopia & British Columbia YMCAs
YMCA of Ghana & YMCA of Greater Toronto
YMCA of Liberia & YMCA of Greater Toronto
YMCA of Senegal & YMCA of Greater Toronto
YMCA of Sierra Leone & YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka
YMCA of South Africa & YMCA of Niagara
YMCA of Zambia and the YMCAs of Three Rivers and Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford
YMCA of Ukraine & YMCAs of Calgary, Northern Alberta, Brandon, and Saskatoon
YMCA of Bogotá, Colombia & YMCAs in Alberta and Saskatoon
YMCA of Medellín, Colombia & YMCA of Greater Toronto
YMCA of Risaralda, Colombia & YMCAs of Cumberland and Greater Moncton
YMCA Guatemala & YMCA of Southwestern Ontario
YMCA Haiti & YMCAs of Quebec
YMCA of Mexico City, Mexico & YMCA of Greater Toronto
YMCA Nicaragua & YMCAs of Central East Ontario, Eastern Ontario, and Northumberland
YMCA Peru & YMCA of Greater Toronto
The YMCA Canada Heritage Club recognizes those who have
chosen to make a gift to the Endowment Fund
of YMCA Canada.
The YMCA is a powerful association of people joined together by a shared passion to foster a sense of
belonging for all.
In an age of complex social challenges, the YMCA is steadfastly dedicated to building healthy
communities by
inviting
and encouraging Canadians to join in, to give back, and to gain the connections, skills, and confidence
they
need to
thrive.
YMCA Canada is a charity and the national office of the Canadian YMCA Federation, providing support to
39
YMCA Member
Associations. For more than a century we’ve been at the heart of communities across the country, serving
evolving needs
and providing vital community services.
For more information please visit ymca.ca.