Dear Valued YMCA Member,
Over two years ago, together with our boards, we began exploring the process of unification as a means of ensuring your regional YMCAs (the YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo, YMCA-YWCA of Guelph, and the YMCA of Stratford-Perth) remained relevant and viable. Earlier this year, in fact just a few days before the pandemic closures began, our boards and voting members voted to come together as one, regional entity.
What is the YMCA of Three Rivers?
The YMCA of Three Rivers is the official unification of the YMCAs of Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo, the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph, and the YMCA of Stratford-Perth as one regional entity. For more than 150 years, we’ve demonstrated our commitment to our communities through programming, services and outreach. This is the good stuff that we’re all about. And in unifying, we're bringing together our strengths and expertise to better serve our communities, where and how they need us most.
Each of our communities has a connection to the rivers that run through it. We’ve relied on these waters for sustenance, recreation, and to grow our industries. Like a river, we believe the Y has a commitment to showing up for our communities where and how they need us most. We are reliable, and yet ever changing. We are unique, and yet known. Most of all, we are connected and connect. For this reason, we chose the symbolic name of YMCA of Three Rivers.
While the unification process began two years ago, we officially unified on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
What does this mean for me as a member?
Outside of seeing the YMCA of Three Rivers name appear on a few of our communications with you, you won’t see any immediate changes. You will still be greeted by familiar faces when you visit us and our physical locations will all retain their existing names. Operationally, each location and service will now be organized under one collective board and management structure. If you are a regular donor to our Y or are considering donating, you will have the opportunity to direct your funds to the community of your choice – Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener, Stratford-Perth or Waterloo.
Thank you for staying with us on this journey.
