Youth Exchange Canada: Toronto – Day One

Katie Clay Community, Events, YMCA of Greater Toronto No Comments

YMCA Academy students with the exchange group on Day 1
 
On our first day of the YMCA Youth Exchange a small group of our students went to go and greet the exchange students from New Brunswick who had just landed after their flight. We guided them on the TTC from their hotel to one of our exchange student’s neighbourhood where we had a feast at the local community center. Each student’s family had to contribute at least one dish to the feast, and those dishes ranged from pasta salad all the way to mini pulled pork sandwiches.

Before the feast started we introduced our new guests to a brief history of Toronto, which included the Indigenous history, and what the city was used for in the past. We then introduced them with a traditional Indigenous song and drumming. We then had Pauline Shirt, a Native elder who lives in Toronto, welcome all of the guests.

After that was finished we all ate the food brought by the parents, and then socialized with each other to get to know each other. Some teachers led the group back to the hotel and we said goodbye, before we met the next day.

By Phoenix

YMCA Youth Exchange Silent Auction

Katie Clay Community, Events No Comments

On Thursday March 28th, 2019 the YMCA Academy hosted a silent auction to help raise funds for the Youth Exchange program. Parents and community members/organizations graciously donated a wide variety of items which drew lots of people over to our auction. We had tons of books, shoes, pottery, gift cards, appliances, and 3 bikes!

We raised over $2500 which will significantly help us create an amazing experience for the exchange group. 14 youth and their leaders will be visiting from Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick and we have planned a full week of activities.

Thank you to all of our donors for making this event a great success!

  • Everyday Bikes
  • Massage Addict, The Beaches
  • A Good Sleep
  • Mud Makers Studio
  • ARTAX Taxation for artists
  • The Monarch Tea Co.
  • Tiffany Clare, Author
  • Ampersand Inc.
  • Penguin Random House
  • House of Anansi / Groundwood
  • KidsCan Books
  • bella wella

    • And thanks to our community of parents for their many generous donations!

    Upcoming Youth Exchange to New Brunswick

    YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Community, Experiential Learning No Comments

    The above slideshow is from our last Youth Exchange to Haida Gwaii in 2017

    Students at the YMCA Academy are preparing for the upcoming Youth Exchange that will be taking place from April 13th to 19th, and the 18th to the 24th of May.

    In this youth exchange people from Tobique First Nations, New Brunswick will be coming for six days to Toronto to learn and experience a different sort of culture from their own. They will be guided around the city by the YMCA Academy’s students who will be later going to where they’re from just a month from now.

    While they’re here we will be welcoming them with a feast, doing a city wide scavenger hunt on the TTC, doing volunteer work, taking them to Center Island and Niagara Falls, and just exploring the general city areas.

    The goal of this Youth Exchange is to learn how other communities across Canada live and work in different ways, and the differences or similarities of two completely different environments, city and somewhat rural land. Some great outcomes of this experience include the new knowledge students gain about how the world works, and important life skills like knowing how to travel, how to interact with new people, and people who live in a different environment.

    To find out more about this exchange look out for photos, blog posts, and posts on our social media pages!

    Academy Rowing Crew’s 24-hour Row

    YMCA Academy Community, Events, Healthy Living, YMCA of Greater Toronto No Comments

    The Sweat for Good Challenge!

    It’s just 3 days until the Academy Rowing Crew’s 24-hour row!

    We’ll be rowing from 8am on Friday, March 1st through to 8am on Saturday, March 2nd.  This is truly an Academy community event.  We currently have over 65 students, staff, alumni, families, volunteers and friends signed up to participate with our team!

    Adding to the team effort this year, Colleen, one of the Academy’s teachers, will be attempting to set a new world distance record for a 24-hour row.

    The Sweat for Good Challenge (formerly known as Megathon) is an important part of our school’s annual initiative to promote the connection between mental wellness and physical activity. The focus is to raise our students’ awareness about the role physical activity plays in mental health. Being active reduces the effects of stress, anxiety, and depression — issues that impact many young people.

    Last year, we raised over $2,500 and our goal is to surpass that number this year.

    All fundraising from this event goes towards making YMCA programs financially accessible to everyone. Students at the Academy benefit directly from these funds.

    Check out our Sweat for Good Challenge page – Donations can be made here!

    If you wish to participate and haven’t signed up already, there’s still time to join our crew – contact Katie Clay

    Ending Homelessness – One Youth At a Time

    Katie Clay Beyond the Classroom, Community, English and Humanities, Events No Comments

     

    Students and staff from the YMCA Academy once again braved the cold to help support Youth Without Shelter.

    On Friday, February 1st, 25 students and staff participated in the 9th annual Time4Change (formerly Tokens4Change) fundraising event. The money raised goes to providing youth access to transit and empowering support programs at Youth Without Shelter, an emergency residence and referral agency in Etobicoke. Transit fare allows youth to attend school, seek a safe place to call home, find employment and new beginnings.

    In January, the entire school participated in a workshop led by Youth Without Shelter, that educated students on the important programs they provide and why it is such a need in Toronto.This led many students to sign up and through the event gain deeper understanding through learning. Our students had the opportunity to teach commuters about the issue of homelessness and be engaged in powerful discussions. One youth was approached by a woman currently living in shelter who thanked them for their efforts. Another person commended us as they had volunteered at this event before and knew how challenging it is. Some passersby were impressed with our chants and enthusiasm, while others donated so that we would be quiet! Either way we were able to educate the public and bring in lots of donations, big and small, which helped make the event a success.

    This year’s Time4Change event saw almost 600 volunteers canvassing at 27 locations. The grand total raised in just one day was $88,000!

    Thank you to everyone who participated and donated to this great cause!