YMCA Canada - Half way there!

We’re half way through our discovery visit to Canada and the value of visiting another YMCA could not be clearer. Firstly, I’d like to comment on the wonderful hospitality we’ve received. The warmth with which we’ve been welcomed has not only made the visit more enjoyable, it has fostered an environment where everyone is comfortable, creating the most fertile ground for learning.

This is helped further by it being an incredibly exciting time to be in the city. The Toronto Blue Jays baseball team are in the play offs for the first time in over 20 years which has electrified the city. Coupled with an election earlier in the week there is positivity everywhere.

Our agenda is packed and the days are long but at every turn there is advice and knowledge being exchanged, hosts and visitors benefiting alike. We’ve split our time so far between Y Canada and the YMCA of Greater Toronto and I’ve learnt an awful lot from and about both organisations.

It is fascinating that despite our countries being 500 miles apart, we’re facing the same challenges and are driven by the same mission. Not only that, it is heartening to see areas of work Y Canada have advanced further than us. I’ve seen our potential with my own eyes and it’s exciting.

The journey here was long but I believe the lasting relations I’ve forged here could not have been done with technology. Skype and email are perfect tools for keeping in touch but those inherent human qualities of sharing space are lost. I feel I’ve got to know those at Y Canada as people and not just colleagues and you can’t put a price on that.

Working hard from a desk it’s easy to forget we’re all part of this huge global movement. This discovery visit is more than just a reminder of that, but also highlighting what a privilege that is.

It feels appropriate to sign off as a Toronto native would, so…Go Blue Jays! 

Posted on behalf of Joe Curran