Welcoming the World to Toronto: A Place for Transformation
Over seven days in July, YMCA Canada, in partnership with YMCA of Greater Toronto, welcomed 1,458 delegates from 74 countries to Toronto for the 21st YMCA World Council, creating opportunities for learning, collaboration, governance, and cultural exchange. The Canadian delegation alone included nearly 350 members from all 37 YMCAs across the country. The event represented years of planning and the contributions of hundreds of staff, volunteers, partners, and sponsors across the country.
World Council is the highest governing body of the global YMCA Movement. It is both a governance meeting, where delegates convene to elect leadership and set direction for the movement, and a conference, bringing together YMCAs from around the world to learn from and inspire one another.
This year’s theme, Transform, was a recognition that the world is changing fast, and that the YMCA is uniquely positioned to shape bold, shared solutions that meet today’s challenges together. World Council invited delegates to explore how we can transform ourselves, our organizations, and our communities by working together. True to that theme, many delegates left transformed: by the people they met, the ideas they exchanged, and the reminder that our local work is part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Honouring Indigenous Knowledge, Culture and Experience
Indigenous perspectives were woven throughout the week, from the Grand Entry and the lighting of the Sacred Fire to a powerful keynote from Dr. Marie Wilson, Journalist and Commissioner, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada.
Speaking of her experience on the TRC, Dr. Wilson shared that, “When people came together to learn and to listen to each other for a common purpose, with vulnerability, humility and a good heart, they felt transformed by the experience.” Her message resonated with the diverse global audience assembled, highlighting how these same principles are transformative for individuals as well as organizations. By listening deeply, honouring different experiences, and leading with humility and respect, the YMCA can continue to evolve and strengthen its impact in communities around the world.
It also offered delegates a deeper, more honest understanding of Canada’s history and its ongoing journey toward reconciliation, a thread that ran through excursions, vendors, and across the entire program.
A Shared Purpose for Global Impact: Advancing Vision 2030
World Council brought into focus just how far-reaching the YMCA’s work truly is. Across keynotes, workshops, and countless informal conversations in hallways and over meals, delegates gained insight into the breadth of work happening around the world, spanning the Vision 2030 pillars of Community Wellbeing, Meaningful Work, A Just World, and Sustainable Planet. Different countries and contexts, but a common belief that stronger communities create a better world.
“No matter where we call home, we’re facing many of the same economic, social, and climate pressures. Sharing ideas, learning from one another, and building stronger partnerships gives me hope for what’s possible when we work together.”
— Lesley Davidson, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toronto
Astronaut and best-selling author Chris Hadfield brought that same spirit of ambition to the week. He challenged delegates to think bigger, find their purpose and push toward what they’re capable of, all while lifting others up along the way. It’s a message that echoes what the YMCA strives for every day and captures the spirit of this year’s Transform theme as we work to build on our strengths, continually improving ourselves, our organizations, and our communities.
“World Council reminded us that while our communities may be different, our commitment to helping people thrive is shared.”
— Peter Dinsdale, President & CEO of YMCA Canada
Celebrating Global YMCA Leadership
World Council showcased the depth of leadership driving the movement forward, from newly elected global leaders to the young leaders shaping the YMCA today. Christopher Lewis (Australia) was elected President, Emma Osmundsen-White (England & Wales) was elected Deputy President, and Canada’s own Laurie Skinner was elected Treasurer of World YMCA’s Executive Committee for the coming four-year term
Young leaders made up 15% of delegates, and their presence was felt throughout the week, not as leaders-in-waiting, but as active contributors shaping the conversations happening in every room. Graduates of the World YMCA Change Agents Program and YMCA Canada’s Young Ambassadors Program were also celebrated for the energy, ideas, and leadership they bring to the movement right now.
A Movement Powered by People
One of the goals of World Council was to ensure every delegate experienced the same sense of belonging that YMCA Canada strives to create every day, and that spirit showed up everywhere: in the hospitality of nightly Canada House celebrations, hosted by YMCAs from the Atlantic, Ontario, Quebec and Western Canada to showcase each region’s unique culture and traditions. It was also found in the conversations between sessions, and in the work of the 12 sub-committees, 24 co-chairs, over 160 planning committee members, and 300 in-person volunteers who made the week possible.
Carrying the Movement Forward
World Council is more than an event; it’s a catalyst for lasting impact at the local, national, and global levels. It highlighted that the YMCA’s greatest strength is its people, and demonstrated that, 182 years on, this movement continues to evolve and transform to meet changing community needs. Delegates didn’t just attend World Council, they were transformed by it, and they carry that transformation home to communities around the world.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Partners!
The 21st YMCA World Council would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors and partners, whose support helped bring delegates from around the world together for a week of learning, connection, and celebration. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to the YMCA movement.
