Everyone belongs at the YMCA
Inclusion is at the heart of who we are. We celebrate the rich diversity of people and perspectives in our communities, and we work to remove barriers so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
We are committed to creating environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, and where all individuals can fully participate.
This commitment calls for us to keep learning, growing, and taking action to build a more equitable future for all.
Discover how we are supporting YMCAs across Canada in making the YMCA a place that welcomes every person with respect, compassion, and care.
Accessibility
Accessibility is fundamental to inclusion.
To support capacity building across local YMCAs, we participate in National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) to deepen learning, spark conversation, and inspire action toward barrier-free environments.
With support from Employment and Social Development Canada, we hosted national webinars in 2024 and 2025 and will again in 2026. These sessions have explored topics like universal design, accommodations, disclosure, and Canada’s accessibility standards.
Informed by lived experience and a commitment to continuous learning, we centre accessibility in all aspects of our work. It is essential to creating environments where people with disabilities feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Truth and Reconciliation
YMCA Canada stands in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and communities. We are committed to truth and reconciliation by deepening our understanding through respect, partnership, and action.
Board Diversification Initiative
A board that reflects the communities it serves is a stronger, more effective board.
To support YMCAs in building representative boards, we launched the Board Diversification Initiative in 2021. This work focuses on recruiting and retaining board members from communities that have been historically underrepresented, including Black, Indigenous, racialized, disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and youth.
Resources include the YMCA Board Diversification Handbook, annual surveys, and participation in the 50–30 Challenge. We also host information sessions and partner with organizations such as the Black North Initiative to strengthen this work.
About the 50–30 Challenge
Co-created by Colleges and Institutes Canada and the Government of Canada, the 50–30 Challenge encourages organizations to achieve gender parity and ensure at least 30 percent representation of underrepresented groups on boards and in senior leadership.
This national initiative supports a more diverse, inclusive, and economically prosperous future for all Canadians.
About the Black North Initiative
By signing the Black North Initiative CEO Pledge, we are holding ourselves accountable to real, measurable actions that address systemic barriers facing Black Canadians. This pledge strengthens our broader commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. It also deepens our resolve to create safe, inclusive spaces across the YMCA Federation — for staff, volunteers, members, and the communities we serve.
Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
We are a proud Employer Partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), which provides us with many benefits that will support us on our diversity, equity, and inclusions (DEI) journey.