2025–2026 Annual Impact Report
Reach At a Glance
Sparking Connection
3 in 4 Canadians ages 18 to 34 lack a sense of community.
People across the Greater Toronto Area are truly greater when we come together. We see that at the Y every day.
This year marked the first of our five-year strategic plan, Greater Together. Each year has a theme and, like so much in life, our plan begins with a "Spark". Together we are sparking connection.
That's a critical contributor to well-being and research shows it's needed. Our first annual YMCA Connections Snapshot found concerning levels of belonging that we must work together as a society to address. Our strategic plan guides our contribution to that effort.
Thanks to the support of generous donors, funders, volunteers, employees, and community members we are well on our way to reaching five million people across the GTA in five years. This year alone we reached more than 900,000 people — in part thanks to the opening of our new McDonald Family YMCA in downtown Toronto.
The Y is a place where children learn, laugh, and make lifelong friends at summer day camp. Where they take their first strokes in a pool and where many find first volunteer opportunities and first jobs.
When they become parents, our child care educators take care of their children while they pursue career dreams and build financial security.
We also help people find meaningful work and support newcomers to Canada. And, when people face life’s challenges, we offer support from emergency shelter to financial assistance that helps them access our programs.
For the Y to continue making an impact as a place where everyone can ignite a spark, reach their potential, and shine, we need to grow to meet increasing demands for our programs and services.
Thanks to your support, we’ve built a strong foundation during the first year of our current strategic plan. We’re proud to share highlights in this Annual Impact Report and are confident we’ll continue to be greater together.
Irene Markus
Board Chair,
YMCA of Greater Toronto
Lesley Davidson
President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Toronto
2025–2026 Highlights
The McDonald Family YMCA Opens
Our Strong Start, Great Future capital fundraising campaign officially wrapped with the opening of The McDonald Family YMCA in downtown Toronto — the fifth YMCA Centre of Community brought to life under the campaign, and our twelfth overall.
Almost 6,000 people, and counting, are already finding belonging — including young people. This centre has the most members under the age of 30. This Y was brought to life thanks to the generosity of donors who contributed to our charity’s Strong Start, Great Future capital campaign, led by Jenifer and Steve McDonald, whose visionary support made the McDonald Family YMCA a reality. Their commitment to expanding essential services and strengthening community connections across Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods is reflected in every corner of this space.
Jenifer and Steve McDonald firmly believe that every child and young person deserves access to the Y’s vital programs. The long-time Y supporters made a transformational gift totalling $5 million to the new Centre of Community named in their honour. Their generosity to the Y began with a gift to The Wagner Green YMCA, a youth shelter and drop-in centre located nearby. The McDonald Family YMCA was also made possible thanks to the City of Toronto.
Read about our commitment to building sustainability and resiliency at ymcagta.org/green.
Micro Grants Help Youth at Shelter Reach Potential
Youth at our Wagner Green YMCA shelter and YMCA Sprott House benefitted from a new and innovative micro-grant program made possible by The Barrett Family Foundation. So far, 84 microgrants averaging $750 have given young people at the shelter a unique opportunity to increase their autonomy and make decisions as they build their futures. This is part of the foundation’s extensive multi-year pledge to support multiple Y youth programs.
Some micro-grant requests included: laptops for school, photography equipment for employment, phones for work, and more.
Youth say the grants supported their goals, including access to education, increased job readiness, greater mobility and independence. The micro grants helped youth open doors to opportunity and new communities. After three months, 94% said their current situation improved because of them.
The micro grants build on a host of existing wraparound programs and supports. With donor support, we see opportunities to scale the grants at a 31-bed transitional shelter called YMCA mYplace which is under construction nearby. mYplace will support 2SLGBTQIA+ youth at risk of homelessness, joining YMCA Sprott House which celebrated its tenth year providing transitional housing for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.
Location of New Mississauga YMCA Announced
The YMCA of Greater Toronto, together with the City of Mississauga and Oxford Properties, announced that the Mississauga YMCA will move to a new, modern space at Square One Shopping Centre.
With $15 million in funding from the City, and additional support from donors, the move ensures a long-term, sustainable Y presence in downtown Mississauga as part of a neighbourhood of the future, allowing the Y to continue serving the community for decades to come.
Members and participants can continue to use the existing Mississauga YMCA at 325 Burnhamthorpe Road during construction.
In addition to health and fitness, child care, and summer camp programming at the Mississauga YMCA, across the city the Y offers employment programs at two locations, 33 additional child care centres, six additional day camp locations, student nutrition programs in Mississauga schools, and a variety of youth programs.
YMCA Charity 5k Helps Send Over 800 Children to Camp
Every child deserves opportunities to build confidence, friendships, and lifelong memories at camp. But not every family can afford it — and that’s why we run.
Over 1,200 community members came together for our second annual YMCA Charity 5K, raising more than $300,000 to send over 800 children to camp.
We’re so grateful to our generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers for ensuring kids aren’t missing out — not just on canoe rides and campfire songs, but on confidence, connection, and the chance to feel like they belong.
Reaching More People in Remote Areas
Our YMCA continued to reach people in remote and under-served areas across Canada through our digital platform – YMCA Ignite.
YMCA Ignite is a virtual platform focused on employment and leadership development programs, beyond brick-and-mortar YMCA locations. It’s an online connector complementing in-person programs and was originally funded thanks in part to $1.2 million in funding from the RBC Foundation, through RBC Future Launch.
Innovative programming included sessions about entrepreneurship by GTA-based coffee shop owner Caitlin Campbell (pictured left), a social media influencer with 1.2 million followers on TikTok. Since its launch in May 2023, YMCA Ignite has reached over 41,000 individuals, with 45% identifying as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), and more than half being youth.
Advancing Provincial Priorities Together
The YMCA of Greater Toronto is one of 14 YMCAs across Ontario and our President and CEO is also the President of YMCA Ontario. Together we reach 2.1 million people in 135 communities each year.
Our charities work together to advance shared priorities across the province. This year those were: ensuring high-quality, affordable and accessible child care; creating opportunities for youth facing high unemployment rates; and building social infrastructure where people can improve their well-being through connection and belonging.
Our provincial advocacy efforts culminated in our first Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park where we met with elected officials from all parties and highlighted how the YMCA can play an even greater role supporting communities.
Read Past Annual Reports
Browse our other annual updates in our reports listed by year.
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