Overcoming Obstacles
The theme of this report, “Obstacles”, illuminates the dedication of the Y team to promoting equity and helping individuals overcome hurdles and enhance their well-being. Read our annual impact report to learn how we removed obstacles to affordable child care, health and fitness, family supports, mental health supports, drop-out prevention, and more in 2023.
2023 Highlights
In 2023, our collective efforts brought positive change as we:
- Opened 3 new child care facilities, and supported 36 people to enter the child care sector as Early Childhood Educators, increasing access to quality, affordable, child care for hundreds of local families.
- Provided nearly 1,300 wildfire evacuees displaced by the fires with free access to our fitness and aquatics centres, offering households and families a sense of escape, connection, and wellness during very a challenging time.
- Partnered with the KGH Foundation to offer free emergency child care services to Interior Health staff displaced or impacted by the wildfires, ensuring our emergency rooms remained staffed throughout the crisis.
- Hosted the first YMCA Child Care Leadership Conference in Kelowna, providing Y leaders across BC with developmental skills training to prepare for growth within the sector and explore solutions on emerging issues.
- Invested in the development of our own young leaders, and sent our youth leads to the YMCA Youth Summit of the Americas in Bogota to build collaborations and partnerships with international YMCAs.
- Partnered with Central Okanagan School District to host our very first Newcomer Event that welcomed those new to Canada into our centres to build connections and access healthy resources for free.
- Collaborated with Ys across Canada to plan the roll out of a new national brand ‘Shine On’.
Financial Statements
View 2023 Financial Statements (PDF)
Thank you to everyone who donated in 2023.
Over $1.04m was raised by 876 community supporters, and we are so grateful. The following individuals, organizations and businesses donated over $500.
11 Anonymous Donors
A1 Machine & Welding
Across the Lake Swim Society
Scott Amis
Armada Steel Corp.
Adria August
August Luxury Motorcars
Brock Aynsley
Brenton Bartel
BC Community Gaming Grants Branch
Harry Bensler
Jessie Billey
Duncan, Missy & Tim Blackburn
BMO Financial Group
BMW Kelowna
Dave Bond
Rick and Debbie Boyd
Jennifer Bridarolli
Brenda Briggs
Joyce and John Brinkerhoff
Bronag Contracting Ltd.
Eugenia Burns
Calgary Foundation
Callow & Associates Management Consultants Inc.
Betty Cameron
Canadian Tire #353
Canadian Tire Jumpstart
Caron Capozzi
Carver Construction Ltd.
Central Okanagan Foundation
CFUW Kelowna
Charitable Impact Foundation (Canada
Randy Christian
CIBC Children’s Foundation
Clearwater Wealth Management
Michelle Clearwater Wealth Management
Crowe MacKay LLP
CTQ Consultants Ltd.
Gino Dal Ponte
George Davis
Delcourt Advisory Group
Paul Demay
Denim on the Diamond
DKL Financial Group
John Duff
Maria and Patrick D’Vaz
Thomas Dyck
Allan Earl
Dr. Susan Ellard
Joyce Epp
Faction Projects
Falcon Foundation
Family Insurance
Darlene Finnigan
First West Foundation
Fresh Air Experience / Concept
Clayton Gall
Gardiner Family Foundation
Genesis Kelowna
Gentek Building Products
Rodney Gibbings
Jessica Glen
Gail Goreski
Christopher Gorman
The Graf Family
Grant Thornton LLP
Shelley Grombach
Hamber Foundation
Jennifer and Terry Hanson
Harmony Honda
Jenny Harshenin
Chuck and Denise Henderson
Shelley Holitzki
Home Trust Company
IG Wealth Management
Intact Insurance
Interior Savings Credit Union
Kerry Irons
Erika Jarvis
JDG Construction Management Ltd
Jaxon Jurome
Jurome Real Estate Group
Kal West Mechanical
Keldon Electric
Kelowna Downtown Marina
Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club
Kelowna Toyota
KF Aerospace
Nicole Kleemaier
Melaney Kothlow
Lake Okanagan Insurance Members Society
Pamela & Kevin Leco
Ledcor Industries Inc.
James Leskosek
LTA Consultants
Kyla Magee
Mara Lumber
Brent Marshall
The Marshall Family
Dawn Martin
McColman and Sons Demolition Ltd.
McIntosh Properties Ltd.
Ryan McIntyre
Alli McNeill
Millard Dawes & Associates
Emma Miller
Danielle Miranda
Mission Group Enterprises Ltd.
Missionwood Retirement Resort
Montgomery Miles & Stone Law Firm
Mountain Shadows Foundation
Lori Mullin
Hans Neumann
New Leaf Physiothearpy
Leanne Nicholson
Nicola Wealth Management
Nolita Developments
Northbridge Financial Corporation
Derek and Kristie Nyrose
Allison O’Donnell
Okanagan Fire Protection Services Ltd.
Okanagan Restoration Services Ltd.
Okanagan Sundeck Centre
Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities Inc.
Paul Lee Family Foundation
Tracey-Lynne Pedlar
Marshall Peters
Victoria Pollock
Popeye’s Supplements
Patrick Priestner
Property Source Group Ltd.
Doug and Lorna Pumphrey
Purely Pools
Pushor Mitchell LLP
Ramco Floor & Tile
RBC Foundation
Darryl Reuter
Michael and Janet Riley
Beverley Risso
Rotary Club of Kelowna Morningside
Rotary Club of Lake Country
Rutland Pet Hospital
Scotiabank
Sentes Automotive
ShelfGenie of Vancouver & Okanagan
Barb Simpson
Lily Simpson
Sonrise Foundation
Southern Insurance Services
Specialty Program Group
Karen & Ron Stewardson
Stober Family Foundation
Ginny and James Strachan
Erin Strong
Barry and Leigh-Ann Sullivan
Summerland Rental Centre
Supplement King Kelowna
Maria Tana
Alistair Taylor
Deanne Taylor
Kelley Taylor
Ron Taylor
TELUS Friendly Future Foundation
Cassandra Thomas
Thomas Alan Budd Foundation
Tim Hortons
Tom Harris Fund for Families
Total Okanagan Real Estate Group
Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company
Unison HM Commercial Realty
Urban Systems Kelowna
Valley First Credit Union, a division of First West Credit Union
Venture Commercial Real Estate
Lloyd & Alyson Vinish
Bruce Walker
Walmart Canada (Penticton)
Chris Ward
Nicole Watson
Dr. John Weisbeck
Wildstone Construction
William Wright Commercial
Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services (Kelowna) Inc.
Wiltech Developments Inc.