The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

32 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday August 30, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com BUSINESS PROFILE The YMCA of Oakville New Challenges, New Directions In early 2008, the Board of the YMCA of Oakville completed a new strategic plan for 2008-2011, and made a commitment to meet the challenges of the future of our community. The challenges are significant, including Oakville population projections reaching to more than 215,000 by 2016, and a dramatically rising incidence of obesity and diabetes among both children and adults. Responding to needs, transforming lives, making an impact The YMCA of Oakville is a charity. An association that encompasses many levels and dimensions, the Y has been part of the fabric of Oakville since it opened its doors in 1956 as a simple rooming registry. In 2007, the Y touched 46,000 people through its programs and services, and provided fee assistance to more than 1,500 families and children in need. The Y has embraced this growth and welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and social and economic circumstances. Through the years, people have grown to associate the YMCA with its extensive health and wellness, sports and camping programs. Yet, central as these are to the YMCA mission, they are only the most visible parts of its major impact on individual lives and neighbourhoods. Through its Peter Gilgan Family Y Facility, childcare, and community-based programs, the YMCA of Oakville association provides leadership in: · Child Care, including 27 licensed Junior and School-Aged Centres · Summer Camp, including mentoring and assistance for at-risk youth · Health and Wellness programs for all ages · Youth sports and recreation · Swimming instruction for all ages · Parenting and parent-child programs offered free to families in the community · Friday night youth programs open to the community As a charitable organization, the Y will continue to grow and meet the challenges of the future by offering a diverse range of programs that inspire young people to lead, bring families closer together and encourage individual heath and well-being. The YMCA of Oakville will meet these challenges. We have set the following directions to guide us towards the future: To build our philanthropic capacity and image as a charitable association. To expand the reach of our programs and services to meet the needs of Oakville's growing population. To partner in health promotion and wellness with the leaders in our community. To improve the lives of children and youth so that they can contribute to the community, and to move forward in youth development on a global level with international partnerships. To build our own staff and volunteer capacity to enable us to meet our goals. Every week a group of people with Parkinson's disease meet at the YMCA of Oakville for exercise, mutual support and much laughter. We are committed to building strong kids, strong families and a strong community of Oakville. Bruce Ireland President & CEO YMCA of Oakville YMCA of Oakville Summer Camp Counselors Kristen Foster (left), and Jessica Guselle (right), had fun in the sun with great campers like Mikhaila Filice (centre). YMCA of Oakville 410 Rebecca Street Oakville, ON L6K 1K7 Telephone: 905-845-3417 Facsimile: 905-842-6792 E-mail: customerservice@oakville.ymca.ca www.ymcaofoakville.com 410 Rebecca Street, Oakville Telephone: 905-845-3417