The YMCA stands resolute in our commitment to foster hope, growth, and strength.
As we embark on the next chapter of our journey, our Strategic Plan 2024-2028 is our visionary roadmap designed to ignite potential and resilience in the lives of young people, our employees and seniors. We aspire to provide leadership that champions mental well-being, develops resilient young people, combats social inequities, and nurtures the potential within every individual.
2026 Annual Operating Plan First Quarter Results
2026 Annual Operating Plan: Turning Insight into Action
Our 2026 Annual Operating Plan builds on a full year of outcome measurement, moving from learning to action across Young People, Employees, and Seniors. This year introduces formal volunteer tracking across our ecosystem, a new focus on physical function for seniors through gait speed, and continued investment in employee recognition and organizational health. The plan reflects a refined, data-informed approach, strengthening how we deliver programs, support communities, and translate impact into meaningful change.
Igniting Potential to Save Lives
The essence of this strategic plan is grounded in our unwavering
belief in the boundless potential of each person. You can download our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan here:
Q1 2026 Results: Building the Systems That Drive Impact
2026 Annual Operating Plan: First Quarter Results
YMCA Hamilton | Burlington | Brantford began 2026 by strengthening the systems, measurement practices, and leadership capacity that support long-term impact across our YES priorities: Young People, Employees, and Seniors.
While many outcome measures are still being collected and expanded across programs, Q1 focused on laying the foundation needed to better understand and improve the difference our programs make in people's lives.
Key highlights:
52,715 community members served, including 18,687 participants supported through enabled access
30,628 young people reached, including 5,413 from priority communities
4,649 seniors engaged, including 781 from priority communities
Youth resilience measurement expanded into additional programs, including Beyond the Bell and Youth Achievers
- Employee recognition initiatives were delivered across the organization, while leadership development advanced through LEADS training
- Preparation began for the introduction of belonging and physical function measurement across senior-serving programs
Together, these results reflect a YMCA that is strengthening its ability to measure, learn, and improve, ensuring future decisions are increasingly informed by evidence and community impact.
Outcomes at a Glance
As we enter the second year of outcome measurement, Q1 focused on expanding the tools and systems that connect participation to impact.
- Young People: More than 30,000 young people participated in YMCA programs during the quarter. Resilience measurement is now active in Beyond the Bell and Youth Achievers, with additional youth programs scheduled to begin data collection later this year.
- Employees: Employee recognition remained a key focus, highlighted by Employee Appreciation Day initiatives and the completion of three of six LEADS leadership development sessions designed to strengthen leadership capacity across the Association.
Seniors: More than 4,600 seniors were engaged through YMCA programs. New measurement tools focused on belonging and physical function are being introduced across active aging programs, establishing a stronger foundation for understanding healthy aging outcomes.
The first quarter focused on embedding and scaling the outcome measurement approach established in 2025, strengthening our capacity to generate actionable insights and demonstrate community impact throughout 2026.
Our YMCA Ecosystem of Offerings
Measuring Resilience in Young People: YMCA Wanakita
Youth in the Student Counsellor (SC) program at Camp Wanakita will be part of a special project.
YMCA staff will be collecting data to understand if participating in the SC programs changes how resilient youth feel. Resilience means how well they can handle challenges and bounce back from tough times.
Why are we doing this? Improving resilience in youth is a goal in the YMCA HBB's plan for the year. We believe that by being part of the YMCA community, your child can build strong relationships and develop healthy habits. This helps them become more resilient.
Read this information letter for more details on this initiative.
Please complete this opt-out form if you DO NOT wish your child to complete the resilience survey as part of the Student Counsellor 2026 Summer program.
Our Cause
Lifting people wherever they may be in their life journey, through our programs and spaces of belonging.
The Y Saves Lives.
Our Vision
Creating a vibrant and healthy community where everyone thrives, igniting their fullest potential.
Our Mission
The YMCA of Hamilton|Burlington| Brantford is a charitable organization that creates spaces to belong and promotes healthy living for people at all stages of life.
Our Values
Caring. Honesty. Inclusion. Respect. Responsibility.
