London Life, TD Canada Trust, Westminster College Foundation “Hammer Away” at the YMCA Capital Campaign Goal

London, ON: The YMCA of Western Ontario today announced contributions totaling $300,000 from three prominent,community-minded supporters.

London Life and TD Canada Trust have each contributed $100,000 in support of the new YMCA Community Recreation Centre & Library at Adelaide and Sunningdale Road. Westminster College Foundation has contributed $100,000 in support of the renewal and expansion
of the Bob Hayward YMCA on Hamilton Road.

“London Life, TD Canada Trust and Westminster College Foundation have demonstrated their support for London in many ways over the years and we appreciate their contributions today,” said Jeff Macoun, Chair of the Rediscover your Y capital campaign and Senior Vice-President, Group, Great West Life.

“These contributions are an investment in a healthy, thriving and balanced community, and indicative of the type of cooperation between corporate and community sectors that we believe can bring about lasting change.”

The contributions will help the organization grow, remain relevant and act on its goal to provide access to programs and services regardless of ability to pay, added Shaun Elliott, YMCA of Western Ontario CEO. “We are thankful for this strong investment in the YMCA’s future as we build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.”

The contributing organizations reinforce the value of a collaborative approach in building stronger communities. “YMCA of Western Ontario has long served as a focal point for children, families and communities to develop healthy minds and bodies,” says Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President, Community Aff airs, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. “We are proud to support the YMCA, the City and the London Public Library in creating a valuable and lasting resource for community building here in North London.” London Life’s contribution is made through The Key to Giving™, the national corporate citizenship program of Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life.

Chuck Hounsell, Senior Vice-President TD Retail Western Ontario, TD Financial Group, says, “Giving back to our communities – and finding new and innovative ways to do so – is a source of pride and diff erentiation for TD. Our investment in the new North London YMCA refl ects
our commitment to the long-term sustainability of communities as well as the environment. We are excited to be a champion of the environmentally oriented YMCA design and build as it mirrors what we at TD are striving to achieve in our daily operations – to reduce our environmental impact.”

Dr. Rod Singh, Chair of the Board, Westminster College Foundation, says, “The Board is very pleased to support the renovation of the Bob Hayward Branch of the YMCA, which has made a vital contribution to the London community for over 40 years.”

Guests had the opportunity to view the new visuals of the new YMCA, which is a “Green” LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building; to see fi rst hand, fi nal stages of the construction and “renewal” at the Bob Hayward YMCA and hear about progress of the
Camp Queen Elizabeth “rebuild” on Beausoleil Island. About YMCA of Western Ontario’s Rediscover Your Y Capital Campaign

The campaign’s commitment is to:

• Build a new 80,000 sq. foot YMCA Community Recreation Centre & Library at Adelaide and Sunningdale, a $28M project, a partnership with the City of London and the London Public Library in order to better serve this growing North London community. Project components include two pools, gymnasium, track, multi-purpose rooms and studios, cardio and conditioning areas; Library Branch; programs and services off ered by the YMCA, City of London and London Public Library; Green LEED facility.

• Renew and expand the YMCA Bob Hayward Branch to create an expanded and accessible facility for our South East community; a $3.2M project. Our goal at “The Bob”, as it is aff ectionately known, is to expand and create better space for programs geared toward children
and families, provide greater accessibility for those participants with mobility challenges and repatriate the half gym into a full gym again, and

• Rebuild our YMCA Camp Queen Elizabeth, cabin by cabin, in order to serve children for generations to come; a $3.2M project. The camp is located on Beausoleil Island in Georgian Bay. Construction is occurring in the camp off -season over the course of fi ve years. Nine cabinsare complete and construction has begun on select out-buildings and the kitchen portion of the main complex.