About Us

1902 

YMCA Calgary begins operating a library, public reading rooms and classes for young men and boys in the Maclean Block in downtown Calgary. 

Calgary’s Population: 4,398 
YMCA Calgary Members: 125 

1909 

The first YMCA building in Calgary opens. Constructed on land leased from the Canadian Pacific Railway, the facility is named the Calgary City and Railroad YMCA. It would later become known as the Central Y. 

1914 

Calgary becomes home to the first Chinese YMCA in North America. It is housed in the Chinese Mission at 120 2 Avenue. Along with recreational and fitness activities, the facility offers educational, vocational and leadership programs to a growing Chinese population.

1915

The first Hi-Y (High School YMCA) Club in Canada emerges out of the Collegiate Club at Central High School. This service group is promoted as a means of training future volunteer leaders. 

1926 

The City of Calgary makes Firehall No. 4 available to YMCA Calgary. It is equipped by the Y’s Men’s Club and the Rotary Club. That same year, it becomes the site of YMCA Calgary’s first official branch—Riverside YMCA. 

In addition to providing boys activities and developmental programs, Riverside YMCA conducts evening classes and Leisure Time League activities. For a short period, it is home to a girls’ club. (The Riverside YMCA building was returned to the City of Calgary in 1948.) 

1930 

Camp Chief Hector YMCA is established. Women from the Stoney Reserve make the first camp tipis. 

1930s 

YMCA Calgary offers recreation and learning opportunities to the unemployed during the Great Depression. A 1951 newspaper article will later say of these efforts: “Possibly the greatest public service Calgary YMCA has ever performed was between 1932 and 1936 during the depression when, despite the shortage of money, it managed to form and keep alive the Leisure Time League, an organization that offered to the hundreds of unemployed free courses in trades, crafts, arts and provided recreational facilities to keep them off the street and occupied.” 

1940s 

YMCA Calgary operates a canteen at the Mewata Armory and opens its doors to men in uniform. More than a million members of the Canadian Armed Forces will pass through the Central YMCA’s doors during World War II. 

1941 

YMCA Calgary becomes a founding member of the Community Chest, the predecessor to the Calgary and Area United Way. 

1950s 

YMCA Calgary operates a social education club (So-Ed) for young adults. Sock hops, discussions, lectures, arts and crafts and social events give young people a place to meet, interact and have fun.

1954 

The Central Y moves from 9th Avenue and 1st Street SE to 6th Avenue and 3rd Street SW and expands programs and services. The old Central Y building is returned to the Canadian Pacific Railway. 

1963 

The North and South Family YMCA branches open. These centres are Calgary’s first co-ed YMCA branches. 

1960s & 70s 

YMCA Calgary conducts a backyard learn-to-swim program in a variety of Calgary neighbourhoods. A portable pool is also used to teach swimming in several Calgary Catholic schools. 

1974 

YMCA Camp Chief Hector relocates from Bowfort Lake to the Diamond Cross Guest Ranch site at Seebe, Alberta, becoming a co-ed camp in the transition. New outdoor education complex and conference centre named Yamnuska Centre, together with YMCA Camp Chief Hector, form the Rocky Mountain YMCA. 

1976 

A new experimental venture in community work is created and a full-time staff member begins developing a variety of outreach programs. 

1979 

Women are allowed to join the Central YMCA. 

1986 

The Winning Spirit campaign raises $4.5 million to relocate the Downtown YMCA, renovate the North and South Family YMCAs and upgrade the Rocky Mountain YMCA. 

1988 

The Eau Claire YMCA branch officially opens on 1st Ave and 3rd St SW. The branch serves men, women, boys and girls equally in Calgary’s booming downtown core. 

The North Family YMCA begins providing a recreation, fitness and lifestyle programs for youth at the Calgary Young Offender Centre.

1991 

YMCA Calgary refocuses attention on community initiatives, eventually creating a department to handle this function. By 1997, this department has evolved into its own branch named Community YMCA. 

1992 

Dedicated to the principle of equal access for all, YMCA Calgary begins the YMCA Partners with Youth annual giving campaign, now known as the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. This fund-raising campaign enables all children and youth to enjoy a YMCA experience despite financial circumstance. 

1997 

In January, the North YMCA branch closes and the new Crowfoot YMCA opens at 8100 John Laurie Blvd NW. 

2002 

YMCA Calgary opens the Shawnessy YMCA. Part of the South Fish Creek Complex, the facility is also home to a public library, a Catholic senior high school, Calgary Board of Education classrooms, a community gym and twin ice arenas. 

YMCA Calgary celebrates 100 years of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. 

2005 

An extensive renovation on Camp Chief Hector Lodge gives it the capacity to serve 600 youth. 

The YMCA Growing Strong Together Campaign begins. Funds raised help build a new northeast branch, redevelop and expand Camp Chief Hector, Eau Claire and Crowfoot branches and provide financial assistance for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy a YMCA Calgary experience. 

2007 

The Growing Strong Together Campaign exceeds its $10-million goal. 

2008 

Rocky Mountain YMCA officially changes its name to Camp Chief Hector YMCA, named for Chief Hector Crawler in honour of his efforts to develop the camp and build a harmonious relationship with the Nakoda people. 

The YMCA Green Team forms to help our organization become more environmentally friendly. 

2010 

South YMCA closes after 47 years of serving Calgarians. 

Camp Chief Hector celebrates its 80th anniversary and takes significant steps towards environmental sustainability through the installation of solar panels on the roof of Hector Lodge and a state-of-the-art water treatment system. This system sets a new standard for water treatment in the Kananaskis and Elbow Valley area. 

A children’s garden is created to teach campers about growing food. 

2012 

Saddletowne YMCA, located in northeast Calgary, opens its doors in January. This branch houses the Genesis Center of Community Wellness in the heart of Taradale, Martindale and Saddleridge communities. 

In October, a YMCA opens as part of the new Calgary Health Region’s South Health Campus. This facility integrates wellness, health research and education into a clinical setting. The focus is both on health and wellness as well as patient and community care in a state-of-the-art health facility. 

2013 

The City of Calgary announces YMCA Calgary as operator of three new recreation facilities: Quarry Park (SE), Rocky Ridge (NW) and Seton (SE).

The YMCA Power of Potential Capital Campaign begins. The funds are used to operate, equip and serve the three new YMCA branches, and also upgrade other facilities, including Camp Chief Hector YMCA.

2015 

Eau Claire YMCA officially changes its name to the Gray Family Eau Claire YMCA. On February 27, in a steadfast commitment to his own wellness, Jim Gray completes more than 300,000 lengths over 23 years to reach his goal of swimming across Canada. At this special event, we announced the renaming of Eau Claire YMCA to celebrate his commitment to the community through his ongoing support of YMCA Calgary. 

 2016 

Crowfoot YMCA officially changes its name to the Melcor YMCA at Crowfoot in recognition of a $1-million donation from Melcor Developments Ltd.

Remington YMCA in Quarry Park opens its doors as the first of three new recreation facilities.  

2018 

Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge opens its doors and becomes the largest operational YMCA in the world, further serving the northwest community of Calgary.  

2019  

Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton opens and surpasses Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge as the largest YMCA in the world. 

2020 

YMCA Calgary rapidly changes its operational structure to continue delivering programs and services in innovative ways to meet critical community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

2021 

YMCA Calgary reopens its doors on June 28 after experiencing a year and a half of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

A 10-year Strategic Plan, Navigate, is launched and introduces our new promise as an organization. 

2022 

YMCA Calgary launches a $14.5 million capital campaign for Camp Chief Hector YMCA. With four pillars of Stay, Play, Safe, and Endowment, this campaign aims to support Camp Chief Hector to continue to deliver overnight camps and programming for the foreseeable future.