Photographed on September 23, 2025, from left: Maggie Calderone, Youth Engagement Coordinator, YSWO; Christina Harley, VP Development, YSWO; Joy Bevan, Volunteer, Ontario Trillium Foundation; Peggy Sattler, MPP for London West; and Krista Gillespie, VP Youth Engagement, YSWO.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 - Local MPP Peggy Sattler met with the team at YMCA of Southwestern Ontario (YSWO) to celebrate a $76,500 Seed grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). This grant is supporting the Y’s efforts to put its new 2024-2029 strategic plan into action by fully developing deliverables and tasks for its focus on youth.
“YMCA of Southwestern Ontario is a vital part of our communities across the region. Young people turn to the Y as a place to find belonging and be engaged in their community, stay active and keep fit, learn skills like babysitting, first aid and leadership, and so much more,” said Peggy Sattler, MPP for London West. “I am pleased that with the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, more youth will benefit from YMCA of Southwestern Ontario’s positive approach to helping young people ignite their potential and thrive.”
A Focus on Youth & Newcomers is one of the four pillars of the Y’s new strategic plan. The OTF grant, awarded in Fall 2024, is supporting dedicated Youth Engagement staff time for a London-based senior leader and coordinator to develop deliverables and tasks – fostering the creation of in-branch programming that will support young people across Southwestern Ontario (ages 13-24) in developing stronger social, emotional, and leadership skills.
At the centre of this project are three anticipated outcomes: 1) Youth feel like they belong and are highly engaged in the Y and in their community; 2) Youth develop more leadership skills; and 3) Youth are more resilient.
“Our perspective is that every moment with a young person is an opportunity to spark resiliency and encourage leadership,” says Andrew Lockie, CEO, YSWO. “Thanks to OTF, we’re building on our 169-year-old foundation to create improved youth feedback channels, new leadership and resiliency frameworks, and new training for staff – so we can best serve young people and ignite growth and belonging at the Y.”
YMCA of Southwestern Ontario (YSWO) is a charity, founded in 1856, with 200+ locations across our region. We offer health, fitness, and aquatics activities, camps, child care centres, youth programming, newcomer services, and employment services (with London as our head office location and hub). We're committed to nurturing potential and giving everyone a place to belong.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
