Our Story: YMCA of Southern Interior BC through the years

Our story begins 40 years ago. It all started with a couple of visionary community members, Linda & David Cline, who felt our community would be a better place with a YMCA as part of it. They gathered a like-minded group of people and together the Kelowna Community YMCA-YWCA was established in December 1981 as a legally independent charitable organization. This charity’s first project was operating the newly opened Athans Aquatic Centre on behalf of the City of Kelowna.

As Kelowna has grown over the years, so have we. Today we’re a network of community-focused program sites and serve a vastly more diverse population of individuals and families across BC's Southern Interior.

Here is a timeline that represents our story—the many milestones, goals reached and programs delivered.

1983	The Y began offering the summer Backyard Pool Program, where children learned to swim with confidence in their own pool.
1985	A full charter was awarded to the Kelowna Community YMCA–YWCA.
1990	The Y offered After School Programs in two Kelowna schools and one in Westbank, started a Job Finding Club and began operating the Children’s Water Park in downtown Kelowna.
1991	The Y started to operate Summer Day Camps in Rutland and Winfield.
1997	Marked the opening of our Career Contact Centre for Youth (C3) in Kelowna.
2001	The Y entered a partnership with the City to manage the Kelowna Family Y and expand it by 5,000 square feet.
2002	The Kelowna Family Y participates in CAP program funded by Industry Canada to provide internet access to the general public.
2004	YMCA-YWCA of the Central Okanagan reaches 2,500 memberships. The Y includes new parenting programs – Pre-natal Wellness and Pre-teen Parenting.
2007	The Y expanded childcare programs into three new elementary schools; implemented Coach Approach; and, the Y’s Strong Kids Campaign raised $68,000!
2008	The Y signed agreements with the City of Kelowna to manage the new Mission Aquatic Centre and with Okanagan College to operate a childcare centre; further developed our expansion plan for the Kelowna Family Y; and launched Jumpstart Employment Essentials, a program for youth-at-risk who are experiencing multiple barriers to employment.
2009	H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre officially opened to the public in April and Little Scholars YMCA Playing to Learn Childcare and Preschool Centre began serving families in September. By the end of 2009, the Kelowna Family Y Capital Expansion Campaign raised $4M towards the $5M goal.
2010	Surpassed our goal and raised $5.7M to expand the Kelowna Family Y to include a gymnasium, a run/walking track, a youth zone, child & family resource centre and additional fitness space.
2011	Opened 18,000 square foot expansion of Kelowna Family YMCA in July. Entered into an agreement with the Silver Lake Forest Education Society to manage year-round operations and child/youth camp programs at Silver Lake Camp. The YMCA-YWCA Career Contact Centre for Youth closed its doors after serving the community since 1997.
2012	Three WorkBC Centres operated by the YMCA opened in April to serve over 3,000 people annually. The YMCA-YWCA of the Central Okanagan changed it’s name to YMCA of Okanagan to focus on the YMCA’s mission to build a healthy community for all ages, genders, beliefs and circumstances.
2013	28,323 children, teens, adults and seniors were served through 12 YMCA program sites. The Kelowna Family YMCA and H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre surpasses 10,000 memberships.
2014	The Kelowna Family YMCA receives new aquatic change rooms and a significantly larger family change space. Three new out of school care sites are opened in West Kelowna, including Beyond the Bell – a donor-funded after-school program that closes learning gaps for children in Grades 1-5.
2017	The YMCA opened the Kelowna Downtown YMCA, which expanded the Y’s reach locally and facilitated some unique health partnerships; began operating the Kelowna Senior Secondary Child Care Centre and Young Parent Program, enabling the Y to give young parents the support needed to care for their children and complete their education; and launched YMCA Mindfulness Programming for ages 13-18.
2018	Opened the Pandosy Street YMCA where at-risk youth can access health, employment, educational and social services; opened Queen’s Park Child Care Centre, expanding our child care services to the South Okanagan.
2019	Launched free Early Years Programs in the Central and South Okanagan to support the well-being of vulnerable families and their children 0-6 years, as well as a Life Skills Program in Penticton for youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and intellectual disabilities. Over $1 Million distributed in financial assistance and program support.
2020	Experienced unprecedented challenges and closures due to the worldwide COVID pandemic resulting in the Y adapting its programs and services in innovative and responsive ways to meet critical community needs.
2021	YMCA Dilworth Mountain Child Care Centre opens with 81 child care and preschool spaces; YMCA Alternative Suspension launches in both Kelowna and West Kelowna.
2022	The YMCA officially changes its name to YMCA of Southern Interior BC with plans to grow and serve more communities.