Menu
What if the place that could have saved your life was missing when you needed it most? For Danielle N., the YMCA was absent when she needed it - but when it finally entered her world, it transformed her path and her family’s future.
“My Y Story is a little different than most, but I promise, it has a happy ending,” Danielle told a group of YMCA supporters at the recent gala held in November 2024.
With a 100-year history in Barrie, it’s easy to take the Y for granted. It’s always been there. But as we work toward building a new Barrie Y at 535 Bayview Drive, many in our community feel the void left by its absence.
Danielle asks you to “imagine a youth without the YMCA to shape [your] experiences, to help [you] foster connections, to create confidence, feel safety, and encourage health.” This is where her story begins.
When Danielle was six, her family bought a trailer with two large pools nearby. Clearly, little Danielle was excited to start spending summer days splashing in the water. There was one issue. Danielle didn’t know how to swim.
“I was allowed to play on the steps of the pool, but I was not allowed to go where I couldn’t touch,” Danielle remembers, “it wasn’t ideal, but I was just happy to get to be in the water.”
Her family settled into the routine. Danielle on the steps, her older brother and his friends playing around in the deep end, and her parents hanging out poolside with the other adults.
For Danielle, life by the pool was good—until it wasn’t.
“I was playing on the steps, doing the best impression of a mermaid that anyone has ever seen,” Danielle recalls the day when everything changed, “I thought I was on the second last step, but I wasn’t. I was on the last step. I stepped down, and into the pool where I couldn’t touch the bottom, and I couldn’t swim.”
Danielle was drowning.
“I can’t tell you how long I struggled under the water, but eventually, a nice lady realized I was drowning and helped me up and out of the water.”
When Danielle reflects on that life-altering day at the pool, she understands the life-saving power of the swimming lessons the Y provides. Her community lacked a YMCA facility, and she couldn’t access the swimming lessons that promote safety in and around the water.
Like most teens, Danielle focused on building friendships and developing confidence. But those goals were a real challenge for her.
At 12, her family relocated, leaving behind the only place she called home. She felt alone, struggling to feel like she belonged.
“I remember stepping into a place that felt completely foreign, where the faces were unfamiliar, and the landscape was uncharted.”
As the years passed, Danielle struggled to connect with her peers. Add in familial issues, including mental health and addiction, Danielle felt isolated and overwhelmed.
Then, in Grade 12, there was a beacon of hope: YMCA’s Camp Kitchikewana, a traditional summer camp program for kids of all ages.
“I was so excited to finally be able to volunteer as a Camp Kitchikewana counsellor,” Danielle remembers, “I was so looking forward to an opportunity to connect with people my age and find my place in the world.”
Unfortunately, Danielle wasn't able to secure a position at the camp. She reflected, "I missed the opportunity to have a safe space where I could build friendships, gain confidence, and receive the encouragement I desperately needed to navigate those challenging teenage years."
Her life without the Y continued, but that was about to change.
During her speech at the YMCA’s “The Roaring Social” Gala, she recounted all the ways that the Y could have transformed her life:
Danielle can now give the YMCA experience she so desperately wanted to her children.
Those swimming lessons she missed out on, well, her daughters don’t have to sit on the steps watching the other kids swim. “I have seen both of my two girls go from being afraid of the water to jumping in the deep end with utter joy (and complete safety) as a result of the YMCA swimming lessons.”
Oh, and there’s a happy ending for Camp Kitchikewana, too.
“Last summer I was finally able to go to Camp Kitchikewana,” Danielle happily shares, “I may not be a teenager anymore, but the utter joy I felt in taking the boat over to Beausoleil Island is something that I will not forget.” It was a transformative, powerful experience.
“I do not embellish at all when I tell you it mended something inside my soul that I did not even realize was broken.”
“I will hold the memory of sitting on the rock and feeling the sun on my face forever.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnCI9MB-XaQ
Danielle’s story is one of many that underscores the YMCA’s commitment to fostering safety, belonging, and opportunity for all. Today, the YMCA teaches thousands of children in Muskoka and Simcoe County life-saving swimming skills annually—skills Danielle wishes she had as a child.
The YMCA isn't just about a fitness facility; it's about strengthening its community for future generations.
Her journey reminds us that community spaces can change lives. Together, we can ensure that future generations have a place to grow, heal, and thrive. Join us in building a better Barrie.
There are a few ways you can join in:
Donations: Every donation brings us closer to creating a safe, welcoming YMCA for families like Danielle’s. Your contribution to the new YMCA in Barrie allows us to create a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Every donation, no matter how big or small, makes a difference. Donate today.
Share Your Story: Danielle shared her story because of how much the Y means to her and how much she missed it growing up. How has the Y impacted you? Share your reason ‘Y’ today and help us build a future where no child sits on the pool’s edge, watching from the sidelines. Please share why a new YMCA in Barrie is important to you via email (100reasonsY@sm.ymca.ca) or social media using the hashtag #100ReasonsY.
