Gratitude for Gayle Graham's tireless passion and encouragement bringing the community together to create the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre has been set in stone.
The Y's staff and board of directors dedicated the Gayle Gordon Graham Gymnasium to the retired CEO in a recent ceremony honouring her 23 years of stewardship.
The YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce shares:
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YMCA staff and Board of Directors acknowledge the many dedicated and passionate years of Gayle Graham's work at the YMCA as CEO for 23 years with gym dedication.
IF WE BUILD IT, WILL THEY COME?
The YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce honours Gayle Graham retired Chief Executive Officer, by dedicating the gymnasium in her name. Gayle’s exceptional leadership, experience, and determination played a large part in encouraging YMCA volunteers, staff, and many others in this community to work together to build a state of the art 55,000 sq. ft. facility within the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre to house the growing YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce.
Upon her retirement in 2021, the Board of Directors chose to honour Gayle by dedicating the gymnasium in her name, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was delayed until earlier this month.
The vision for the YMCA Health, Fitness & Aquatics Centre was to build a facility that embodies a sense of community; an inclusive space where everyone belongs.
“The gym and pool are the heart and soul of the building, the track touches both, the glass throughout the building makes it open for all to use, see, and enjoy from all angles. I, for one, tried out different activities as I was able to see what was going on in the gym day to day,” said Evelyn Dean, Past President of the Board of Directors, during the gym dedication ceremony.
“Gayle’s contributions to the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce have left our community stronger," Ms. Dean continued, "and she leaves a tremendous and impactful legacy.”
“Putting this plaque on the wall and dedicating this space in your name is just a very, VERY small token of our continuing appreciation for what you’ve accomplished for this community and this Y,” said Bruce Price, President of the Board of Directors.
YMCA staff and Board wish to acknowledge the many dedicated and passionate years of Gayle’s work at the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce’s CEO for 23 years (1997 – 2021). Her legacy is having built a robust, sustainable YMCA that will continue to benefit and serve the Owen Sound Grey Bruce region for years to come. The Gayle Graham dedication plaque is displayed outside the gymnasium for all to see.
The YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce is a charity dedicated to building a caring, healthy community by creating opportunities for all people to achieve personal growth in spirit, mind and body. We welcome all residents to enjoy the health, fitness, and aquatics facility, in addition to encouraging residents to access the many community support programs available across Grey Bruce, which include employment services, child care, before and after school care, settlement services, housing support, justice programs, and more.
To donate, or to learn more about the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce, visit here.
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source: media release, YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce
