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Press Releases & Letters
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Interior Savings Title Sponsor Announcement - February 8, 2008
Wanted: Lifeguards & Instructors - December 27, 2007
YM-YWCA & Masters Swim Club Hosts 4th Annual Christmas 100x100m swim - December 2007

YMCA World Peace Week - November 14, 2007
 
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Media Downloads
The YMCA-YWCA of the Central Okanagan provides images and logos for download by print and other media representatives to support editorials and advertisment materials.
 
Please contact Rhonda Zakala, Manager of Marketing and Communications, for hi-resolution images and logos.

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Y Stories & Testimonials
 
How the Y has changed my life
In July of this year I celebrated my 49th birthday.  My wife gave me a very special gift, an amount of money to cover me for 15 deepwater aerobic classes.  As I suffer with back problems and know I'm restricted to what exercise I can do, I attended the first class.  I found it not too challenging but felt great after it, no aches or pains.  The second class was even better and I was already feeling the benefits.  My wife talked me into trying a different class called Rep Reebok which was even more beneficial.  It was true, exercise really does make you feel better all round.  After three months now of 5 hours a week and thanks to the instruction and encouragement from the trainers I now feel healthier and fitter than I've done in years.  The great thing about the Y is that you are always greeted with a smile.  Nobody judges you on your ability and you can work to your own level and gain in strength with the well instructed classes.  The Y and its programs have given me new insight and goals for the future. 
- John Woodman
 
Amber has been working as a Fitness staff member since April 3rd, 2006 and this is her Y story
Amber has very fond memories of coming here as a kid with her family.  Her family couldn’t afford much, so they really appreciated having a place like the Y to come to for swimming and many other children’s programs.  Some of her best family memories took place at our Y.  Throughout school, Amber stayed active and was involved in many sports.  One of the activities she got involved in was Tae Kwon Do.  She really enjoyed it and got heavily involved in martial arts, changing her focus to Kung Fu and becoming a Kung Fu instructor.
 
Suddenly her life took a 180 degree turn when she was in a serious car accident.  Amber suddenly went from being an incredibly fit, involved, and positive person in the prime of her life, to being depressed and facing multiple injuries including a severe head injury.  This was such a difficult time for Amber that she simply describes it as a “dark time” in her life.  She came out of this dark time four years later by once again coming to the Y.  Her boyfriend encouraged her to come back and start swimming again.  She began slowly, barely able to complete a lap, did a little more each time, and eventually got up to doing 20 laps.  She started working out upstairs and doing some classes and felt her life changing for the better.
 
A Y volunteer who knew that Amber was having trouble affording the cost of membership encouraged her to begin volunteering.  Having really enjoyed working out and working on her fitness, she decided to take the Fitness Leadership courses and began volunteering in the Conditioning Room.  Amber was such a dedicated and helpful volunteer that when a staff position opened up, her supervisors and co-workers urged her to apply.  She did, and is now a successful Fitness Trainer excited about her up-and-coming career with the Y.  In addition to training clients upstairs and teaching some land-based group fitness, Amber has now become an Aquafit leader as well, and participants are thrilled with her classes.