April 13, 2016
Scoti (the Scotiabank mascot), left, joins Lochlan Lavery, 5, his brother Robson, 9, Morgann Barron, 8, and Harvey the Hound (the Calgary Flames mascot) after a hockey game on the new sports pad at the South Health Campus YMCA, a new play area made possible by Scotiabank.
Story by Kerri Robins; photo by Lisa Sutherland
Kids in Calgary celebrated a big win on April 11 with a good ole hockey game.
Played on the new sports pad at the South Health Campus, the game commemorated a gift of $250,000 from Scotiabank for the Youth Leadership and Recreation Fund — the culmination of a partnership between Alberta Health Services (AHS), YMCA Calgary, Scotiabank and the Calgary Health Trust (CHT).
Even better, it was a fabulous reason to skip school for Robson Lavery, 9, and Morgann Barron, 8.
“This is great. Being able to play here helps us learn how to cooperate with our teammates,” says Robson.
Located at the South Health Campus, the new pad cost $180,000 and allows patients, local kids and the public to participate in a variety of sports.
“The sports pad will allow young program participants to stay active, develop physical literacy and learn the essential life skill of teamwork,” says Helene Weir, President and CEO at the YMCA Calgary.
A further $70,000 was also gifted to the CHT to be shared jointly by the YMCA and AHS to fund and manage programs between the two organizations.
“This is a major contribution in maintaining wellness both physically and emotionally, and we continually see the benefits of giving young people access to facilities that allow them to exercise, participate in sports and have fun,” says Lori Anderson, Senior Operating Officer, South Health Campus, AHS.
Sharing the spotlight with the kids, hometown heroes and Olympic Medalists Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Kelly Bechard co-hosted the inaugural hockey game.
The YMCA at South Health Campus serves more than 500 youth each year through a combination of membership access, recreation and leadership programming and partnership activities with AHS. The YMCA and AHS provide wellness activities to approximately 45 adolescent mental health in-patients each month.
For the Scotiabank’s Laurie Stang, Senior Vice President for the Prairie Region, community is what they’re all about.
“The community is at the heart of everything we do,” says Stang. “Scotiabank is excited to work with the YMCA to give patients and local kids this great new sports pad to play, learn and hopefully make lifelong friendships. Kids are our future leaders and Scotiabank believes in helping to ensure that they have the necessary skills and resources they need to support their success.”
All agree that being partners makes great things happen.
Anderson adds: “Along with our fundraising partners at Calgary Health Trust, we’re thrilled with Scotiabank’s generosity that will be felt in our community for years to come.”
For more information, please visit www.calgaryhealthtrust.ca.
