voLunteering iS one of the true StrengthS of
the ymcAs of Québec. it is thanks to the dedication of some 1,450 volunteers that we can successfully fulfill our mission. our volunteers contribute to the well-being of individuals and the community by helping us provide the necessary programs and services. volunteering also enriches the lives of those who do it. We offer various volunteering opportunities that take into consideration the interests, abilities, and availabilities of every individual.
frAnçoiS bertrAnD, retiree, voLunteer, AnD...
hAppy
After having enjoyed a sales and marketing career in the plastics industry, François Bertrand retired at age 54. Still feeling young and full of energy, he had no intention of sitting idly for the rest of his days. He contemplated a second career.
Since François enjoys being exposed to different cultures, he studied international development and took Spanish classes offered at the YMCA. Still, he wanted to do more; he wanted to help others. No sooner said than done, he signed up to volunteer at the Covered Garden,2
a Y Residence program that
welcomes asylum-seekers from around the world. He volunteered there for three years.
It was during a gathering of all Canadian YMCAs at the YMCA National Conference in Winnipeg - Portage 2009 - a conference he was invited to take part in - that he fully grasped “everything that the Y stands for” and the scope of his humanitarian and social calling.
Today, François is chair of the Local Advisory Council and chair of the 2011 YMCA Strong Kids Campaign at the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Y centre located in his neighbourhood. “Aside from feeling like I’ve contributed to my community, I’ve created a new network for myself, surely better than on Facebook! And the people at the Y are extremely appreciative.”
François, a “member-donor-volunteer” in Y lingo, has a smile that speaks volumes on his state of mind. “Volunteering gives more to me than I give to others.”
1 Statistics Canada - 2007 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering, and Participating. 2 Today, the “Community Initiatives of the Residence of The YMCAs of Québec”.
In 1894, the Y opened the first summer camp in Québec.
The YMCAs of Québec - 9
“the beSt thingS in Life
Are free.” François
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