Lindsey's Story

Lindsey is the Manager of Licensed Child Care at the Dr. Roly Albert Child Care Centre, but her story with the Y began when she was a kid.

Growing up, her parents couldn’t afford most extracurricular activities. Lindsey was over the moon when financial assistance opened the door to YMCA programs. She has fond memories of child minding, swim lessons, and after-school care in both Montreal, Quebec, and Richmond, British Columbia. “It made our lives so much more fun. It made me feel normal, because I got to meet new friends. Those experiences are a big part of why I chose to become a Registered Early Childhood Educator and commit my career to working with the YMCA.”

Lindsey went on to study Early Childhood Education at Algonquin College. After doing a placement at the YMCA of the National Capital Region, she was offered a supply position. This is where she would dedicate the next 19 years of her career.

Lindsey now gets to watch her two sons, 7-year-old Emerson and 11-year-old Cole, grow up with the Y through child care and camp.

Emerson was a bit reserved at first, but his confidence has blossomed through the relationships he’s formed at the Y. “He loves it. He remembers the camp counsellors. His favourite part is that he gets to see friends that he’s made over the years.”

He even takes the initiative to make other children feel welcome, inviting them to play together. “He just makes everybody feel included, and I think he learned that from the Y. I think he could be a camp counsellor now if he weren’t only seven years old!”

Inclusion is also an important part of Cole’s experience at the Y. He has Autism Spectrum Disorder and can sometimes become overwhelmed by group activities. While staff gently encourage him to participate, they’re ready to make accommodations and offer quiet activities like drawing and LEGO. “The camp counsellors have developed a plan with him. If he needs a break or he’s feeling shy, they engage with him one-on-one.”

As a manager, Lindsey sees the value of inclusion embodied in her child care centre every day. The staff and children bring a range of perspectives – whether that be through their culture, abilities, or socioeconomic background. The team finds ways to reflect this diversity through books, activities, and celebrations. “We try to celebrate everybody.”

Throughout her life, Lindsey has experienced the Y through different lenses: as a child, a parent, and a staff member. She’s seen the ripple effects that Y programs can have – not only in her family’s lives, but in her clients’ lives.

There are camp counsellors that I taught when they were in kindergarten. It’s full-circle for me – I was their teacher, now they’re teaching my kids.

When she talks to them now, it reminds her how similar their stories are to her own. “I often hear the same message: their journey with the YMCA started because someone believed in making these opportunities accessible.”