YMCA of the National Capital Region and Opening Minds launch partnership

Two mission-driven organizations are joining forces to support the mental wellness of employees and, through them, the communities they serve.

The YMCA of the National Capital Region (YMCA NCR) and Opening Minds, an initiative of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), have announced a partnership to help prevent burnout, promote psychological safety, and strengthen mental wellness in the workplace.

The collaboration first started over a year ago in response to feedback from YMCA of the National Capital Region employees identifying burnout prevention and well-being at work as a priority. Led by the YMCA’s Morgan Bello, Vice President of Strategy and Chief of Staff, and Trevor Moses, Director of Client Success at Opening Minds, the goal of this initiative is to do more to support well-being at work for Y employees, ultimately leading to stronger communities.

The partnership was shared with Opening Minds staff on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at Opening Minds’ offices in Ottawa (350 Albert St.) and launched with YMCA of the National Capital Region employees at a hybrid Town Hall on Friday, October 23, 2026.

Opening Minds brings more than a decade of experience delivering evidence-based mental health training to workplaces across Canada. As the foundation for this project, the two organizations have been analyzing YMCA of the National Capital Region employee survey results from 2023 and 2024 to set a baseline for burnout, recognition and resilience; developing a pilot to test how the e-learning program will be rolled out; identifying ways to build on the Y’s existing resource library; and envisioning a Mental Health Champion model, giving Y employees a way to lead as mental wellness Champions. 
 

Photo Caption: On October 21, YMCA of the National Capital Region (YMCA NCR) leaders visited the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC) offices at 350 Albert Street in Ottawa for a lunch and presentation to Opening Minds staff. From L to R: Lili-Anna Pereša, President and CEO, MHCC; Shane Silver, Vice-President, MHCC Opening Minds; Trevor McAlmont, President and CEO, YMCA of the National Capital Region (YMCA NCR); Rebecca Russell, Director of Marketing and Communications, YMCA NCR; Trevor Moses, Director, Client Success, Opening Minds; Morgan Bello, Vice President of Strategy and Chief of Staff, YMCA NCR; Andrew Smith, Vice President, Finance and Housing, YMCA NCR; Laurie Mezger, Associate Vice President, People and Culture; Gabrielle Beaulne, Advisor, Client Success; Audrey Joyal, Director, Experience, MHCC Opening Minds.

On Friday, October 23, Trevor Moses and Audrey Joyal of Opening Minds visited the YMCA’s new corporate offices at 240 Catherine Street for a hybrid Town Hall with Y employees. The presentation gave Y staff a first look at the collaborative partnership, information about what the accessible, online learning experience will look like, a look ahead to the Mental Health Champion model, and the chance to ask questions. Employees from all areas of the Y – including Housing, Child Care, Camps, Health, Fitness, and Aquatics, Employment, Newcomer Services, and Youth Programs – joined virtually alongside leadership in the room. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with staff thanking the Y for listening to their feedback and looking forward to actively participating in this new initiative. 

As next steps, the YMCA of the National Capital Region and Opening Minds will continue to collaborate on the creation of this important learning initiative, with rollout expected over the next year. Both partners see the new program as making a lasting difference for YMCA staff, their families, and the communities they serve: psychologically safer teams help create a safer workplace and, ultimately, safer community experiences. 
 

Photo Caption: Morgan, Audrey, and Trevor share a joyful moment after the co-presentation at the YMCA of the National Capital Region’s new corporate offices at 240 Catherine Street, which welcomed Opening Minds.