As 2025 comes to an end, we reflect back on our year’s work, building warm and caring “homes away from home” for kids living in marginalized communities. Our centres help kids thrive in school, in their friendships and in life. We’re continuing to offer a “safe place to be a kid” both after school and during the school breaks, providing welcoming and cozy spaces where young people are mentored, fed and given the chance to engage in healthy activities. 2025 has been a great year!

Let me tell you a few stories of some of our kids. S is a 12-year-old who began coming to our Forest Lawn house in the fall. When he first arrived, he was shy, quiet and slightly awkward. He kept to himself and didn’t say much. It seemed to us he just needed a place to warm up and grab some food. Often in those early days he’d leave as quietly as he’d arrived, silently sliding in and out the door with his head down. That’s always OK with us. We meet each and every kid exactly where they are.

Over the weeks and months, S began to arrive more often, with a smile on his face and a pep in his step, still quiet, but obviously happy to be in the house. As he got to know the other kids, he was increasingly welcomed at the door with ‘Hi S!” and he seemed to become more at ease. Eventually he began to stay until the close of day, often pitching in with the other kids doing chores. I’m not sure when I started to notice S’s growing popularity, but it was clear to everyone that he had charisma. Now, on any given day, we’ll see S walking through the bright green door, chin high and shoulders back, to cheers and shouts of “S is here!!” and then the kids go back to what they were doing: playing sports, doing art, reading, cooking or just chatting. Some of his friends have endearing nicknames for him. S has achieved almost rock star status. I asked one of our crew “What is it about S that has everyone so excited?” And she answered, “I don’t know – he’s just a great guy!” From a shy kid slipping in, hoping to be unnoticed, S has become much beloved by all.

What I have learned running YCC’s two houses is that every day after school and during the “off school days” the kids feel they are coming home to a place where they are welcomed and where everyone belongs. As one of our 9-year-olds said —“YCC is a place where you can just be you”.

Here’s another story. One day in early November, I pulled up to our Ogden house to find a group of kids dry-land training with their toboggans on the grass. The born and raised Canadian and Ukrainian kids were patiently explaining to new friends the tricks of tobogganing in anticipation of the first snowfall. Imagine their delight when the actual snow fell, a first for some. And now they are out almost every day. With the basketball courts now iced up, those same kids are being fitted with skates and helmets for the Learn-To- Skate and hockey programs. We want everyone to be able to take full advantage of the winter weather and outdoor fun. For kids who arrive without we also provide coats, snowpants, mitts and boots. And when the games are done, the kids head inside to a hot meal, snacks or maybe some hot chocolate, served by the “mom in the kitchen” with love.

Throughout this year, we’ve been supporting kids in their studies so that they can achieve to the best of their abilities, while also having fun. There is one boy we’ll call B who is 12 years old, sharp-witted and renowned for his sense of humour and the anime drawings he sketches in the margins of his notebook when practicing long division and fractions. B is part of a growing community of “homework kids” who now meet around the harvest tables most days. This young boy is showing the other kids that math and social studies can be fun. B’s enthusiasm is contagious; he’s made homework “cool”. The staff—many of whom are students—act as role models in their commitment to learning. While pencils scratch and keyboards click, we also hear sounds of piano and drums from the music room where young YCC music students practice and prepare for lessons and concerts.

Kids like S, B, and the group of tobogganers are all learning patience, kindness and skills. They are building a solid foundation that will allow them to aim high and achieve their goals in life, with YCC by their side. We cheer them all on, and we do it with love.

Our final story is about our donors and volunteers, so generous with their resources and time. Yesterday, we gave out over 150 holiday gift boxes personally curated for families in need. Included in all the boxes were grocery gift cards for holiday meals, gifts and treats to suit the age and stage of the family members. Some donors filled their own boxes, and others donated funds so that our volunteers could shop. We also provided donor-funded gift cards to an additional 120+ families identified through our work in the communities as in need of assistance this year. If we include all household members, that’s over 1500 people whose holidays have been made easier and brighter, all because of many of you. At distribution there were tears of joy and abundant thanks by the families deeply touched by such kindness.

This is the spirit of YCC, and the spirit of the holidays.

Happy holidays, friends.

With love and gratitude,

Jane 💚 ❤️

Note: YCC’s Long Term Sustainability Fund was established in 2025. This fund will ensure the financial stability and growth of our work. I would love to share with you additional details on our goals and our progress to date. Please keep YCC – Youth Centres of Calgary in mind in your charitable giving this year. The need is real.

Please drop by anytime, I would love to give you a tour and allow you to see first-hand the impact you are having on many young lives. 💚 ❤️

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