Youth disengagement is largely a myth. Instead, it is busy adults and overstretched institutions that have too often stopped reaching out to young people. The finding was included in a panel discussion held as part of the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s 154th Annual Meeting on Oct. 25 at the Metro-Central YMCA auditorium.

The theme of this year’s meeting was ‘Connecting with Youth,’ and for the 220 guests in attendance there were plenty of opportunities to connect with youth and with each other.

Starting the evening was a ‘Youth Zone’ featuring booths with engaging displays that highlighted eight of the YMCA’s youth programs, and allowed adult members to meet with our young members and learn more.

Forty members of the YMCAs Youth Leader Corp (YLC) were invited to attend the annual meeting and enthusiastically took part in all aspects of the evening.

Following the official business segment of the meeting—during which the Association’s financial statements were approved and the new Board of Directors elected—a panel discussion was held, highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with engaging with Youth, and outlining the YMCA’s approach.

Moira MacDougall, chair of the YMCA’s Teen and Young Adult Task Force, moderated the discussions which included guest speakers Amy Langstaff of Environics, Stoney McCart of the Centre of Excellence in Youth Engagement, Nadia Bacchus, a YLC advisor, and Misha Gaur, a member of the Stouffville Employment YLC. The panelists provided a content-rich and diverse presentation that focused on the YMCA’s model of youth engagement—a continuum of research, implementation and evaluation.

The annual meeting also marked Sandy McIntyre’s final meeting as Chair of the YMCA Board of Directors. Mr. McIntyre and retiring Board members Don McCreesh, Karen Takenaka and Douglas Lawson were recognized for their long standing service to the YMCA.

To find out more about the YMCA’s connections with youth and our many other accomplishments, the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s 2006-2007 annual report is now available.