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11 | Friday June 9, 2 0 1 7 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | w w w .insidehalton.com YMCA inspires people to stay fit and help others by Nathan Howes Oakville Beaver Staff For Grace Churchill, the Peter Gilgan YMCA of Oakville has inspired her to take care of herself and others. A leadership coach and motivational speaker, Churchill shared her story May 29 of how the YMCA helped her, particularly after having heart surgery at age 46. And Debbie Papo, whose son finally got into school after moving from Argentina, also discussed her YMCA experiences, at the Oakville Ys annual general meeting. The AGM launched the Ys 2017 2022 strategic plan on how the Y will evolve over the next 10 years. "I am inspired to take care of myself. I'm inspired to do good for my community As residents of this great community, I believe we have a responsibility to give back. You can always count on me to be a big cheerleader for the Y and other non profits in town," said Churchill. She first joined the YMCA after graduating from the University of British Columbia in 1995, taking on the role of membership manager at the Vancouver office. YIMCA of Oakville i l d i r w j U e . r a f H "/ \r r t r w m U A I f l £ S From left, Juan Pisano, 14, his mother, Debbie Papo, and Grace Churchill, a leadership coach and motivational speaker. The latter two spoke of their YMCA experiences at the Oakville group's annual general meeting May 29. | Nathan Howes/Metroland A few years later, Churchill moved to Ontario and despite a full-time career and two children, remained involved with the Y. "I learned how to be an inspiring leader, how to operate with the utmost integrity and how to truly be an honest, caring, respectful and responsible human being," she said. In February 2013, Churchill discovered she had an aortic aneurysm "the size of a "baseball," and had open-heart surgery "This was a real reflection point in my life," she recalled. After the operation and complications from it, she was reintroduced to the Y in January 2014 enrolling in its cardiac rehab program. "The cardiac rehab program was my safe place. As I walked on the track every week, I realized the importance of having a consistent balance of self care, reflection time and community outside of work," said Churchill. She said the YMCAk after-school program has been an "absolute godsend" as it allowed her to take on a leadership role as the director of marketing strategy and fundraising at the Oakville Public Tibrary "During this time, my kids were never far from the Y. Aside from after-school care, they had birthday parties, swimming lessons and they participated in summer camps throughout their childhood at Y locations all around the region." Meanwhile, Papo' s son, Juan Pisano, 14, has Asperger' s syndrome and was hospitalized 36 times and had five surgeries in Argentina. In Grade 1, he was asked to leave school. "I did absolutely everything I could to try to incorporate him into the educational system, but this was going to take too long," said Papo. After three years of unsuccessfully trying, they moved to Oakville, while her husband stayed in Argentina. Upon arrival, they had mattresses, forks, spoons and one knife. Their luck changed when a friend of Papo' s told her about the YMCA, which helped them with membership costs for her son, so he could participate in activities. She said the local YMCA has made a significant difference in their lives. "I was here and Juan was accepted for the first time in his life, in activities. I couldn't believe it. It made a huge change to our lives. We were respected as humans. Back home, we were not," said Papo. YMCA Oakville president and CEO Kyle Barber said the AGM is also a time "when we look ahead to the future," noting in 2017, it will look forward in a different, "very exciting way" with its new strategic plan. The YMCA has plans to continue to invest in its facilities. It will also implement technology common to YMCAs across Canada focused on membership. The local Y is looking to improve the customer experience, product quality, data management and accountability. "As you look around the room tonight, at the faces of those featured on our story boards and those in attendance, I'm sure you'll agree -- this is why we do the work we do," said Barber. For more information, visit www. ymcaofoakville.org/. Doctors recom m end the k y B o o t "kyBoots help you keep balance and activate your muscles, from your toes to your back: they are helpful in the treatment of pain in the heels and forefeet, and are a method of choice to support the treatment o f pain in the Achilles tendon and back." D r. M arkus M u ller, specialistinorthopaedic surgery, footsurgerypractitioner, Lucerne KyBoots will help you with.... 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