My Y story began when I started working at the Kelowna Family YMCA as a wellness coach. At that time, it was meant to be nothing more than a job and a means to support my family. Fast forward to today, I have been with the Y for eight years, have grown personally and professionally, discovered new passions, and became a part of a caring community.
I never planned on staying at the YMCA for this long. Prior to applying for my initial position with the Y, I was training to become a professional wrestler. Unfortunately, after working really hard for a year, I ended up with multiple injuries that prevented me from achieving this goal. This was the turning point in my life when I had to completely re-evaluate my options.
Photo Credit: YMCA of Okanagan
The first step was clear – I knew I had to go back to school, but the thought of that made me nervous. I had no idea if I would be successful – after all, I have been out of school since Grade 12. I ended up pursuing an education in the field of health and fitness and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my studies. In the end, I did really well in my courses and I realized that I had a true passion for this industry.
The next step was a little more difficult. Without a degree or any experience in my pocket, I was not sure I could find a job in the industry. I decided to sign up as a volunteer at the YMCA of Okanagan, and soon after I did, a part-time position for a wellness coach opened up. I was quick to jump on it. Thankfully, I was hired for the role.
Photo Credit: YMCA of Okanagan
This is how I moved from the world of professional wrestling (which I still do, and love) to the fitness and health industry, and quite literally into the Y and its values. At the Y, all of our staff care about the wellbeing of our members and sincerely want to support them as they learn healthy habits to improve both physically and mentally. I think that is the reason why I've stayed with the Y for so long – it is a great fit for my professional goals, as well as my personal values too.
Now, eight years later, I am proudly managing an amazing team at Kelowna Downtown YMCA as a Health, Fitness and Membership Manager. It has been an exciting journey, but not an easy one. Training others was like breathing to me. Figuratively speaking, I could do it with my eyes closed.
Being a manager is a different beast. At times it is stressful, and it has truly challenged my skills and abilities. It has also shaped who I am. In this position, I have learned to communicate effectively and manage the expectations of many people at once. Which includes my staff, our members, our senior leadership team and our community partners who are helping us achieve our mission of building a healthy community. I aspire to be a manager who inspires his team; nurturing a whole crew of leaders who all care about the impact their work has on our community. I want to raise people up and help them realize their goals. Although challenging at times, I have truly enjoyed the learning, growth and a little bit of chaos that comes with my role.
Photo Credit: YMCA of Okanagan
In addition to the profound growth I have experienced personally, I found my community — a place of trust and true connection. Everybody wants to feel accepted, and to have a safe space to go every day. I am no exception. The Y is my safe bubble — a place where we can lean on each other.
If you are interested in working in the health and wellness industry or if you are curious about the culture we are nurturing within our teams, I would encourage you to apply as a staff or volunteer. We are always looking for people to join our Y team.
At the YMCA of Okanagan, we believe we can all become a part of something bigger and inspire positive change by supporting the development of strong individuals, families and the community. Join our team and help us grow the health of our community by encouraging physical fitness, better connection, and the learning of skills needed to achieve success in work and life.
Find your Y today at ymcaokanagan.ca/careers.
