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1950's
The post-war baby boom creates an enormous need for recreational amenities not met by civic facilities. At the same time, a less pro-active leisure activity is imposed upon unsuspecting Victorians - watching television. CHEK-TV makes its debut.
1950 YMCA - At the British Empire Games in Auckland, Victoria Y's Bill Parnell is the golden miler with a winning time of 4:11.0. He also snags the bronze in the 800 metres.
YMCA - The Y's Men's Club is formed. The members' projects include renovation of Camp Thunderbird.
1951 YWCA - Typical weekly schedule: Jr Y-Teens, Y-Ens, English classes for Thursday Niters, Overseas Wives Club, Chatelaine Club, BC Electric Homemaking Course, 60-Up Club, leatherwork, keep-fit classes, dressmaking and designing, Sub-Deb Club dramatics, square dancing, 760 Y Teens, Hi-Y Co-Ed Dance
1955 YWCA - Executive Director Mae Brown is proud to report, "We will never turn a girl away for any reason. We operate around the clock and a bed is always made up."
1956 YWCA - The Y is swamped by baby boomers taking courses in crafts, the latest rage.
1957 YWCA - Discontinued because of lack of demand are the YW's Travellers' Aid service & the annual Christmas dinner for seniors.
YMCA - T.S. McPherson anonymously donates a corner lot on Quadra & Courtney to be used as the new building site. The YM also purchases 2 adjoining lots.
1958 YMCA - Complete amalgamation of the YM & YW is proposed. The planned union would require a new $1 million joint building. Opinions differ widely on the wisdom of integration.
1959 YMCA - Archie McKinnon is badly injured in a clown accident at the Crystal Gardens. To everyone's relief, he recovers.
YWCA - Amalgamation is increasingly seen as the only practical way to deal with a record membership figure of 1,425, increasing by 100 a month.
1960's
Victoria becomes a haven for both young and old - retirees from the Prairies and hippies immersed in the drug culture. The University of Victoria is inaugurated, and the Y is amalgamated.
1960 Art Burgess succeeds retiring Archie McKinnon as Physical Director.
1961 The two Y's officially amalgamate with a joint constitution and board. Mrs AH Sheard is elected as first president. The marriage is rocky at first, but willing hearts work with determination to make the fusion a success.
1962 Philanthropist TS McPherson dies, bequeathing $200,000 toward the new building fund.
1963 The largest fund-raising effort in Victoria's history officially kicks off with Hugh Stevens as chairman of the building drive. A total of $1,250,000 is raised, $100,000 over the objective.
1964 Building cost estimates skyrocket to $1,427,000, leaving a deficit of $180,000. Buoyed by faith in the project, the directors decide to start construction anyway.
1965 The new building opens at 880 Courtney Street. It is designed to accommodate women in residence and 5000 members. Due to changing needs, a men's dorm is not included.
1966 Membership soars to 5,800, and the new building is already obsolete. As the board studies plans for building expansion, the Y reaches out into the community, and uses municipal school, church and private facilities as satellites for new programmes.
1967 Focussing on young people, satellite programmes garner the interest of alienated youth. Leadership training courses are offered for boys & girls aged 12 to 17.
1968 YM-YWCA World Service motto is "Help others help themselves." Victoria young people raise thousands for overseas aid.
1969 "Fitness 69" offers a silver teaspoon to goal setters who compete against themselves in swimming, walking, jogging or cycling.
The Outreach program is inaugurated
1970's
Crystal Garden closes. The employment picture is good & youth culture rules.
1970 Basking in one of its most successful years ever, the Y still owes $150,000 on its new building.
"Ladies' Day Out" provides daycare and a program of activities for moms. Victoria Free Clinic provides free medical and legal advice.
1971 Shirley Main is instrumental in the implementation of the national "ParticipACTION" program.
1972 A whopping deficit of $26,000 in operating costs is blamed on a drop in young members and the poor showing of the cafeteria.
The youth department is granted $12,000 to continue a downtown referral and program centre project under the federal Local Initiatives Program.
1973 Marta Klinovsky and Peter Kopac teach the "Flying Y" gymnastics team, which includes future national champion, Tracy Beer. Few other Canadian Y's stress competitive gymnastics.
1974 The mortgage is burned following a generous donation from the Ford estate.
"Summer Excitement" provides vacation fun for city kids aged 6- 8.
1975 After ten years in the new building, the directors announce a campaign to raise $1,350,000 to expand the facility.
Program director, Ken Currey, organizer of the first extension program at Cordova Bay, broadens the base of Y activities in the community by enhancing leadership skills in young people.
1976 Camp Thunderbird goes co-ed for campers aged 8 to 15.
1977 $870,000 donated to the building campaign falls far short of the objective. Feeling an obligation to the 2000 donors, the board downscales building plans & proceeds with construction.
1978 Co-sponsored by BC Social Workers and the Y, "Prime Time" supports women in middle years re health and employment issues.
Vic West Community Y facility opens
1980's
The recession results in unemployment and financial uncertainty. The population is aging and becoming more health-conscious.
1982 The Building and Equipment Reserve pays for a new, $15,000 resilient floor in the auditorium which is much kinder to joints, hips and backs.
Sally Elliott, Associate Program Director, leads a series of national workshops that train instructors to teach fitness classes to pre- and post- natal women.
1983 Y's Men's Club goes co-ed and changes its name to Y Service Club of Victoria.
Providing support for the unemployed, "Need A Break" is initiated at Victoria Y, the first such program in Canada.
The YM-YWCA Ladies' Auxiliary, originally attached to the YMCA, celebrates 100 years of service in Victoria.
1985 Summer fun for Y kids includes computer camps and BMX cycle racing, while "Streetproofing" workshops teach children self- confidence and how to avoid becoming a victim.
"Youth Outreach" operates in Sooke, Saanich, Langford and Parkside, offering counselling and community-based support to young people.
1986 The Socreds announce a grant of $300,000 to Camp Thunderbird.
1988 Victoria Y's African Aid program helps Gambia Y through drought & starvation.
1989 The Young Mothers' program helps single moms to break the cycle of poverty.
1990's
1990 Saanich starts a well-attended youth drop-in centre, staffed by workers sponsored and paid for by the Y.
1995 The Women of Distinction Awards program is introduced.
Y youth workers hand-deliver Christmas stockings to street kids.
Approximately 400 volunteers enhance Y programs.
1998 The Y's health, fitness and recreation facility opens at Royal Roads University to meet the needs of the West Shore community.
YM-YWCA's medical mobile unit is known simply as the "food van" to youth on the street. The Y's Outreach services help 20 to 60 street kids a night.
1999 The Federal Government sponsors a Young Intern program which encourages self-meaningful employment and self-sufficiency in young people.
Seniors' Strength Training Class provides fun and fitness for its enthusiastic participants.
The Y's Service Club celebrates 50 years of involvement with Camp T by donating $35,000 to ensure that any child can attend summer camp.
"Stitches Across Generations" celebrates the approaching millennium by building relationships between young and old. Seniors crochet blankets that are presented as house-warming gifts to youth making the transition from street life.
2000
Victoria YM-YWCA celebrates 125 years of positive involvement in the life of the city!
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