– October 4, 2021 SAINT JOHN, NB – The YMCA of Greater Saint John is relaunching an exciting program to develop leadership skills of Saint John youth and help them gain valuable life skills.

The 2021-22 Y Lead program returns again this fall after a very successful inaugural campaign in 2020-21. Through Y Lead, youth from Grades 8 to 12 become confident, pro-social Saint Johners, and leaders-in-training. Participants learn about decision-making, time management, community involvement and volunteerism, entrepreneurship, healthy living, and so much more.

“I signed up for Y Lead because I’m not very social and wanted to challenge myself and meet new people,” said Calder, a participant from last season’s Y Lead Program. “I love how welcoming it was and the people were very supportive, kind and you can be yourself with no judgement whatsoever. I would recommend Y Lead to my peers as it is a great way to meet new people and gain confidence if you aren’t comfortable.”

The Y Lead Program was made possible through the generosity of two corporate sponsors – Emera New Brunswick and Canaport LNG.

“We believe the youth in our community have so much to offer and we are happy to support their development through our sponsorship of the Y Lead program,” said Ryan O’Hara, General Manager, Emera New Brunswick. “Creating as environment where individuals can learn and share experiences is a hallmark of the YMCA and their commitment to creating a caring community.”

 “We are happy to continue to support the Y Lead Program,” said Courtney Jones, General Manager, Canaport LNG.  “Providing opportunities for youth to reach their full potential is important to us. This program’s focus on developing leadership and encouraging community participation is a wonderful learning experience for students in our community.”

Participants in the program will host fundraising initiatives and volunteer for a variety of community organizations to help grow a variety of leadership skills. They can carry their newly developed skills with them for the rest of their lives and implement them in new ways every day.

“We’re really thankful for the support we’ve received from Emera New Brunswick and Canaport LNG for this amazing program,” said Shilo Boucher, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Saint John. “Through our sponsors support, we are helping youth develop skills in life and leadership.”

The duration of the program is nine months, with 2-hour meetings held weekly.  The Junior Group, ages 12 to 15, is accepting 20 participants, and the Senior Group (16-18) will also have 20 spots available.

Spaces are limited. Submit your résumé and cover letter to: youthleadership@saintjohny.ca. All participants will receive a free Y membership for the duration of the program & additional swag from our sponsors!

About the YMCA of Greater Saint John
The YMCA of Greater Saint John is a trusted charity that delivers lasting personal and social change. We are committed to nurturing the potential of children, youth and families, promoting healthy living and fostering social responsibility within the community. There are 19 locations throughout Greater Saint John.  Together, we serve more than 22,000 people. Our focus on providing a sense of belonging and accessibility means we serve people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through all stages of life. Through the Y’s Strong Communities Fund, we are accessible to everyone.

 

About Emera New Brunswick
Emera New Brunswick, a subsidiary of Emera Inc., is headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick and owns and operates the Brunswick Pipeline, a 145-kilometer natural gas transmission pipeline that delivers natural gas from the Canaport Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal near Saint John, New Brunswick to markets in Canada and the US Northeast.

Emera Inc. is a geographically diverse energy and energy services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia with approximately $30-billion in assets and 2017 revenues of more than $6-billion. The company invests in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, gas transmission and distribution and utility energy services with a strategic focus on transformation from high-carbon to low-carbon energy sources. Emera has investments throughout North America and four Caribbean countries.

About Canaport LNG
Canaport LNG is a state-of-the-art LNG receiving and regasification terminal in Saint John, NB and is the first LNG terminal in Canada. Canaport LNG is proud to bring safe, clean energy to our Saint John community and beyond. We understand our responsibilities to be a good citizen in our community and we are committed to being a good neighbor.