Celebrating National Volunteer Week with the Heart of Our Community

At YMCA Calgary, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. They are the welcoming faces, the encouraging voices and the steady presence that helps create spaces where everyone feels they belong. During National Volunteer Week, we take a moment to recognize and thank the individuals who give their time, energy and care to strengthen our community every day.

Over the past year, 2,085 volunteers have contributed more than 130,605 hours across YMCA Calgary. Each hour represents time spent supporting others and creating a stronger, more inclusive community.

Here’s how our volunteers showed up across YMCA Calgary: 

• Member Services: 515 volunteers
• Weight Floor: 471 volunteers 
• Community Programs: 765 volunteers  
• Group Fitness Classes: 189 volunteers

This year, we are especially proud to celebrate one of our long-standing volunteers whose impact continues to be felt in so many ways.

For nearly 50 years, Janet Kurka has been building community through movement, connection and care. Since beginning her volunteer journey in 1976, and for almost 30 years with YMCA Calgary, Janet has dedicated her time to creating welcoming and supportive spaces where people feel seen, encouraged and connected.
 

Today, at the Saddletowne YMCA, Janet leads weekly Gentle Fitness and Gentle Stretch classes, primarily supporting older adults. What she creates goes far beyond exercise. Her classes provide consistency, encouragement and a sense of connection, helping participants feel seen, supported and part of a community. For many, these sessions are a cornerstone of their physical health and social well-being.

As Tyson Moore, Health & Fitness Supervisor at Saddletowne YMCA shares, “Janet is a rock-star instructor who’s well liked, respected, innovative and dedicated. She’s the one person you can always count on to get anyone moving, especially within our senior community.”

Janet’s impact also reaches beyond the walls of the YMCA. Through outreach initiatives with organizations like Silvera for Seniors, she brings accessible fitness programming directly to those who may face barriers to participation. In one memorable collaboration with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Janet led a Gentle Fitness seated class accompanied by live orchestral music, creating a unique experience that brought movement, music and connection.  

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Janet and to all our amazing volunteers who make YMCA Calgary what it is. Your time, compassion and dedication create welcoming spaces, foster connection and strengthen our community every day. Because of you, the YMCA is more than just a place, it’s a community where everyone belongs.