When Pat White began thinking about retiring from her senior-level executive position with a Calgary-based energy company, she knew she wanted to use what she learned during her career to serve her community. Little did she anticipate the journey awaiting her during her tenure on the Board, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, where Pat found herself guiding the YMCA through uncharted waters of closures, challenges, and the health and safety of the community.
"In 2017, I heard that the YMCA Calgary was recruiting new board members and thought it might be a great fit for me," Pat says.
Pat was appointed as a board director that year. By 2020, she became board chair and, in 2022, she stepped into the past-chair role. Now, with seven years of steadfast dedication under her belt, Pat is getting ready to bid farewell to the YMCA Calgary Board of Directors at the upcoming annual general meeting in May.
Pat’s multi-decade career focused on culture, people, and organizational effectiveness. “I enjoyed helping shape organizations to be the best they could be by focusing on their people,” she says.
Pat’s involvement with YMCA Calgary presented yet another avenue for leveraging her expertise to empower individuals to ignite their full potential.
"When I was thinking of joining the board, I toured Saddletowne YMCA and heard kids telling stories and saw others being tutored, watched seniors playing cards, and saw teenage boys playing basketball," Pat recounts. "It was seeing all of these people together in one wonderful space that confirmed this is where I wanted to be and contribute."
Her initiation into the role of board chair coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting her at the forefront of navigating the YMCA through periods of uncertainty.
"I watched the organization navigate this huge crisis with such care for people," she reflects. "It was so inspiring."
Pandemic restrictions had an enormous impact on the organization’s employees and volunteers, its role in the community, and its programming.
“We had to continually pivot, changing our offerings and ensuring continued support for the community where and how it was needed,” she remembers. “We were so fortunate to be able to make it through such a difficult time as an organization.”
Pat’s contributions to the board of directors during her tenure are unmatched. From the sale of Eau Claire YMCA to opening two new YMCA Calgary branches and helping shape Navigate, the YMCA’s 10-year strategy, she’s truly seen it all and played an instrumental role in the success of YMCA Calgary.
Among the highlights of Pat’s time on the board, one event stands out vividly – attending the international YMCA World Council gathering in Aarhus, Denmark, in 2022.
“More than 2,000 people attended, with more online. Even though every YMCA does things a little differently, it was so amazing to see how we are all guided by the same values and principles. Every person there was a volunteer trying to make their corner of the world a better place.”
As she looks back on her tenure with the YMCA Calgary board, Pat feels a profound sense of fulfillment.
"The values of YMCA Calgary are truly a reflection of what I see happening there every day," she affirms. "For some organizations, their value statements are aspirational, but the values of YMCA Calgary are an actual reflection of the reality I see there."
As for what's next for Pat, she wants to stay involved with the YMCA and is currently exploring what that may look like.
“I love that the YMCA is a community hub. I love it when I’m working out there and can see kids from the daycare playing or involved in an activity; hear youth playing hockey; and just be around the energy of others,” she says.
Her departure from the board may mark the end of an era, but Pat's unwavering dedication ensures that her presence will endure, intertwined with the fabric of the YMCA community.
“I see myself as always being connected to the YMCA in some way.”