It’s hard to keep a smile off your face at YNCU’s Motivate 2 Skate events. The joy from the participants and volunteers is infectious, bringing warmth to the cold Canadian winter months.
Launched last fall in Sault Ste. Marie, Motivate 2 Skate offers free skating lessons to international students in post-secondary, or elementary school-aged children. The program is designed to give people the chance to learn one of Canada’s favourite pastimes, and encourage them to get out on the ice and enjoy all that our brisk winters have to offer.
Last year, Motivate 2 Skate had successful rounds in Sault Ste. Marie, Waterloo Region and Woodstock. YNCU volunteers are eager to get on the ice again for this winter season, and there will be plenty more participants looking forward to learning a new skill as the temperature drops. There was an incredible sense of camaraderie between the instructors and the students, and they loved seeing familiar faces return week after week. People grew more confident with each lesson, and many went on to skate out on their own. As for the volunteers, YNCU heard so many stories about the incredible time they had teaching community members out on the ice. Many have already expressed their interest in volunteering for another session when Motivate 2 Skate hits the ice again this fall.
As YNCU prepares for the return of Motivate 2 Skate, they are calling on community support to help them make the event a success this year and for many years to come. Starting August 28, branches in Sault Ste. Marie, London, Cambridge, Kitchener/Waterloo, and Mitchell will be collecting gently used skates and helmets, which will be used for Motivate 2 Skate participants this year. Many participants don’t have equipment and may not be able to afford it for themselves. Your generous donations will go a long way, helping YNCU bring as many participants into this season’s program as they can. Donations will remain open until the end of 2023.
We know that winters are long and cold, but heading to an outdoor rink has always been a fundamental part of keeping us happy throughout those bitter cold months. They hope everyone who took part in Motivate 2 Skate last year has the chance to spend time on the ice this winter, and look forward to seeing even more participants for this year’s sessions.
More information about Motivate 2 Skate and the skate and helmet drive is available here.
ABOUT YNCU
With 17 branches and a network of surcharge-free ATMs, Ontarians can access financial services close to home across southwestern and northern Ontario. At $2 billion+ in assets under administration and 53,000 members strong (and growing!), YNCU is one of the largest credit unions in Ontario. As a community-based organization, not only do YNCU’s partnerships and investments make a difference, its employees live and work in the communities they serve. YNCU’s foundation is built on connectedness to the communities where it operates. Yearly the organization sets aside a minimum of 1% of the pre-tax profit earned by the credit union in the previous fiscal year to be used for charitable organizations and associations that share its focus on improving our communities. Together with its members, employees and community partners, YNCU is helping to make life better in the places Ontarians live, work, learn and play!
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