Healthy Communities • Y Stories
Meet your new Cooper Koo Family YMCA team!
29 April 2016 - by Talía Noya
The team at Cooper Koo Family Cherry St. YMCA Centre have been busy getting it all set up for its opening day on May 30. Get to know this experienced group of professionals – they bring a lot of enthusiasm and heart to their work every day!
Fun Fact: Sarah is a year-round cyclist – she also teaches CycleFit several times a week across various Ys and it’s one of her favourite parts of the job!
Sarah has worked for the YMCA for more than 13 years and has never worked for another organization! Being involved in her community is something that has always been important to her. She knows the YMCA can provide meaningful opportunities and help people develop their skills and career. As a teenager, she got her first job as a Camp Counsellor at both Toronto Island and North York YMCA day camps. She quickly realized the YMCA was a good fit with her interests, so she decided to study Political Sciences at the University of Toronto with a focus on Social Policy, Municipal Government and Community Building. During her studies, she began working at West End YMCA where she progressed from working in a variety of children’s programs to managing the Membership department. During these years, she had the chance to help coordinate the centre’s 2006 renovation relaunch and travel to Ghana to establish a sexual education program with the local YMCA. She also found time to study Non-Profit and Fundraising Management at Ryerson to better understand the charitable sector. Before spearheading the Cooper Koo Family Y, Sarah spent five years at Central YMCA as the Senior Director of Programming which allowed her to gain experience in volunteer development, fundraising, community events.
Fun Fact: Caileigh took competitive dance classes that sparked her passion for physical activity.
Caileigh has spent the better part of her life helping others improve their health and wellbeing. Her dance training prompted her to pursue degrees in kinesiology and physical education at Wilfred Laurier University. She started volunteering at the Toronto Central Grosvenor St. YMCA, instructing a variety of aerobics, fitness, and dance classes before deciding the Y was the right workplace for her. Caileigh’s first formal role was as a Health Educator, providing hands-on guidance to members looking to meet personal health and fitness goals. She then became a Group Fitness Specialist. Finally, Caileigh became the Adult Programs Director. In her new role at Cooper Koo Family Y, she will be in charge of all programs which entails choosing the specific programs, planning the schedule, and making sure it all runs smoothly. She will also be involved in recruiting volunteers, hiring staff and training them…and everything else that comes along with opening a brand new facility!
Fun Fact: Michael’s Y Story began in Melbourne, Australia.
Like Caileigh, Michael has a long history with the Y. While attaining his Diploma of Sport & Recreation at the Chisholm Institute in Melbourne, Michael helped manage YMCA sports leagues part-time. After graduating, he began working at other fitness clubs, where he gained his experience in sales. Michael then left for what turned into a two-year trip to England, and eventually, a more permanent move to Canada. He decided to become involved with the YMCA as a part-time staff working the front desk at the Brampton YMCA, where his supervisors noticed his commitment right away – he even developed a cricket program for the Y! Michael quickly moved to Membership Sales, and then into a Membership Specialist Role. After working as a Health and Safety Representative, and Acting Supervisor at the Brampton Y, Michael moved to the West End YMCA, where he became acting Membership Director and Supervisor. Moving into his current role as Membership Sales and Service Supervisor at Cooper Koo Family Y, Michael’s excited to help build an exceptional new centre of community:
Fun Fact: Roshan played professional cricket in India and the UK and is currently playing for Victoria CC in the Toronto cricket league.
Aside from their love of cricket, Michael and Roshan have something else in common – they have both lived and worked around the globe. After obtaining a Mechanical Engineering degree at Anna University in India, Roshan completed post-graduate studies in Engineering Business Management in the UK. He launched his career in the hotel industry of Dubai, as an engineer for a real estate company and Golden Sands Hotel Apartments. In 2014, he moved to Toronto and first experienced the Y when he got help from the employment centre. Back in India, Roshan helped students prepare for job placements. He took a tour of the West End YMCA and was impressed by how friendly and involved the staff were. After working for Strathcona Hotel and Bond Place Hotel, Roshan decided to apply to the Y – he started in January. In his new role he looks forward to maintaining the high standards of the facility.
[mks_pullquote align="left" width="600" size="16" bg_color="#fff" txt_color="#111" border="#333 1px solid"]Get to know Sarah, Caileigh, Michael and Roshan yourself at one of our upcoming free events in the Cooper Koo community! They’ll also be on-site to show you around their new centre during tours starting May 15th. Or, if you want to give the facilities a test-drive, drop into one of their in-centre classes running from May 16th – 27th.[/mks_pullquote]
Sarah
General Manager
Fun Fact: Sarah is a year-round cyclist – she also teaches CycleFit several times a week across various Ys and it’s one of her favourite parts of the job!
Sarah has worked for the YMCA for more than 13 years and has never worked for another organization! Being involved in her community is something that has always been important to her. She knows the YMCA can provide meaningful opportunities and help people develop their skills and career. As a teenager, she got her first job as a Camp Counsellor at both Toronto Island and North York YMCA day camps. She quickly realized the YMCA was a good fit with her interests, so she decided to study Political Sciences at the University of Toronto with a focus on Social Policy, Municipal Government and Community Building. During her studies, she began working at West End YMCA where she progressed from working in a variety of children’s programs to managing the Membership department. During these years, she had the chance to help coordinate the centre’s 2006 renovation relaunch and travel to Ghana to establish a sexual education program with the local YMCA. She also found time to study Non-Profit and Fundraising Management at Ryerson to better understand the charitable sector. Before spearheading the Cooper Koo Family Y, Sarah spent five years at Central YMCA as the Senior Director of Programming which allowed her to gain experience in volunteer development, fundraising, community events.
I think what the Y does is exceptionally important. We help build community. I love working on the front lines because you get to see the difference the Y makes every day. I am fortunate enough to have worked at multiple YMCAs - all of which have fostered positive environments for staff, volunteers, members and the community. Yet each Y is so different. I'm excited to build another effective and unique Y; creating new pockets of community and a positive impact on the health of the neighbourhood.”
Caileigh
Senior Director, Member Experience & Programs
Fun Fact: Caileigh took competitive dance classes that sparked her passion for physical activity.
Caileigh has spent the better part of her life helping others improve their health and wellbeing. Her dance training prompted her to pursue degrees in kinesiology and physical education at Wilfred Laurier University. She started volunteering at the Toronto Central Grosvenor St. YMCA, instructing a variety of aerobics, fitness, and dance classes before deciding the Y was the right workplace for her. Caileigh’s first formal role was as a Health Educator, providing hands-on guidance to members looking to meet personal health and fitness goals. She then became a Group Fitness Specialist. Finally, Caileigh became the Adult Programs Director. In her new role at Cooper Koo Family Y, she will be in charge of all programs which entails choosing the specific programs, planning the schedule, and making sure it all runs smoothly. She will also be involved in recruiting volunteers, hiring staff and training them…and everything else that comes along with opening a brand new facility!
Even on days when we’re running around doing all kinds of behind-the-scenes work, it’s great to just be able to take a step back and have a moment where you realize: ‘this is why we’re doing this…’ because everything we run here and that we offer brings people together! We want everyone to come here and feel safe, and to leave feeling good with themselves.”
Michael
Membership Sales & Service Supervisor
Fun Fact: Michael’s Y Story began in Melbourne, Australia.
Like Caileigh, Michael has a long history with the Y. While attaining his Diploma of Sport & Recreation at the Chisholm Institute in Melbourne, Michael helped manage YMCA sports leagues part-time. After graduating, he began working at other fitness clubs, where he gained his experience in sales. Michael then left for what turned into a two-year trip to England, and eventually, a more permanent move to Canada. He decided to become involved with the YMCA as a part-time staff working the front desk at the Brampton YMCA, where his supervisors noticed his commitment right away – he even developed a cricket program for the Y! Michael quickly moved to Membership Sales, and then into a Membership Specialist Role. After working as a Health and Safety Representative, and Acting Supervisor at the Brampton Y, Michael moved to the West End YMCA, where he became acting Membership Director and Supervisor. Moving into his current role as Membership Sales and Service Supervisor at Cooper Koo Family Y, Michael’s excited to help build an exceptional new centre of community:
I didn’t grow up playing ice hockey or drinking double-doubles, but in the three years I’ve been here, I’ve found ways to connect with people and build those relationships – which I think is the most important thing to establish in the new community we’re moving into. We’re hoping we can be a hub for the people who live here.”
Roshan
Facility Manager
Fun Fact: Roshan played professional cricket in India and the UK and is currently playing for Victoria CC in the Toronto cricket league.
Aside from their love of cricket, Michael and Roshan have something else in common – they have both lived and worked around the globe. After obtaining a Mechanical Engineering degree at Anna University in India, Roshan completed post-graduate studies in Engineering Business Management in the UK. He launched his career in the hotel industry of Dubai, as an engineer for a real estate company and Golden Sands Hotel Apartments. In 2014, he moved to Toronto and first experienced the Y when he got help from the employment centre. Back in India, Roshan helped students prepare for job placements. He took a tour of the West End YMCA and was impressed by how friendly and involved the staff were. After working for Strathcona Hotel and Bond Place Hotel, Roshan decided to apply to the Y – he started in January. In his new role he looks forward to maintaining the high standards of the facility.
I have always liked hospitality and had never dreamt of working outside the hotel industry, but the YMCA takes hospitality to a whole new level. What separates the Y from other centers is that the YMCA is a family and members feel and use the YMCA as a second home.”
[mks_pullquote align="left" width="600" size="16" bg_color="#fff" txt_color="#111" border="#333 1px solid"]Get to know Sarah, Caileigh, Michael and Roshan yourself at one of our upcoming free events in the Cooper Koo community! They’ll also be on-site to show you around their new centre during tours starting May 15th. Or, if you want to give the facilities a test-drive, drop into one of their in-centre classes running from May 16th – 27th.[/mks_pullquote]
