‘Sharing our collective treasure’ – Niger and Ukraine join World YMCA as 21st World Council gets underway in Toronto
Date: 19 July 2026
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Mark 1, 14-15). “And that ‘treasure’ is in each of us; it’s our collective treasure; and we’re called to share it”, said Rev. Dori Gorman, chaplain at the YMCA Middle Tennessee, USA at the opening devotion today.
As voting delegates gathered in the prequel to the welcome ceremony tomorrow, the Chair of the Board of Directors of YMCA Canada, Barbara Grantham, told them: “Do not underestimate the scale of both the humility and the humanity of our global YMCA impact.”
Governance
112 voting delegates from 56 YMCA National Movements took part. They adopted statutory items like the agenda, the rules of the meeting, and the composition of its Steering Committee, as well as motions about the Executive Committee.
Henceforth YMCA Area Alliances (Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean) will not be members of the World Alliance of YMCAs, though they will retain key governance roles on the World YMCA Executive Committee. A proposal to ‘stagger’ elections – aiming to avoid the loss of institutional memory at the simultaneous turnover of Secretaries-General and Executive Committee members - was not passed.
Two YMCA National Movements – Niger and Ukraine – were warmly welcomed to the worldwide YMCA family as associate members of the World Alliance. Niger was praised for its youth empowerment programmes, and Executive Committee member Sarah Bremner quoted YMCA Ukraine: “Do not view us as victims of our current conflict situation: we are growing in this storm.”
Delegates adopted a new Membership Framework – a mutual agreement, requested by National Movements, between them and World YMCA, underscoring their responsibilities and obligations to each other.
A new ‘purpose clause’ defining World YMCA in its registration with its host Swiss authorities, was adopted. It modifies lines used since the 1940s to align with current day realities.
The governance session ended with 18 candidates standing for election to the World YMCA Executive Committee presented on stage: elections will be conducted on 21 July.
National General Secretaries meet
In the afternoon, nearly 300 World Council ‘first-timers’ were introduced to the complexities of the 5-day event to follow, while 50 National General Secretaries (NGS) met.
16 NGS have left since the last World Council in Aarhus in 2022, and 20 have joined. “This is a precious fellowship of YMCA leaders,” said World YMCA Secretary-General Carlos Sanvee.
Peter Dinsdale, CEO of YMCA Canada, introduced the World Council hosts, present in 1700 locations and serving 2 million people across Canada, largely through ‘gym/swim’ and childcare programmes.
Phil Dwyer, of the World Fellowship of YMCA Retirees, shared the ways in which former YMCA employees in need are supported in times of crisis.
Lucie Jeffrey, the World Council Safeguarding Officer, presented the Code of Conduct governing the event.
NGS will meet again in person in Greece in February 2027.
From the World Council… to the World Cup Watch Party
The energy was high as 500 World Council delegates came together to watch Spain and Argentina play in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. These celebrations happening at the same time this week - World Council and World Cup - showcase some of the best things that unite us worldwide.
