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YMCA LiveWell

Providing accessible, personalized, evidence-based community wellness programming across Nova Scotia

I used to swim a lot but now I realized I needed to do more. I am glad I heard about the program from my doctor. My low back pain has improved, and my overall fitness has to. I wish to continue for as long as possible

Anonymous

YMCA LiveWell is a group exercise program that focuses on improving the physical and health of Nova Scotians with chronic conditions.*

*Chronic conditions are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention, or limit activities of daily living or both. 

Check out this video of what to expect in the Active for Life class. 

YMCA LiveWell programs:

  • Create smooth transitions for patients between hospital care and community health.
  • Deliver care in the most appropriate setting for promoting and sustaining health and wellness.
  • Improve health outcomes of individuals with a focus on secondary prevention and chronic disease self-management.
  • Reduce health disparities through the elimination of both real and perceived barriers to participation.

 

YMCA LiveWell supports both physician and self-referrals and offers a comprehensive intake process, supervision, and progression within a socially supportive environment. It embraces a person-centric approach that focuses on secondary prevention and chronic disease self-management. LiveWell encourages participants to take control of their own health.

YMCA LiveWell Programs

Assessment by LiveWell staff

Meet with our qualified staff for a detailed assessment where we get to know you, your abilities and limitations to make sure you are exercising safely while progressing over time.

Individualized group exercise instruction

Begin your YMCA journey with our group exercise classes instructed by a quailed exercise professional who will give you individualized modifications.

Transition to YMCA Fitness Classes

Let us guide you in a transition to other group fitness classes the YMCA has to offer to keep you committed on your physical activity and exercise journey!

Active for Life

Active for Life is designed to improve strength, balance, and general fitness for anyone managing a chronic disease. This program is intended for those with risk factors or who have stable medical conditions following medical treatment from a chronic disease diagnosis.

Small Steps for Big Changes

Small Steps for Big Changes is a free program to help you lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Read More

MoveWell

With a focus on mobility and intentional movement, this class also mixes in resistance and cardiovascular training for a well-rounded hour of exercise and use of our facility. This class is geared towards older adults and individuals managing chronic conditions.


Phone: 902-222-5889
Email: [email protected]

Access the enrollment referral form for healthcare providers to enroll their patients in the program by clicking here:

 
Heart Wise and the YMCA
heart wise loog.png

Our health management programs follow Heart Wise exercise guidelines developed by the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. A program or class at our YMCA that is designated and approved as heart wise will have the heart wise exercise logo. Heart wise exercise classes meet the following criteria:  

  • Encourages regular, daily aerobic exercise
  • Encourages and incorporates warm up, cool down and self-monitoring with all exercise sessions
  • Allows participants to exercise at a safe level and offers options to modify intensity
  • Includes participants with chronic health conditions – physician approval may be required
  • Offers health screening for all participants
  • Has a documented emergency plan that is known to all exercise leaders, including the requirement of current CPR certification, phone access to local paramedic services and presence of a defibrillator. 

Approved heart wise program classes cover different types of exercise with different levels of intensity.  

Please visit Ottawa Heart Institute for further information 

Financial Assistance

We are committed to eliminating financial barriers and providing everyone the opportunity to participate in YMCA programs and services. A YMCA financially assisted membership offers access to the same facilities, programs, and services at a reduced rate.

YMCA Financial Assistance Program

Important Links

Programs

Locations

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Located in Mi’kma’ki, the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth acknowledges and respects the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people.

Purdy's Wharf

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Kelly


Director of Purdy’s Wharf Child Care Centre

“I graduated from St. Joseph’s College in 2006 and have been working in the early childhood field for almost 20 years now. My passion has always been centered around the health and wellbeing of all children, and fostering a warm, welcoming atmosphere where children feel safe and secure. Family means the world to me, and I look forward to bringing that love and care into my work.”

Mandeep


Assistant Director Purdy’s Wharf Child Care Centre

"I’ve worked with the YMCA since June 2021 and my passion is to work with preschoolers. On my personal time, I enjoy listening to music, reading books and spending time with my little ones."

Marg

"I have been with the Y as an ECE for over 38 years. My greatest achievement was developing the Grand friends' program which brings together children from the Y with residents of nearby geriatric facilities and promotes social and emotional elements."

Jobanpreet

"I believe that every child is a different kind of flower and all together, makes this world a beautiful garden. My hobbies are listening to music and travelling to new places."

Kiranpreet

"I started working with the YMCA in august 2022. I really like being around and playing with little ones and I’m so grateful that the “Y” gave me an opportunity to do what I love!"

Supreet

"My interests include cooking, drawing, and listening to music. I love to work with children, and I believe that only if the success feels like your own, it can be both happy and valuable."

Satinder

"I really enjoy working with children and this is a great chance for me to do what I love! My hobbies are reading, travelling, and exploring different places. I encourage students to actively play and explore new things with their friends (based on their interests).

Manisha

"I am graduate from Conestoga College, Ontario. I am so grateful to be a toddler teacher. In my spare time, I love cooking and exploring new places."

Fall River

Mandy


Director of Fall River Early Learning Child Care Centre

 "I've been a part of the YMCA in Alberta, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I am honoured to be a part of building stronger communities through supporting families and most importantly children!"

Alex


Assistant Director of Fall River

"I love building relationships with the children and watching them discover new interests. On my personal time, I enjoy reading, listening to music and spending time with my family."

Jenna

" I am an ECE who is passionate about inclusion, and I strive to create warm environments where everyone thrives and feels supported."

Michelle

"I have worked as an RECE with the YMCA of Greater Toronto for the past 17 years. In my spare time, I enjoy time with my two children and husband, reading, gardening, traveling back to Trinidad to spending time with my extended family."

Rajwant

"I completed my Early Childhood Education diploma in Montreal and have been working with children since April of 2023. I love working with children because it gives me the opportunity to explore the world again through little eyes. "

Harman

"It has been a rewarding experience working with children and families. Each of them are unique in their own ways. I work to create an environment where children feel loved, cared for, respected, and like they belong."

Mujeeb

" Authentic play comes from down deep inside us. It’s not formed or motivated solely by others.

Satinder

"I love to spend time with children and believe in creating positive learning environments for them."

Gagan

"I adore working and playing with children and families; it is so rewarding. I work to create environments which will foster children’s holistic development, and where they can feel loved and safe. "

Navjeet

"For children’s development, I believe it is very important for an educator to be a good role model. I will give my best to my class in order to promote children’s social, emotional, lingual, cognitive, and intellectual development. "

Blessing

" The beauty of working with children is the ability to make a positive impact, not only in the children’s life but in the lives of their family and the community.

Priya

" I am an ECE who loves to spend time with the children, and I believe that we can learn more from the children than we expect. I also believe that in order to be a good educator, we must first be friends with the children.

Morgan

"I’ve worked with infants, right through to preschoolers! I absolutely adore all children and have a vast experience working with children of different backgrounds, cultures and needs."

Fengjun

"I used to work as an after- school group leader with HRCE and helped my mom run a daycare at home. I have 3 nephews and 4 nieces; it is always a pleasure to spend time with them in the parks or doing activities like craft or play dough." 

Siya

" Children require an environment that reflects and respects their interests and ideas, provides creative and open-ended experiences, offers opportunities to work alone or alongside each other and promotes a sense of authentic choice.

Holly

"I have been in the ECE field since 2005, guiding and helping children ages 18 months to 10 years. I enjoy being outdoors, hiking, camping, beaches, or a nice peaceful walk. I think it's important for children to learn from their outdoor environment and neighborhood."

Kate

" Play is not knowing where you’re going, but having a great starting point

Tushar

ECE, Level 2

" As early childhood professionals, our job is simply this…to help children make meaning out of the world in which they find themselves"

Devynn

ECE, Level 1

" We value the zest for living and learning that embodies curiosity, playfulness, determination, persistence, pleasure in accomplishment, resilience, and the sheer joy of being alive.”

Gurleen

ECE, Level 1

" If a child is to keep alive [their] inborn sense of wonder… [they need] the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with [them] the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in..”

Kayleigh

" The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.”

Daven

"I completed my culinary management diploma in Ontario, and I have five years of experience working in different restaurants across Canada. Children are so pure; like angels. Being able to make food for angels is a very rewarding thing to do. "

Coming Soon

Leadership Team

The YMCA leadership team supports all areas of the organization in serving our community. We provide quality programs and services that are reflective of the evolving communities we serve.

Brian Posavad

President & CEO
He/ Him
[email protected]
p. (902) 222-1177

Julie-Ann Vincent

Chief Operating Officer
She / Her
[email protected]
p. (902) 222-7533

Maureen L. Hayward

Chief Financial Officer
She/ Her
[email protected]
p. (902) 423-4907 Ext. 225

Heather MacDonald

Chief Development Officer, Donor Relations
She/ Her
[email protected]
p. (902) 456-0583

Sahra MacNeill

Director, People & Culture
She / Her
[email protected]
p. (902) 225-2790

Anna Barnes

Vice President, YMCA Atlantic Regional Development Centre (RDC)
She / Her
[email protected]
p. (902) 221-8974

Victoria Collins

General Manager, Child Engagement & Operations
She/ Her
[email protected]
p. 902-223-0015

Kailee Hominick

Director of Strategic Communications
She / Her
[email protected]
p. (902) 222-7279

TL Johannesson

General Manager, Youth and Leadership Development
She/ Her
[email protected]
p. 902-237-7490

John Meagher

General Manager, Asset & Development
He / Him
[email protected]
p. (902) 223-3986

InHae Park

General Manager Of YMCA Immigrant Services
She/ Her
[email protected]
p. 902-457-6871

Michelle Rivoire

Vice President, Health, Fitness, and Aquatics
She/ Her
[email protected]
p. 902-717-8060

Rebekah Skeete

Director, Employment Services Centre
She/ Her
[email protected]
p. 902-461-2513 ext. 228

Lynda Thomas

Director, Employment Services Centre
She/ Her
[email protected]
p. 902-499-7560

Meet our Current Directors

As a leading charity, the YMCA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. This group of community volunteers provides vision, strategic leadership and stewardship for the Association. The YMCA Board of Directors meets regularly with an Annual General Meeting held every spring. We are extremely grateful to every member, past or present, of the YMCA’s Board of Directors.

Stephen MacDonald

Chair

Stephen MacDonald is the President and Chief Executive Officer of EfficiencyOne, the not-for-profit operator of Canada’s first electricity efficiency utility, Efficiency Nova Scotia.

Lora MacEachern

Vice Chair

Lora MacEachern is a Senior Government Executive and Lawyer, with extensive experience in leadership, law, human resources, public policy, advocacy

Ashley Hill

Ashley Hill is the Founder and Executive Director of the PREP Academy, a community based non-profit organization that inspires and prepares African Nova Scotian students for college, university and beyond.

Jacob Woods

Jacob Woods is a Research Associate at the Nova Scotia Community College. Jacob is skilled in energy system analysis

Kevin Stoddart

Kevin is a Managing Partner at KBRS, Atlantic Canada’s largest talent management and recruitment organization with over 75 staff and offices throughout Atlantic Canada and Ontario.

Krista Jangaard

Dr. Krista Jangaard is the IWK Health Centre’s President & CEO. She first joined the IWK in 1996 in the division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and

Mary Navas

With three years of marketing agency experience at NATIONAL Public Relations working with clients across Atlantic Canada, Mary brings a fresh perspective to communication strategies,

Michelle Bussey

Michelle Bussey is the CEO of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA). Through NSAA, Michelle is working with industry, Government and communities to address the

Safia Rahemtulla

Safia is an Associate Partner in the Consulting practice of EY and holds a CPA, CA designation, a Certified Internal Auditor designation and a Certified Third Party Risk

Samantha Nixon

Samantha is a Coordinator with the Canadian Red Cross, supporting International Emergency Response through collaboration with the Government of Canada.

Sanjay Khanna

With over 25 years of experience, Sanjay has worked as part of the private and public sector focused on Information/Knowledge Management, ...

Sarah McInnes

Sarah is a Partner at McInnes Cooper, specializing in Immigration & Employment law.

Shelly Martin

Shelly Martin is a Mì’kmaq lawyer from Millbrook First Nation, is the Director of Governance for the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, a tribal Council providing programming and advisory services to eight Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq communities.

Sian Wren

Sian Wren is Vice President of Business Transformation at Emera. In this role, she led a large team of internal employees and external

Sonia Beattie

Sonia Beattie is the Vice-Provost, Planning & Analytics at Dalhousie University. With a strong passion for education, she completed degrees at both Dalhousie University and Memorial University before starting her career in postsecondary education.

YMCA Honourary Trustees​

The YMCA Honourary Trustees are former Directors who continue to support and provide strategic counsel to the YMCA.

Gregory (Greg) D. Auld,

Jennifer Berry,

Lydia Bugden,

Daniel M. Campbell &

Wesley G. Campbell,

Peter M. Conrod,

Paul J. Dyer,

Peter Doig

Peter G. Fardy,

Lou Gannon,

Mary Ellen Gurnham,

R.F. (Bob) Healy,

Fred Honsberger,

Wilfred Jackson,

John W. Lindsay Jr.

Brian Jessop

Cliff Langin,

Carole McDougall,

James MacGowan,

Stuart MacLean,

R.A. (Rod) McCulloch,

Kirk D. McIntyre,

Don C. Mills,

Robert Richardson,

L. Robert (Robbie) Shaw,

George Waye,

Sarah Young

Honourary Life Members

Audrey Manzer & Lou Gannon

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