Media Advisory - YMCA of Greater Toronto Opens its Doors to Help Celebrate
Sports Day in Canada

TORONTO, Sept. 16 /CNW/ -

What:	In honour of the first-ever Sports Day in Canada, the YMCA of Greater Toronto is opening all of its Health, Fitness & Recreation Centres to the public free of charge. Sports Day in Canada is presented by CBC Sports, SRC, ParticipACTION and True Sport. It is meant to encourage all Canadians to get active and celebrate the role of sport in our community.
Who:	Open to public (no YMCA membership required) * Please bring photo ID to the membership desk at your local centre
When:	Saturday September 18, 2010
Where:	Metro-Central YMCA West End YMCA Scarborough YMCA Brampton YMCA Mississauga YMCA North York YMCA Richmond Hill YMCA Markham YMCA * Maps/directions and centre hours can be found at http://www.ymcagta.org
Why:

• The vision of Sports Day in Canada is to reach out to all Canadians to build, solidify and celebrate the role of sport in our country. This influential, dynamic and energetic movement will inspire Canadians to move more.
• According to ParticipACTION, in the last two decades the percentage of active Canadian youth aged 15 to 18 dropped from 77% to 59%. In adults, the dive was from 45% to 28%.
• This year marks the first annual national celebration of sport, from grassroots to high-performance levels, in communities across Canada.
• It's an opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate the power of sport to build community, fortify our national spirit and facilitate healthy, active living.

About the YMCA of Greater Toronto

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a dynamic charity connecting with more than 450,000 people at 248 locations across the GTA to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. The YMCA of Greater Toronto is the largest of Canada's 45 YMCAs and serves the population of the GTA, Durham, Peel, York and Halton Regions, as well as Dufferin County. For 157 years, the YMCA has been promoting positive values that build spirit, mind and body. Mirroring the region's diversity, the YMCA welcomes everyone regardless of their background, experiences or circumstances. Through the Strong Kids Campaign, we strive to ensure no one is turned away because of an inability to pay. The YMCA, in partnership with more than 250 organizations, offers a variety of programs responding to the needs of the community, including employment, education and newcomer programs, youth outreach and intervention, fitness and recreation, child care and camps.  www.ymcagta.org

For further information, please contact:

For further information:

Danielle Scheinman, YMCA of Greater Toronto
416-413-1020 ext. 2339, [email protected]