GRANDE PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIVISION
GPPSD and YMCA team up to provide critical youth program thanks to $50,000 from TD Bank Group

The leap from elementary to junior high can be tough, and many kids need extra support to help them succeed. That's why YMCA of Northern Alberta and Grande Prairie Public School Division (GPPSD) are excited to roll out a program for students in grades 5 and 6 at three local schools, thanks to the generous financial support of $50,000 from TD Bank Group, funded through TD Ready Commitment. This collaboration will bring the YMCA's well-established youth support programming to Hillside Community School, Maude Clifford Public School and Crystal Park School.

Image (L-R): Nancy Gorgichuk, Director of Inclusive Learning GPPSD, Gio Falsetti, Branch Manager TD Canada Trust, Hannah Hockey, Branch Manager TD Canada Trust, Andrea Kocken, Program Manager YMCA of Northern Alberta, Raphael Bohlmann, YMCA of Northern Alberta Board of Directors

 

This funding will allow the YMCA to help students in grades 5 and 6 develop skills and tools for a successful move into junior high. The program uses one-on-one support, self-improvement workshops and recreational, artistic and cultural activities to ignite the students' potential and prepare them for the next stage in their educational journey.

"Our division values every opportunity we have to partner with the YMCA for the benefit of our students," said Sandy McDonald, Superintended, GPPSD. "We're deeply thankful to TD for their support, which allows for this new partnership between ourselves and YMCA. It's a collaboration that underscores our community's collective strength, ensuring every student's success. Together, we're preparing students for their next academic phase while equipping them with confidence and skills they can take outside of a school setting."

"This funding will give young students in Grande Prairie the support they need to reach their full potential. We are so grateful, and very pleased to team up with the Grande Prairie Public School Division and TD to make this program a reality in Grande Prairie schools," says Andrea Kocken, Program Manager of Community Programs at YMCA of Northern Alberta.

"We're so proud to support the Grande Prairie Public School Division and the YMCA of Northern Alberta with this vital programming to equip local students with the skills they need to successfully move into junior high," said Robert Ghazal, Senior Vice President and Alberta Region Head, TD Bank Group. "At TD, we believe reading and math skills can help set the foundation for today's youth and that's why, through the Financial Security driver of the TD Ready Commitment, we're investing in initiatives that help increase access to early learning."

This collaboration between the YMCA, GPPSD, and TD underscores the importance of community partnerships in enriching educational opportunities for students in Grande Prairie. The program being offered by the YMCA is also funded in part by the Northwestern Alberta Foundation and Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund. For more information, please visit https://ymcanab.ca/YTP.