(Image Credit: LNN file photo)

By LNN Staff

March 24 event

YMCA of Lethbridge celebrates impact in community

Mar 25, 2026 | 3:22 PM

The YMCA of Lethbridge celebrated the impact of its staff, volunteers, and members March 24, by recognizing the recipients of the 2025 YMCA Community Commitment Scholarship and Lifeguarding Scholarship during the annual Year in Review event.

The 2025 YMCA Community Commitment Scholarship recognized staff’s dedication to education in a field that contributes to the mission of the YMCA, to build a healthy community where everyone belongs.

Featured staff included Mackenzie Shea, inspired by her time as a YMCA camp counsellor to pursue teaching; Roxana Albu, whose English studies have built her effective and empathetic leadership in aquatics; and Diego Bello, whose background in YMCA youth, health, and sport programs has led him to study Chiropractic care.

The Lifeguard Scholarships were awarded to Seth Bridge and Stanislav Tistehcok, who were also celebrated, supporting access to the required Lifeguard training.

Tistehcok, who arrived in Lethbridge from Ukraine, describes the YMCA as a second home and looks forward to giving back as a lifeguard to promote safety and belonging.

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Organizers say Bridge credits the YMCA with shaping his confidence and love of physical activity and looks forward to giving back to the community that helped raise him.

The event also highlighted YMCA of Lethbridge’s impact over the past year, including serving more than 11,000 members, with nearly 2,000 visitors daily at the Cor Van Raay YMCA health, fitness, aquatic and community programs and services, providing access for hundreds of community youth to education, tutoring and day camp programs and expanding child care services to over 400 children ages 12 months to 12 years.

“The YMCA continues to be a consistent, welcoming place where people can belong and connect,” said CEO Jennifer Petracek-Kolb, in a press release Wednesday. “We’re proud to support those who are strengthening our community now and into the future.”