Meet Chris Lee, Experience Manager at Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge and proud Team Up donor.
Chris always dreamed of a career within recreation that had an impact on youth, a vision he pursued after earning his degree in Sociology and Sports and Recreation Management. His YMCA Calgary journey began in 2017 when his passion for sports and youth work converged into the perfect career path for him.
The YMCA holds more than just a job title for Chris – it's a tapestry of memories, too. He fondly reminisces about his first steps into Melcor YMCA at Crowfoot as a youth, where teen nights echoed with laughter and camaraderie. The thread that weaves his journey together is basketball, a sport he loved from a young age. To Chris, basketball is more than a game; it’s where he sees his own childhood aspirations and dreams begin. Basketball was his anchor, a pathway that drew him in night after night. “My mom was the one who decided to enroll me into basketball, so I really owe this all to her” he says, noting that the sport ignited his spark, and inspired the steps that led him to where he is today.
Chris can see how the YMCA is more than a recreation centre; it’s a community hub, a haven, and a place people refer to as their second home. He believes in the power this space holds, where the invisible threads of support weave a safety net for everyone who walks through its doors. His one wish is to ignite the potential of the youth, mirroring his own journey of breaking out of his shell through basketball. He witnessed the transformative power of confidence firsthand, how it quietly sculpted his character and laid the foundation for greater achievements. “Children know that they have it in them to achieve a goal, and when they learn to feel confident and act on it, it builds their character without them even knowing,” he explains, “To be able to exceed at something, especially as a youth, creates an atmosphere to want to do more things.”
Beyond the benefits of sports like basketball on his physical well-being, Chris knows that the YMCA has also remained a sanctuary for his mental health, too. He feels surrounded by unwavering support: “Mental health is important, and I always feel supported at every level. It’s a great place to be.”
This belief in the YMCA’s ability to transform the lives of the next generation has led Chris to not just work, but also contribute. He proudly became a Team Up donor, driven by the community's need for financial support. Knowing that his monthly contributions are matched by Lead Up donors and entirely benefit the community reinforces his belief in the YMCA’s mission.
Chris's story is one of hope and possibility. It echoes a truth he wholeheartedly believes in — that every individual, regardless of their background, can achieve. In his story lies an invitation to discover ways to uplift and support others, igniting their potential. To learn more about how you can do so at https://www.ymcacalgary.org/ways-give.