Meet Zain Velji: deeply connected to the YMCA, he has passionately supported the Y through his efforts on the board of directors, including being the most recent chair. As we look back on all that Zain has been part of the last 10 years, we are grateful for his time, dedication, and contributions to the YMCA.
Though Zain's time as board chair has come to an end, he remains a pivotal part of the board, continuing to help champion efforts to help our communities.
“Zain has played an integral role in our transformation as an organization and it has been an honour to lead alongside him," explains Shannon Doram, President and CEO of YMCA Calgary. "Not only did Zain help guide us through the most significant growth our organization has ever seen, he supported the Association through COVID and has helped set the building blocks for our exciting future. Zain always puts community first; emphasizing our role in creating opportunities for everyone. He is a champion of belonging and continues to make a huge impact on our city.”
Zain believes the YMCA represents all the essential elements of what allows people to thrive within a community. “The Y is a place for children, families, and individuals of all ages and backgrounds to be together in a community space and accessing programs for mind and body alike.”
While Zain has been part of the board of directors for 10 years, the YMCA is also part of his family history.
His connection runs deep, stretching back to when his father arrived in Canada in the 1970s. "The YMCA initially facilitated temporary shelter for him, and provided support such as resume writing," he recounts. "The Y lifted my father, which, in turn, lifted me. And now it is lifting my own son, too."
Zain has worn many hats on the board of directors; from chair to vice-chair to chair of the strategy committee, his commitment knows no bounds. He will even continue with the board as past chair after his time as chair wraps up this year. He brings a unique perspective, coming from a background in political, business, and non-profit communications and marketing.
As the co-founder of Northweather, a company dedicated to advocacy marketing for community issues, Zain's professional endeavors mirror his personal ethos. "I believe volunteerism, giving to the community, and making a meaningful contribution doesn’t start at 5 p.m., when the workday is over. They are not separate, nor compartmentalized," he asserts, his conviction unwavering.
It is one of the reasons he has such respect for the volunteers and staff at YMCA Calgary. “The people we have are nothing short of stellar. My role as chair hinges on the quality of the CEO and the leadership team. They may take direction from the board but how they act on it is admirable. They see innovative, new, creative ways to realize ideas. The YMCA Calgary team is both motivated and motivating.”
A visionary at heart, Zain played a pivotal role in crafting YMCA Calgary’s Roadmap to 2030 strategy, with a particular fondness for the pillar of Exceptional Experiences: "Experiences touch everyone; from an individual just arriving in Canada to someone at the top of the social ladder."
Zain believes the YMCA helps build empathy and belonging by providing experiences to people.
“Experiences are what people remember and cherish the most,” he says. “Experiences equate to happiness and love. At YMCA Calgary, we want to deliver experiences that are long lasting and robust – a way of helping people move beyond material things.”
“YMCA Calgary represents a sense of mission, for both the individual and the collective. It’s bigger than just a single cause – it is society in a microcosm.”
Learn more about the efforts Zain helped lead in 2023 through our 2023 Report to Community.