Sault Y sends chunk of old wood to Toronto. Here's why

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT FAMILY YMCA

************************* One-of-a-kind table tells YMCA's history

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - A unique boardroom table made entirely from historical artifacts donated by YMCAs across Canada - including the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA - was recently completed and has a permanent home at YMCA Canada’s head office in Toronto.

All 53 YMCA Member Associations in Canada worked collaboratively on this project, collecting mementos and artifacts that told meaningful stories about their organization.

The YMCA has been part of Canada’s history for 160 years, so there were many wonderful items to choose from.

Close to 100 items from across Canada were used to craft this beautiful and highly-unusual table including canoe paddles, lumber from historic buildings, pins, badges, trophies and even a First World War shell casing.

The Sault Ste. Marie YMCA contributed a piece of Douglas fir [shown] used as a float from the Sault Ste. Marie Canal.

As a passage through the Great Lakes, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal is a connector that helps us navigate the country - just like the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA helps children and families connect and navigate our community.

Brandy Sharp Young, manager of marketing and communications of the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA, thanked Parks Canada - Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site for generously supporting the Sault YMCA in representing our community.

“The support given to the YMCA by Parks Canada for this project is an excellent example of the support our community has for the YMCA. Such deep rooted support is what allows our YMCA to continue to strengthen our community.”

Scott Haldane, president and CEO of YMCA Canada, praised local member associations for their overwhelming support in sharing their artifacts and stories.

“The excitement shown by Canada’s YMCAs for this initiative is a wonderful example of how we work together to create positive impacts that are greater than we could accomplish individually.”

Canadian YMCAs commissioned two young furniture craftsmen - twin brothers Lars and Jason Dressler - to build this table.

Their Toronto business, Brothers Dressler, has been featured in publications including The Globe and Mail, Salon Magazine and Toronto Life.

For more information on Brothers Dressler, visit here.

More information about YMCA Canada booklet, A Table for Canada’s YMCA, explaining the project’s history, with photos and descriptions of all artifacts, is available here.

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