The longest standing employee of the YMCA of Northern B.C. knows why the organization has enjoyed 50 years of success.
"It's the people," said Sharon Pepper, currently the member services coordinator.
Pepper started working as fitness coordinator 25 years ago in May, and five years earlier than that, first set foot in the building as a member in 1984. She then volunteered as a fitness leader after staff encouraged her to take her certification in 1986. Pepper said she joined the Y when she was recovering from a back injury and had healed enough to start exercising.
"Everyone was so wonderful and encouraging, I just kept taking more classes," said Pepper.
In 1990, the fitness coordinator left the Y and then CEO Colin Reid asked Pepper if she would like to do a job share for the position. He knew she wanted to only work part time because she wanted to be at home with her three young children.
She continued her part time work until her kids were well into their school years and then she switched to full time.
Fitness was booming in the 1990s and Pepper was part of the movement back then.
"There were 400 to 600 members in the 90s when Colin decided we had to do something with our Y, so they expanded and did renos to continue to improve the space," said Pepper. "Now we have over 5,000 members."
She remained fitness coordinator for many years.
"I loved it," said Pepper. "I had the opportunity to sit on national committees and have a say in the national fitness leadership certification, sat on provincial committees and was able to bring the voice of the north to the Lower Mainland."
Then it was time for a change so Pepper moved into member services to utilize her administrative background while covering an employee's maternity leave.
She returned to fitness coordinator long enough to bring in some unique programming and returned to member services once again, then tried her hand in community programming, human resources and now, for the last two years, back in member services, with a little fitness leadership on the side just to keep things interesting.
"I love the membership because they are key to the Y," said Pepper, who has watched young people grow up and have their own babies who now come to the Y.
Being the YMCA, the organization never turns anyone away for an inability to pay and they offer financial assistance, Pepper added.
"I have met so many people," said Pepper. "People who are on disability, people who have been injured in accidents, had strokes or heart attacks and people who can't work right now and financially can't afford a membership. And coming to the Y, I meet with them one-on-one and they share their stories with me, which are amazing and they come to the Y and I see the changes."
Pepper recalls a woman who recently had a stroke and she would come into the Y in a wheelchair and now she walks into the Y.
"And that's so amazing," said Pepper. "We have a young man who was in a very bad accident a number of years ago and he learned to walk again at the Y. There are just some incredible, inspiring stories."
There is a diverse membership at the Y, said Pepper, who sees many friendships form through exercise classes and over fitness equipment.
"Everyone is welcome at the Y," laughed Pepper. "It's a great place to be."
