Ivana Bisaro first met Ricardo de Faria after joining the YMCA in 2005. "I took the Capoeira class he was teaching and we started training together," she says. "Now we're married, have two kids and are expecting a third - needless to say, we've been inseparable ever since we met!"

The Bisaro-de Faria family spends a lot of time each week at the Robert Lee YMCA. "The YMCA really fits our family's lifestyle," says Ivana. Their four-year-old son, Luca, attends the preschool every day. "He absolutely loves it here," she says. "At first I was hesitant, but I've gotten to know the staff and the other families so I really trust that it's a great place for him to grow." Ivana and Ricardo also take advantage of Kids Night Out at the Y each month, so they can spend some quality time together while their kids enjoy an evening of fun activities.

Ivana works out each day in between work and caring for her busy family. "I run for eight miles on the treadmill," she says. "Running is my personal therapy session - I don't know what I'd do without my running."

Ivana admits that life would be more challenging without the YMCA. "The Robert Lee YMCA is like a small community in a big city," she says. "It's kind of like our second family because we've met so many new friends."

Tony Earle moved from Toronto into the old YMCA downtown residence in 1997, but he never realized the home it would eventually become. "I was in the middle of a long job-hunt at the time," he says. "And while I was meeting people around the city, I wasn't making lasting connections."

One day, Tony took a turn from his usual routine walk through the hallways of the old YMCA and stumbled into the YMCA Community Programs office. "I immediately met people that wanted to help me any way that they could" he says, still amazed. "They helped me with my job search and introduced me to programs where I met a lot of new friends." That is when Tony decided to give back by running the YMCA computer lab as a volunteer. "The welcoming atmosphere, the friendliness, the sense of inclusion - I couldn't get over it," he says.

A position in YMCA Community Programs then opened up, giving Tony the opportunity he'd been looking for. "I really like working with people and helping them," he says. "The job was a perfect fit for me and I began to help people move forward and make connections with others - just like the Y had done for me."

Tony is now Director of Member Experience at the Robert Lee YMCA and finds satisfaction in seeing a positive change in the lives of people. "The YMCA is a place that is as good as home," he says. "Because of the Y, I've always known that I have a place where I belong."

30 years ago, Fred Morley worked in a stressful job with long hours where he felt unappreciated. Realizing this lifestyle was taking a toll on his body, Fred's friend convinced him to join the YMCA in downtown Vancouver. "I'd leave the office stressed and by the time I left the YMCA, I was in a good mood again." Fred met people at the YMCA who got him active and made him feel like he belonged to something special. "I joined a marathon clinic - a group of 300 people who met every Sunday," he says. "I learned to run efficiently and met a group of people with whom I still remain friends."

Since the opening of the new Robert Lee YMCA, Fred is both a devoted member and volunteer. He can often be seen there three days a week, giving tours or working up a sweat. When he walks into his YMCA, he knows he's home. "The YMCA is my only club."

Fred credits his YMCA for helping him to reach his potential. "I'm not sure where I'd be without the YMCA," he says with a warm smile.

Jeannine Paradis' neighbour introduced her to the YMCA when she was facing tough health challenges on a fixed income. She joined in 2010 and quickly became involved in Aquafit. "I love swimming," she says. "I have to attend a lot of hospital visits and take a lot of medication to deal with my health issues, so I'm so grateful when I can come to the YMCA, relax, enjoy other people and forget about everything."

Jeannine weighed 250 pounds and was having difficulty breathing before joining the YMCA. A heart attack and a battle with ovarian cancer many years ago have made for a very difficult journey. "The Aquafit classes are full of people of all ages and abilities," she says. "My instructor gives me individual attention and really helps me feel more secure about myself by tailoring the program based on my health needs."

After losing 65 pounds and dropping five dress sizes, Jeannine is determined to keep pursuing greater health. "I used to walk everywhere and travel a lot to see my children and grandchildren," she says. "If I get strong enough, I'll be able to move from the pool to the upstairs gym too - looking after my health is most important to me now."

Jeannine says that she would be depressed without these programs. "What's not to love about the YMCA?" says Jeannine. "Their programs work and everybody is so nice."

Dr. Farhad Nassiri Afshar left his friends, family and job in Tehran in 2010. "I practiced as a family physician at home for more than five years," he says. "But I felt like I needed more opportunities to become the man I wanted to become, so I moved to Canada."

After learning about the YMCA Connections Program, Farhad attended a gathering for newcomers where he met other new Canadians from around the world. "It was really helpful to meet other people that are in the same situation as me," he says. Cathryn France from YMCA Connections introduced Farhad to his Canadian Host, Jon Grenke, who became his friend and helped him navigate the challenges that come with moving to a new city. "I learned about life in Vancouver, how to file a Canadian tax return and even went to a Canucks game!" Farhad is continuing his studies and will soon enter a residency program so that he can practice medicine in Canada.

"Studying each day is really hard work," he says. "The Robert Lee YMCA is where I can go to relax, spend time with friends and stay fit - it's really helping me adjust to living in Vancouver."

"With the help of the YMCA, I know that I will be able to help other people in Vancouver stay healthy."