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Jen Bercier always hoped she could inspire someone. Or, as she puts it, “I wanted to be like Dave.”
Dave wasn’t a celebrity or a world-famous athlete. He didn’t have endorsements or a highlight reel on TV. But he had something just as powerful, an instinct for seeing potential in young people and a gift for making them feel empowered.
Years later, sitting quietly listening to speeches at a YMCA celebration event, Jen Bercier heard her name in the words of a young woman and realized something extraordinary: she had become someone’s Dave.
It was a powerful moment of clarity for Jen. She saw a common thread that had tied together a community where simple acts of kindness and encouragement could create lasting change.
It was all because of the Y.
Jen’s journey with the YMCA began in childhood. When her father was a young boy, he witnessed the tragic drowning of his brother. The trauma left him with a deep fear of water, one he was determined not to pass on to his children.
So, from the time they could crawl, Jen and her sisters were enrolled in swimming lessons at the YMCA. What began as a safety measure became so much more: a place of joy, discovery, and community connection.
"The YMCA pool became a place where kids learned to splash, swim, and build community," Jen recalls.
Over the years, Jen’s YMCA involvement expanded: after-school programs, basketball leagues, gymnastics classes, and summer day camps were a constant in her childhood. Even when she had completed every swim level and advanced aquatic course, her dad encouraged her to keep going, to lifeguarding, leadership training, and beyond.
Looking back, Jen sees that the YMCA was always more than a facility. It was where she built friendships, learned skills, and started to understand the value of giving back.
By middle school, Jen was ready to quit swimming. She had passed every level, earned advanced certifications, and felt “done.” That’s when Dave, the Supervisor of Child and Youth Programs at the YMCA, stepped in.
He listened, understood her restlessness, and offered alternatives: synchronized swimming, leadership programs, and even helping with bingo fundraisers. Most importantly, he invited her to join Youth Leaders, a program that would change the course of her life.
“Dave definitely made a positive impact on me—I always wanted to be like him and inspire others,” Jen says.
Through Youth Leaders, Jen learned that anyone—regardless of age, stage, background, or ability- can “be the change” in their community. The program helped her develop confidence, teamwork skills, and a commitment to giving back that would shape her future.
“Youth Leadership teaches you that you can 'be the change'—and anyone, from any age, stage, background, or ability, can, too."
Jen stayed connected to the YMCA through high school, working as a swim instructor, camp counsellor, and youth volunteer. Even after she left for university, Dave remained a mentor and a trusted job reference.
When she became a parent, her desire to give her children the same sense of community and belonging she had at the Y grew stronger.
"I wanted them to have the social interaction, in a values-based environment, but also the leaders to look up to, and the opportunities to become leaders themselves."
What started as enrolling her kids in swim lessons and cheering them on soon turned into her own volunteering journey and then a full-time career at the Y.
Over the years, she has taken on roles in membership, volunteer coordination, fund development, and youth leadership—now serving as Director of Systems, Strategy, and Innovation.
Her boys, now young adults, have followed similar paths—one becoming a lifeguard, the other working in children’s programming and community care. Both have participated in Youth Leadership and contributed to community events and fundraisers. One of Jen’s favourite memories is a video of her youngest, age three, donating $2 to the YMCA’s Move to Give campaign, explaining: “because I want the other kids to come.”
"Watching youth leaders interact with my sons—seeing them become mentors themselves—it's incredibly heart-warming."
One of the most moving moments of Jen’s career came unexpectedly at a YMCA event.
A young woman named Tamara took the stage to share her Y story. She described how, years earlier, a staff member had invited her to help with the Youth Leaders float in the Santa Claus Parade. That simple invitation encouraged her to get more involved and eventually give back to her own community.
Then she said the name: Jen.
“I literally jumped up, I couldn’t believe she was talking about me,” Jen recalls.
Later, reflecting on that night, she realized she had become someone else’s “Dave.”
And Tamara wasn’t the only one. Over the years, Jen has watched many young people move from program participants to volunteers to paid staff, thriving in leadership roles they might never have imagined for themselves.
"It’s such a small act and easy to forget, but it's a great reminder of how impactful you can be in the life of another."
This ripple effect is what the YMCA is all about. One moment. One invitation. One connection that inspires the next generation to lead.
Jen’s story is a powerful testament to the impact of the YMCA. It's not just a gym or pool, it’s a community hub. It’s a place where kids grow, leaders emerge, and connections create lasting change. Your support is crucial in continuing this legacy of empowerment and community building.
"It's connection. In a world that is so isolated and self-centred, being part of the Y is a chance to be part of a community."
The new YMCA in Barrie will continue that legacy. With 77,000 square feet of state-of-the-art space, it will be more than a fitness centre—it will be a hub for mentorship, youth leadership, community health, and inclusive programs for all ages and abilities.
From swim lessons to leadership training, from transitional housing to community events, it will be a place where the next generation can have their “Dave” moments, and where you can be part of making them happen.
The 100 Reasons Y campaign celebrates stories like Jen’s. Stories that show how one person’s belief in another can spark a chain reaction of leadership and generosity.
Donate: Your donation today helps build essential spaces—like pools and youth centres—that ensure every child can experience the life-changing support of the YMCA.
Share Your Story: How has the YMCA shaped your life or the lives of your loved ones? We would love to hear your personal experiences and how the YMCA has made a difference. Tell us via email at 100reasonsY@sm.ymca.ca or join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #100ReasonsY.
Be the reason a young person finds their voice, their community, and their future at the new YMCA in Barrie. Your contribution, whether it's an invitation, a donation, or sharing your story, matters. It's what makes the YMCA the vibrant, life-changing community it is.
"There are hundreds of other fitness facilities you can join, but joining the Y means joining a community."
Join us today!
