The CEO of the Saskatoon YMCA has announced that he will be leaving the position as of December 31st of this year.

Dean Dodge started his YMCA journey as a camper, and in 1976 he became a camp leader at YMCA Camp Wakonda. Since then, Dodge has been working at both the Regina and Saskatoon YMCAs, with his last 10 years being spent as the Saskatoon YMCA’s CEO.

Throughout his time in Saskatoon, Dodge and his team’s community engagement has resulted in the YMCA providing mental health and school supports for youth. Over 120 hours of programming per week are provided at sites throughout the city.

Dodge has watched the organization grow from having two childcare centres to five, with a sixth opening soon. Saskatoon YMCA is now the largest provider of early-years childcare in the Saskatoon area, and the second largest provider of before-and-after school care.

“I run into people every day that have a Y story, and they talk about how they were impacted as a youth, or how they saw their daughter, or their son have these amazing experiences,” Dodge beamed.

During the last 10 years, the YMCA’s annual revenue has grown from $2 million to $9 million, and Dodge also navigated through the Covid-19 pandemic without running a financial deficit. His leadership also assisted the YMCA in opening the first Saskatchewan Health Authority funded Family Resource Centre in Saskatoon which provides free programming for families with young children.

A move to Calgary is the reason for his departure.