On the occasion of his 90th birthday, you are invited to honour Henry by making a gift to the Henry Labatte Scholarship Fund at the YMCA of Greater Toronto.

This scholarship gives YMCA staff the chance to contribute their expertise and ideas, while learning how YMCAs are responding to community needs in other parts of the world. Staff help global YMCA communities transform and thrive, while also gaining skills to enhance their own communities in Canada.

Henry Labatte is a leader whose vision and passion has influenced the YMCA locally, nationally and internationally.

Established in 1993 as a tribute to our past President and CEO, the scholarship offers opportunities for full-time staff to learn from our international partners, while sharing their skills to support strategic projects. The scholarship is open to full-time staff members who have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience with the YMCA. Since the year 2000, 27 YMCA GTA staff members have benefited from life-changing international experiences, typically 2-3 weeks in duration.

• $2000 - $2500 enables one staff member to work with a YMCA in Latin America
• $3500 - $4000 enables one staff member to work with a YMCA in Africa

Henry Labatte Scholarship brings international communities together

Susan Couprie, teacher from the YMCA Academy, supported the development a Youth Exchange Project plan with the YMCA of Medellin in March 2017

Leigh Coffey, Manager Day Camps, supported camp staff and programing development in the YMCA of Mexico in April 2017

Background:

The charitable mission of the YMCA of Greater Toronto extends far beyond our borders: we are part of community of YMCAs around the world. Together, we work to create social justice for all people, irrespective of religion, race, gender, or cultural background. Our long standing partnerships reflect the relevance in today’s world of our historic commitment to international cooperation. 

Principles for Labatte Scholarship projects include: connection to the strategic plan of the YGTA and the partner YMCA; an orientation towards knowledge exchange and capacity building both overseas and in Toronto; and potential to link to other international initiatives to maximize impact

Expected outcomes include: measurable, increased capacity in the partner Association; increased understanding of a community overseas and the concept of International cooperation for the participant and both Associations; Increased knowledge of our partner YMCA its context, challenges and work with the community, as well as emerging opportunities for ongoing collaboration and future scholarships.

About Henry Labatte

Henry grew up in Toronto and spent his teenage years at the Broadview YMCA where he was first inspired to become a YMCA professional. He began his YMCA career in Chicago in the Boys’ Physical Education Department while studying at George Williams College. After completing his degree in 1953, and a work placement at a railway YMCA in Field B.C., Henry was invited to join the staff of the Toronto’s Central YMCA as Assistant Physical Director. Apart from six years on the staff of the National Council of YMCAs responsible for Extension and Community Services and Personnel, Henry’s efforts have been focused on achieving the mission of the Toronto YMCA.

Henry became Senior Executive of the Toronto YMCA in 1970 when the YMCA was 116 years old and virtually bankrupt. Henry set about rebuilding and revitalizing the organization, attracting volunteers and staff that could help him bring about the needed changes. A man of boundless energy with an uncompromising commitment to quality and service, Henry led the Toronto YMCA to become the largest Association in Canada, and among the flagship YMCAs of the world.  Under his leadership, the Association planned, financed and built five new program centres across Greater Toronto.

The impact of Henry’s accomplishments goes well beyond Toronto. Henry was a driving force in the development of the Management Resource Centre system, which has resulted in improved service capacity of Associations across Canada. Henry piloted Toronto as the first MRC before it was a YMCA Canada initiative.

A committed internationalist, Henry oversaw the growth and development of Association partnerships in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Henry’s self-help orientation led him to be a founder and eventually Chair, of the World Urban Network to support and strengthen the community service operations of large metropolitan YMCAs. After his retirement from the YMCA in 1992, Henry served as the first permanent secretary to the group. He also made important contributions as Chair of the North American Urban group and with the Canadian Urban Group.

Henry was inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame at Springfield College in 1994 in recognition of his 43 years of exceptional and creative leadership as a YMCA professional. Only “retired” from payroll, Henry remains absolutely committed, continuing to serve the YMCA as a volunteer.

Henry has had a remarkable influence on the YMCA as an educator, leader, manager and mentor.  On November 5, 1998, in recognition of his impressive contributions to the YMCA Movement, Henry J. D. Labatte was appointed a Companion of the YMCA Fellowship of Honour, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.