On behalf of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Cowley as the Executive Director of the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce effective on Monday, March 22, 2021.
Sarah lives in rural Grey County where she resides with her family and serves her local community. With over 10 years of operational and strategic leadership experience in health and social services, and having been responsible for local, regional, provincial and nationally-renowned programs, Sarah is an experienced and enthusiastic community leader who is known in the Grey Bruce community as someone who is passionate about building strategic and collaborative relationships that drive efficient, effective service delivery and positive outcomes for clients, staff and the communities at large.
Sarah holds a Master in Nursing degree (University of Toronto) and is a Certified Health Executive (Canadian College of Health Leaders). She has expertise in system planning, governance, and administrative and operational management of not-for-profit organizations.
It is these same skills that allowed her to serve HopeGreyBruce Mental Health and Addiction Services as their Executive Director during a time of significant organizational change. This was prior to moving into management consulting where she successfully facilitated the creation of an integrated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWBP) for 16 Municipalities of Bruce and Grey Counties, supported by both counties and 54 community partners – the largest formal collaboration for CSWBP in Ontario.
Sarah’s appointment is the result of an intensive search process the Board has undertaken with the guidance and support of YMCA Canada through the YMCA Ontario Regional Development Centre. The Executive Director Search committee was led by the YMCA Board President and included three representatives of the Board. The thorough process, including input and participation of the full Board, involved a national job posting and the assessment and screening of over 50 candidates for the position.
The Board wishes to acknowledge the many dedicated and passionate years of Gayle Graham’s work as the Family Y’s CEO for the past 23 years. Under her leadership and with an excellent volunteer and staff team, the Y increased its Early Learning and Before and After School Child Care programs to 21 community sites; provided Employment Services, Housing Support, Alternative Justice and Community Initiatives, which recently expanded to include Settlement and Language services; and developed in partnership with the City of Owen Sound the excellent Health, Fitness and Aquatics facility at the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre. Please congratulate Gayle on an enormously successful career as she soon begins her well-deserved retirement. Her legacy is having built a robust, sustainable YMCA that will continue to benefit and serve the Owen Sound Grey Bruce region for years to come.
Please join me in thanking Gayle for her leadership and in welcoming Sarah to the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce.
Bruce Price
President, Board of Directors
YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce
