Elevating Our Coaches: Highlights from GGYC’s March 2026 Personal Development & Staff Training Day
March 13, 2026
On Saturday, March 7, the Go Green Youth Centre (GGYC) team gathered at Valley Park Middle School for a day of growth, connection, and preparation. This personal development and training day was designed for our current and returning coaches as they gear up for the 2026 March Break Sports & Education Camp.
The day went beyond typical staff training, diving deep into career exploration, leadership, and the real-world challenges our coaches face—from navigating the job market to building self-confidence.
The day went beyond typical staff training, diving deep into career exploration, leadership, and the real-world challenges our coaches face—from navigating the job market to building self-confidence.
10:00 AM | Career Exploration with Mary Giamos
After a high-energy round of "GGYC Bingo," Mary Giamos, former career services and education professional at the University of Toronto, shifted the room’s perspective on the future. Her core message? Treat your career as a journey to be explored, rather than a static goal to be reached.
11:00 AM | The Intersection of Business, Finance & Tech
We heard from emerging industry leaders who provided a dive into their respective fields. We wrapped up the session with a high-energy, competitive game of Family Feud.
Donald Truong (Morgan Stanley) demystified the finance world, breaking down barriers and asking our coaches to redefine what they think "finance" actually looks like.
Minh-Anh Vuong (Adobe) shared her inspiring path from business student to product designer in the AI space, highlighting how following personal “signals” can help navigate uncertainty and seize new opportunities.
Donald Truong (Morgan Stanley) demystified the finance world, breaking down barriers and asking our coaches to redefine what they think "finance" actually looks like.
Minh-Anh Vuong (Adobe) shared her inspiring path from business student to product designer in the AI space, highlighting how following personal “signals” can help navigate uncertainty and seize new opportunities.
12:00 PM | Indigenous Foundation & Community Leadership
After an icebreaker of "Stranded on an Island," Sena Yenilmez, Co-Founder of The Indigenous Foundation, spoke about the parallels between community advocacy and personal leadership. She challenged our coaches to find the leader within themselves to better serve our community.
1:00 PM – 4:30 PM | March Break Sports & Education Camp 2026 Training
Executive Director Michael Ma led a deep dive into the specifics of our upcoming camp. Drawing from 1:1 conversations and years of frontline program experience, Michael shared strategies to ensure our coaches are ready to provide an incredible experience for the youth this March Break.
On Saturday, March 14, Leaders-in-Training (LITs) accepted for our 2026 March Break Sports & Education Camp gathered at Valley Park Middle School for a day of mentorship, activity-based learning and camp training. Typically between the ages of 14 and 16, LITs shadow GGYC Coaches to gain hands-on experience. This program offers an excellent opportunity to earn volunteer hours, meet new people, and gain exposure to a work setting while developing essential leadership skills.
In a special collaboration with Connected Minds, youth from our Leaders-in-Training program visited York University to see what research looks like in practice, who it involves, and how it connects to real lives and real communities.
We are thrilled to announce that Go For It Youth Organization has received a Community Board Grant from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation for $20,000 to support a free, youth-led computer coding program for youth in Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, and surrounding communities.
