John Kjelson: a Job Well Done

Below are just some of our reflections on our longtime colleague and friend, John Kjelson, and his contributions to promoting the mission of the Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA through his work and volunteerism.

John was a valued member of the Kamloops Y Facilities Maintenance staff from May 1986 until his passing in August 2012. For the past 21 years, he was Facilities Maintenance Supervisor. John’s dedication to the mission of our organization and his sense of community was apparent in everything that he did. Every day John went about his duties quietly, often behind the scenes, to make certain that our Y was safe, clean and well maintained.

He took his responsibilities very seriously and would go beyond the expected to ensure a comfortable, high quality, fun and safe experience for all that came through the Y doors whether at the Downtown or North Shore locations, the Y “houses” or other program locations. His efforts helped to fulfill the Y mission and he personally exhibited the Y core values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility in every interaction he had with members, volunteers, co-workers, Y neighbours and the public.

 

Quiet Dedication

John was instrumental in all of our relocations and renovations. He played a major role in ensuring that each move or new space was well laid out, functional and safe, with special attention to the final details. He played a significant role in the opening of the Women’s Emergency Shelter in 1991, the opening of our North Shore branch in 2005 and all of our renovations at the Downtown facility in 1995, 2001 and 2007, as well as other smaller renovations and redecorations.
John also helped to relocate the Child Care Resource and Referral program several times over the years and became an expert in putting up and taking down shelving. More recently he contributed to, and took a personal interest in, the Y’s efforts to refurbish and modernize Camp Deka.

John valued the Y’s committed volunteers and understood how their gifts of time and expertise are instrumental to the success of our programs. Every year since John began working at the Y he helped to organize and set up the Annual Volunteer Recognition Event. He had a volunteer spirit. Whether he was putting up tables, tents and chairs, flipping burgers on the BBQ or helping to clean up afterwards, he was always there to acknowledge the volunteers and make sure they were looked after.

"Just doing my job"

John was one of the first each year to ask about, and sign up for, donations through payroll deduction in support of our Y programs. He was profoundly aware of the positive role that the Y plays in enhancing the quality of life for people living in our community.

Through it all, he calmly, steadily and with a keen sense of humour completed everything that needed to be done and offered thoughtful insight and direction on day-to-day facilities operations and special projects, with a view to improving quality and anticipating future needs. You could always count on John.

He was decisive, a creative problem solver and resourceful, leaving his mark on every corner of our Y and some things are of his own design and unique to fit our needs. He never wanted any special recognition; “just doing my job”, he would say.

 

 

Building healthy communities

John truly cared about the Y and the people here. He was a constructive listener and supporter and actively engaged others through sharing the Y story. Throughout his day he could be found helping a member to program a treadmill, showing a lifeguard how to hook up a hose correctly, assisting a disabled person to navigate through our facility, chatting with a volunteer about their day, teaching our special needs volunteers a new task, offering to assist a fellow staff person to move brochure boxes, walking late night staff and patrons to their cars, or taking the arm of a senior Y member to help them safely cross a snowy roadway. He did this of his own initiative, with sincere kindness and selflessness, over and above carrying out and completing his daily responsibilities.

John was a reliable, dedicated and valued member of the Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA for 26 years. Through the introduction of the John Kjelson Memorial Award, we recognize and celebrate the values, qualities and abilities of John and others in our Y Family that every day enthusiastically embrace the Y mission. We trust that this annual award will serve as an inspiration to, and acknowledgement of, the fine employees and volunteers of the Kamloops Y, whose efforts ensure our success in building strong kids, strong families and strong communities