2020 YMCA of Kamloops PEACE MEDAL REcipIEnt

Traci Anderson, Executive Director Boys and girls club kamloops

Traci Anderson is the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club Kamloops. BGCK provides a variety of programs and services for children as young as one month through to grandparents throughout the community. Their core program areas include: Physical Activity, Health & Safety, Leadership, Growth & Empowerment, Learning & Career Development, and Families & Communities. They are a community serving non-profit charitable organizations dedicated to building a healthy community one person at a time. Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops is one of those lifelines and community hubs. Their role during this pandemic hasn't changed, except that the needs of those vulnerable populations have grown exponentially.

Amongst her countless responsibilities as Executive Director at BGCK, Traci sits on MANY community tables. She is at every meeting and collaborates with nearly every organization within the community. She is supportive of other organizations initiatives and often provides helpful advice to others. Traci is always the first to include youth and young people in important conversations. She even likes to include youth in her hiring process for new staff. Traci also volunteers as the Vice President of Board of Directors for A Way Home Kamloops.

Traci is 100% respectful to everyone…all the time. She is calm, cool and collected and always has the community, the BGCK and her staff at the for front. She is an advocate for youth, families, and the early years! It is rare to have someone that advocates for so many populations. Traci is willing to do whatever it takes, we have seen her tear up flooring, drive the bus, work in the After School Care Program or Day Camp. She is not above any task. It is rare to see someone at the executive level willing to jump in and help in whatever capacity needed. We at the YMCA of Kamloops are honored to call her a colleague and friend.

Some of the many committees that Traci is a part of include:

• KELLI Committee - Link Committee
  

• Make Children First Committee
  

• PLAY Kamloops - Unplug and Play Week
  

• Teddy Bear Picnic
  

• Child Care Engagement Committee (City of Kamloops)

• Healthy Kamloops Collective Committee (City of Kamloops)

• Social Engagement Committee (City of Kamloops)

• Changing the Face of Poverty

Congratulations, Traci! Thank you for all the hard work you do in our community to promote Peace!