Jerry marks 55 years as a YMCA volunteer

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on March 22, 2025.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A local man has been volunteering for the same organization for 55 years and, if that’s not remarkable enough, he says his goal is to continue for at least another 20.
Jerry Brown has volunteered for the YMCA Lethbridge since it was in its original location across from city hall, then continued to volunteer at the second location across the Lethbridge Public Library and now continues to volunteer at the new facility on the westside of the city.
Brown marked his 55th anniversary earlier this month. He first joined the YMCA in 1967, at the age of 18, to do laps in the pool after breaking his leg to help his healing. That led to the start of his outstanding volunteer path exclusively at the YMCA.
“I was doing laps in the pool and a gentleman named Stuart Park asked me if I wanted to teach swimming,” he recalls. “I knew nothing about swimming, so I decided to get all my credentials.”
He got certified as a swimming instructor, diving instructor, synchronized swimming instructor, and national lifeguard, then started teaching just before turning 21.
After teaching swimming for a few years, all on a volunteer basis, he was asked to teach in the gym, so he embarked on the next volunteer adventure while continuing to teach swimming for a few more years.
“My first instructor teaching at the gym was with Elisha Rasmussen,” says Brown. “People may know her (from her years as a TV host), and we did ladies-only and eventually I got the power walking class.”
He did co-ed fit, advanced heavy hands, running with weights, and body works while still teaching swimming, all as a volunteer.
“I gave up my teaching swimming when I was 47 because I couldn’t keep up with the lifeguards, I was getting too old for that,” says Brown. “I regret giving up my teaching, but I kept teaching fitness in the gym.”
To this day he continues to teach power walking. That was how he first met Cor Van Raay as he started attending the YMCA for his power walking class at the “old building” located on 9 Street S.
“When I was doing my swimming class, at Christmas time everyone got a large candy cane, and this was passed on to my fitness class. And while we were still at the old Y, in the summertime for my fitness class when it was really hot, I bought Dairy Queen’s dilly bars.”
He adds that for the last 30 to 35 years, every Tuesday and Thursday night after his class, he draws a name and asks a question. If the person answers correctly, they receive a 649 lottery ticket for either the Wednesday or Saturday draw.
“I say if you win, I get $250,000 but you have to win the whole pot. So far, I’m still waiting.”
Brown volunteered while also being a full-time employee with the City of Lethbridge from 1974 to 2014.
To celebrate his 50th anniversary of volunteering, staff and members of the YMCA created a memory book that had pictures of the many events, classes and get-togethers that Brown had taken part in, as well as little stories from those who have crossed paths with him.
Throughout his volunteering he has earned multiple accolades, but two that stand out most to him are his two medals.
“In 2005 Rick Casson gave me the Alberta Centennial Award for my outstanding volunteering, and in 2022 I received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal again for my outstanding volunteering,” says Brown.
When he received a letter letting him know about his Alberta Centennial Award medal, he had to read it about seven times because he was in such disbelief and confusion about it.
Brown adds that the only time he is allowed to wear the medals is during Remembrance Day every year.
Jennifer Petracek-Kolb, CEO of the YMCA Lethbridge, says Brown has come to know and have an impact on thousands of people over 55 years. He’s still surprised on a regular basis when people recognize him and talk to him years or even decades later.
“I have met a lot of people,” says Brown, “and even though I haven’t seen some of them for years, they still come up to me and say, ‘oh I was in your class in whatever year’ and I’m usually like… ‘What? Really? ‘Well, I am still there’ and then they can’t believe it.”

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