When Opportunity Grows, Possibility Grows
We believe young people already possess strengths, ideas, talents, and aspirations. What can make a difference is having opportunities to explore them—and people and places that support them along the way.
Growing Young Movers exists to create those opportunities. Opportunities to belong. To learn. To work. To lead. To take responsibility. To try something new. And, ultimately, to imagine and build a future that reflects who they are and what matters to them.
Our belief is simple: when young people are given meaningful opportunities, communities become stronger.
Growing Alongside Our Community
Growing Young Movers began more than 14 years ago with a simple idea: create opportunities for young people to be active, connected, and supported. What started through recreation and mentorship grew as relationships with young people, families, schools, and community deepened.
Over time, young people helped shape what GYM would become. Programs expanded, youth became mentors and employees, partnerships with schools created stronger pathways to graduation, and new opportunities emerged beyond high school.
Today, GYM continues to grow alongside Regina’s North Central community through two interconnected pathways—Youth Development and Building Futures Collective. While the work has evolved, what has always mattered most remains the same: relationships, opportunity, and young people helping shape what comes next.
Our Strategic Direction
Growing Young Movers’ 2026–2030 Strategic Plan sets the direction for our next chapter—protecting what works, creating new pathways for young people, and building the organizational strength needed to grow with intention.
The plan reflects our commitment to ensuring that as GYM evolves, young people, relationships, education, and community remain at the centre of our work.
Dr. Joseph Naytowhow
Knowledge Keeper & Board Member
Joseph Naytowhow, kamiyo-kesikan-kesikaw-pimohtew (Spirit of the Day Guided Being), comes from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Sucker River First Nation, and, through his English/Métis family, Manitoba and the United Kingdom.
Joseph has shared his knowledge, guidance and friendship with the GYM family for many years. He describes meeting and spending time with GYM youth as a highlight of his life and takes great pride in seeing how the organization and its young people have grown. He continues to be a trusted presence for young people as they learn, have fun and find their own paths forward.
Dr. Brian Lewis
Executive Director
Brian Lewis has worked in K–12 and post-secondary education since 1997, with a career centred on youth mentorship, leadership, high school completion and creating meaningful opportunities for young people.
As Executive Director of Growing Young Movers, Brian brings together education, youth development, employment, community partnerships and organizational strategy to create long-term pathways for young people.
His research and experience have helped shape GYM’s relationship-based approach and its commitment to working alongside young people as they move from belonging and education to graduation, employment and leadership. Brian’s passion for youth development continues to guide his teaching, leadership and service within the community.
Brayden Bjorndal
Youth Development Lead
Brayden has grown with GYM from a Site Facilitator into his current role as Youth Development Lead, where he helps guide the programs, relationships and experiences that support young people across GYM Youth Development. Brayden holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology and a Master’s degree from the University of Regina. His graduate research explored the lived experiences of young people in wellness programming and how they understand and story their experiences within those spaces.
For Brayden, GYM is a place where young people can experience programming differently—a place to build relationships, connect with the community, find support and have their individual strengths and gifts recognized. That belief continues to shape his approach to leading GYM’s Youth Development work.
Casey Heintz
Building Futures Collective Lead
Casey is a Red Seal Journeyperson Carpenter with more than 20 years of experience across industrial, commercial, and residential construction. His background also includes owning and renovating rental properties and operating his own construction company for nearly a decade.
Casey brings a strong belief in teamwork, communication, and learning through hands-on experience to his role with Building Futures Collective. His years of coaching have also shaped his passion for working with young people and his belief that meaningful opportunities, individual challenges, and working as part of a team can help youth build skills and confidence for the future.
Ryan McAleese
After-School Program Coordinator
Ryan is an educator who teaches in the Leadership Pathway at Scott Collegiate and oversees GYM’s after-school programming. With a background in kinesiology and a Master’s degree in Education, he continues to work directly alongside young people as a facilitator and mentor.
For Ryan, GYM provides an opportunity to engage with young people differently and create spaces where relationships can grow. His role at both Scott Collegiate and GYM allow those relationships to extend beyond the school day and help strengthen the connection between school, programming and community. Ryan grew up in Cupar, Saskatchewan and enjoys spending time outdoors, fishing, hunting and golfing.
Quinn Anderson
Facilitator & Social Media Coordinator
Quinn has been part of the GYM team as a Site Facilitator, leading after-school programming and creating welcoming, active spaces for young people to connect, have fun and build relationships. She also coordinates GYM’s social media, helping share the stories, people and experiences that make up the organization.
Quinn is also a teacher at Scott Collegiate in the Leadership Pathway, strengthening the connection between GYM, the school and the young people who move between both spaces. A graduate of the University of Regina’s Bachelor of Education program, Quinn brings her background in physical education, inclusive education and her love of sport and recreation to her work with young people.
Emily Webber
Administrative & Operations Assistant
Emily is a graduate of Scott Collegiate and has been part of the GYM family since Grade 10. After graduating from high school, she transitioned into a full-time role with GYM and has spent the past two years supporting the organization as its Administrative & Operations Assistant.
Emily brings a strong commitment to helping others and encouraging young people to be their best. As she continues to build her own path into adulthood, she hopes to use her voice and experiences to make a positive difference in her community.
Terreign
Blind
Building Futures Crew Member
Terreign is a graduate of Scott Collegiate and a member of George Gordon First Nation. He began working with GYM while in high school and has grown from a youth employee into a full-time member of the Building Futures Collective team.
Terreign brings empathy, a willingness to listen and a strong connection to young people and community to his work. His interest in welding, the skilled trades and heavy equipment helped draw him toward hands-on work, and BFC is providing an opportunity to continue developing those interests while building skills and experience for his future.
David Crowe
Building Futures Crew Member
David is a graduate of Scott Collegiate and has been part of GYM since high school. What began as youth employment has grown into a full-time role with Building Futures Collective, where David is gaining hands-on experience while contributing to projects throughout the community.
David has also been involved with First Nations Basketball as a coach and has always valued the opportunity GYM provides to give back to his community while continuing to grow himself. As a full-time member of the BFC team, he is continuing to build his skills, take on new responsibilities and explore where those experiences can take him.
Daniel Stonechild
Cultural Liaison
Daniel is an educator, founder of FN Basketball Inc., and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto. Growing up in the inner city has shaped his commitment to working alongside young people and creating opportunities for them to connect through basketball, culture and community.
Through FN Basketball, Daniel uses sport as a way to bring young people together while creating opportunities to connect with Indigenous language, ceremony, teachings and cultural knowledge. His hope is that young people come to understand how these connections can strengthen identity, relationships and the choices they make throughout their lives.
Tyneesha Eaglechild
Youth Co-Chair, North Central Strong
Tyneesha is one of the original members of North Central Strong and a graduate of Scott Collegiate. From Muscowpetung Saulteaux First Nation, she enjoys staying active through volleyball participating in cultural ceremonies and connecting with people in her community.
Through her involvement with GYM,
Tyneesha has spent time mentoring younger youth and values the relationships and lessons that come from working alongside them. As Youth Co-Chair of North Central Strong, she brings her experience, energy and connection to the community to helping young people have a meaningful voice in what comes next.
Hope Henderson
Youth Co-Chair, North Central Strong
Hope is one of the original members of North Central Strong and a graduate of Scott Collegiate. She is from Sagkeeng First Nation and is passionate about creating positive change in her community. Through her employment with Growing Young Movers, Hope built strong relationships with younger youth and developed a growing passion for advocacy.
As Youth Co-Chair of North Central Strong, she is committed to using her voice, creating space for others to be heard, and assisting in opening opportunities for young people to play an active role in shaping their community.
Our Youth Leaders
Young people do not just participate at GYM. They help lead it.
Youth employment is an intentional part of how we support young people to grow. Meaningful paid work creates opportunities to take responsibility, build confidence, develop skills and discover what they are capable of.
Many of our youth leaders first came to GYM as participants. Over time, they become mentors, coaches, employees and role models for younger youth—bringing their own ideas, experiences and leadership to the work.
At GYM, youth employment isn't simply about providing a first job. It's about creating opportunities for young people to lead, contribute and help shape what comes next.
Board of Directors
Growing Young Movers is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that provides strategic leadership, financial stewardship and organizational oversight. Board members bring diverse professional and community experience while ensuring GYM remains accountable to its mission and to the young people and community at the heart of our work.
Chair
Greg Honey
Directors
Nathan Brenner
Jennifer Clark
Nadine Welisch-Moore
Joseph Naytowhow
Brenda Rossow-Kimball
Lindsay Schmalenberg
Youth Advisor
Joseph Klyne