C.Y.O. - Catholic Youth Organization of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

What C.Y.O. - Catholic Youth Organization of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada does

The Catholic Youth Organization of the Diocese of Hamilton (C.Y.O.) is a registered not-for-profit charitable organization and the largest Catholic Youth Organization in Canada. Founded in the 1930s and incorporated in 1958 as a United Way member agency, the organization operates two purpose-built camp facilities — Camp Marydale (a 35-acre barrier-free facility on the shores of Lake Niapenco in Mount Hope, Ontario) and Camp Brébeuf (a 110-acre residential and outdoor education centre in Rockwood, Ontario) — alongside the Athletes in Action Sports Camp in Ancaster. Core programming centers on inclusive summer day and overnight camping for children ages 6-13, the One-to-One counsellor-supported special-needs program (one of the first in Canada, since 1972), the Dragonfly Lodge respite facility operated in partnership with Community Living Hamilton, the Crusader Athletics after-school sports program reaching 25,000+ students across 54 elementary schools, wilderness-based outdoor education for 10,000+ students annually, and youth leadership development through the C.I.T. and L.C.A.P. programs under the broader youth ministry mandate of the Diocese of Hamilton.

The organization serves more than 40,000 children, teens, and families annually across Southwestern Ontario, with 22,000+ children participating in Crusader Athletics and 11,000+ children with special needs served through the One-to-One program since its 1972 launch. The C.Y.O. has served an estimated one million young people across the 36-year career of its recently retired Executive Director John Spatazzo (1988-2024), with Brett Martin having taken over as the fifth Executive Director in 2024.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid non-profit model combining program fees (camp registration and athletics, ranging from $20 to $400 per week), tiered Associate Memberships at $50-$500 annually, facility rentals at Marydale Park and Camp Brébeuf for corporate and community events, monthly and one-time donations, and the annual Children's Fundraising Gala. Funding is anchored by long-standing relationships with United Way Halton-Hamilton (member since 1958), Hamilton Community Foundation, and Ontario Trillium Foundation, supplemented by individual donors, corporate partners, and event-based fundraising. Operations are delivered through a small permanent staff of seven at the head office supplemented by several hundred seasonal staff and 300+ annual teen and parent volunteers, with grassroots distribution through school and parish networks rather than paid marketing channels.

Name

C.Y.O. - Catholic Youth Organization of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Legal name

Catholic Youth Organization

Website

https://cyo.on.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The C.Y.O. is a registered not-for-profit charitable organization and the official Catholic youth organization of the Diocese of Hamilton, operating Camp Marydale, Camp Brébeuf, and the Crusader Athletics after-school sports program to serve over 40,000 children, teens, and families annually across Southwestern Ontario through inclusive camping, outdoor education, and youth leadership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Youth summer camps
• Outdoor education programs
• Youth athletics programs
• Special needs camping
• Respite care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Hope

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations through various programs including General Donations, Sponsor-a-Camper (campership fund), Monthly Giving, and Associate Memberships. Donors include individuals, foundations (Hamilton Community Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation), and corporate partners.
2. Program Fees: Registration fees for summer camps (Camp Marydale day camp, Camp Brébeuf overnight and day camp, Athletes in Action Sports Camp), athletics programs, and outdoor education. Prices range from $20 to $280 per week.
3. Associate Memberships: Annual membership tiers (Bronze $50, Silver $150, Gold $300, Platinum $500) required for charitable status compliance. Members receive voting rights, AGM invitations, and early-bird gala access.
4. Facility Rentals: Marydale Park and Camp Brébeuf available for corporate picnics, retreats, team building, meetings, conferences, birthday parties, family reunions, school trips, and youth day retreats.
5. Annual Children's Fundraising Gala: 40th anniversary celebration event raising funds for children with special needs, including the One-to-One program subsidies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.) is a registered not-for-profit charitable agency operating summer day camps (Camp Marydale), residential/overnight camps (Camp Brébeuf), after-school athletic programs (Crusader Athletics), outdoor education curricula, leadership development programs (C.I.T., L.C.A.P.), and respite care facilities (Dragonfly Lodge, One-to-One Program) for children, teens, and families across the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario.

Product overview

The Catholic Youth Organization operates as a multi-service youth development organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered around two residential/outdoor facilities (Camp Marydale and Camp Brébeuf), the Crusader Athletics Program (after-school sports), specialized inclusive camping (One-to-One Program), leadership development (C.I.T. and L.C.A.P. Programs), outdoor education, youth ministry, and facility rentals including Marydale Park. The organization serves over 40,000 children, teens, and families annually through camps, athletics, and community programs with a focus on accessibility and inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Marydale: Summer day camp, outdoor education, and facility rentals located at Marydale Park in Mount Hope, Ontario.
• Camp Brébeuf
• Crusader Athletics
• Dragonfly Lodge
• One-to-One Program
• Athletes in Action

Products and services

• Camp Marydale Summer day camp program operated at Marydale Park in Mount Hope, Ontario, serving children ages 6-13 with daily camp activities, outdoor experiences, and inclusive programming including the One-to-One program for children with special needs.
• Camp Brébeuf Residential and outdoor education facility in Rockwood, Ontario serving overnight campers, day campers, and school groups with leadership programs, inclusive camping for children with disabilities, and year-round outdoor education curriculum.
• Crusader Athletics Program After-school athletic recreation program serving over 25,000 children and youth ages 6-13 from 54 elementary schools, offering flag football, basketball, volleyball, cross country, and track & field with emphasis on participation and sportsmanship.
• One-to-One Program Special needs camping program providing dedicated counsellor support for children ages 6-13 with physical, behavioral, and developmental disabilities, integrated into mainstream camping programs since 1972 with over 12,700 children served.
• Counsellor-in-Training (C.I.T.) Program Leadership development program at Camp Marydale and Camp Brébeuf for students entering grades 8-9, teaching leadership skills through camp activities, team building, and mentorship with children.
• Leadership in Crusader Athletics Program (L.C.A.P.) Overnight leadership camp at Camp Brébeuf for students completing grades 7-8, training them in rules and regulations of basketball, flag football, and volleyball with coaching clinics and community building activities.
• Dragonfly Lodge Barrier-free respite facility operated in partnership with Community Living Hamilton, providing supported vacations for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities and respite for their caregivers.
• Athletes in Action Sports Camp Summer sports camp for boys and girls ages 6-13 in Ancaster, Ontario offering multi-sport activities including basketball, flag football, volleyball, soccer, tennis, dodgeball, and more with before and after care options.
• Outdoor Education Wilderness-based curriculum program at Camp Marydale and Camp Brébeuf serving over 10,000 students annually with environmental education and conservation experiences beyond traditional classroom learning.
• Youth Ministry Diocesan youth ministry support including consultation to parishes, youth ministry training, formation opportunities, and support for the Canadian Catholic Youth Ministry Certificate Program.
• Facility Rentals Marydale Park and Camp Brébeuf facilities available for corporate picnics, retreats, team building, meetings, conferences, birthday parties, family reunions, school trips, and youth day retreats.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 children, teens and families served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-develops and delivers Crusader Athletics after-school sports program across 54 elementary schools. Provides facility access and co-branding for school sporting events.
• Community Living HamiltoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 1999 to operate Dragonfly Lodge - a fully accessible cottage providing respite recreation for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities and their families.
• Diocese of HamiltoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC.Y.O. is the official Catholic youth organization of the Diocese. Bishop appointed directors historically. C.Y.O. provides youth ministry support throughout the Diocese.
• Hamilton Police ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts Polar Plunge fundraiser for Special Olympics Ontario at Marydale Park.
• City of HamiltoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity's Department of Culture and Recreation partnership for recreational properties. C.Y.O. adopted Zero Tolerance Policy for Violence in Recreational Properties.
• Ontario Camps AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited member. OCA provides resources for campers including information on autism support and Jumpstart Charities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Easter Seals Canada: National charity delivering camp and respite programs specifically for children and youth with physical disabilities. Direct peer for the One-to-One program and Dragonfly Lodge-style respite offerings, sharing the disability-inclusion and campership funding model.
• Scouts Canada: National youth development organization offering outdoor programming, leadership training (Venturer Scouts) and community service across Canada. Comparable volunteer-led, multi-age youth development nonprofit with long-standing institutional footprint.
• YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford: Regional YMCA delivering youth recreation, day camps, overnight camps, after-school programs and leadership development across the same southwestern Ontario catchment. Highly comparable multi-program, multi-facility youth-focused nonprofit model.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Hamilton: Local affiliate of the Boys & Girls Club movement providing after-school programming, sports, leadership and youth development for children in Hamilton. Closest direct peer given shared mission, school-embedded delivery and youth-segment focus.
• Girl Guides of Canada: National youth organization for girls offering outdoor adventure, leadership development, camps and community programming. Comparable multi-program, volunteer-driven, camp-based youth development nonprofit with a similar girls/youth and unit-based structure.
• Tim Horton Children's Foundation: Canadian nonprofit operating year-round children's camps for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, funded through corporate and community donations. Comparable camp-based, donation-subsidized, multi-facility youth model with significant foundation/corporate funder mix.

Regional players

• Christie Lake Kids: Ottawa-based charity providing year-round recreational, camping and leadership programming for children from low-income families. Comparable mission (barrier-free recreation, leadership development, donated-campership model) but operates in a different Ontario region without direct competition to C.Y.O. Hamilton.

Broad incumbents

• March of Dimes Canada: National nonprofit delivering recreation, respite and disability services for children and adults with disabilities. Comparable operational mix for Dragonfly Lodge and respite-style services and a shared funder base (Hamilton Community Foundation, United Way).
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada: National youth mentoring nonprofit with strong Hamilton/Halton presence. Broader incumbent in the same youth-development charitable space, with overlapping school-board and donor relationships but a mentoring-first rather than camp/athletics operating model.

Emerging players

• Variety - The Children's Charity (Ontario): Children's charity funding adaptive equipment, mobility aids and camp experiences for children with special needs. Comparable in its special-needs campership mission and donor base, though Variety is primarily a funder rather than direct operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CYOHamilton
• Instagraminstagram.com/cyo_hamilton
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cyo-on-ca

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about C.Y.O. - Catholic Youth Organization of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada