The 63rd Maritimes Region and Area Canada/Caribbean Convention was held May 20-23 in Sydney, Cape Breton to honor the 88th Anniversary of the Sydney Y’s Men’s Club. This club was chartered January 10-1923 and is recognized for being the “Club that made Y’s Men’s International”, as it was the first Y’s Men’s Club outside of the USA. The Sydney Y’s Men’s Club is presently the oldest active club in International.

The Convention was also honored to host Y’s Men’s International’s Towards 2022 Committee which comprised of various leaders including Y’s Men’s International President Y’s Hirotoshi Fujii, President Elect Y's Finn Pedersen, Immediate Past President Y's Kevin Cummings, and 6 International Service Directors.

Over 130 delegates, representing 13 Countries, attended this Convention from Canada, USA, Japan, Thailand, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Barbados, Jamaica, India, Aruba, Trinidad/Tobago and included representatives from the Maritimes, Western Canada, and Central Canada.

The theme for the Convention was Y’s Men’s International Roll Back Malaria Project and through club donations, ticket sales and a golf tournament, a check for $2,203.25 was presented to International Secretary Takao Nishimura by Convention Chairperson Sandy Reynolds. This donation was made “In Memory of” Y’s Joe Lawrence from the Charlottetown Y’s Men’s Club who passed away in 2010. Y’s Joe, who was better known as “Mr. Y’s Man”, was a past Area President and International Council Member, as well as long standing Maritimes Regional Secretary. This donation was made in his name “So others can live”

The Convention started Friday night with registration, followed by a birthday party for the Sydney Club. Saturday consisted of meetings and educational presentations, including one on Towards 2022 by Fred Leonard of Area USA. Saturday night featured the International Dinner.

Sunday morning saw the church service featuring a large choir made up of Y’s Men and Y’s Mennettes. Following the service, International President Hirotoshi Fujii installed the incoming Region and Area Teams. Following lunch there was free time which some members used to tour a coal mine in Glace Bay while others participated in the golf tournament.

The first annual Roll Back Malaria Golf Tournament was held and the winner, Y’s Wes Mac Queen of the Riverview Y’s Men’s Club, was presented the “RBM Mosquito Cup” by International President Hirotoshi Fujii, who donated the Cup.

At Sunday night’s President’s Dinner awards were passed out. During any free time throughout the weekend, a hospitality room was provided courtesy of the 2012 Convention hosts, the Saint John Club.

On Monday morning the Riverview Club provided breakfast at their building, following which participants hit the road for home.