06/13/2026
Ethan LeClair of FISTS is featured on the YMCA Moncton page. Where he got his start in physical fitness and where he goes to do that extra when not at the boxing club!
Good job Ethan, we are proud of you!
Ethan's Y Story: Growing Up and Chasing New Dreams with the Y
Ethan LeClair was that kid "raised" by the Y.
For as long as he can remember, his mom and dad — both fitness enthusiasts and long-time YMCA members — would bring him and his sister to the YMCA of Greater Moncton. First for kids' swim lessons, then TweenZone, then basketball, and as they grew older, everyone would work out and attend fitness programs together or at their own pace.
Today, Ethan is hungry to carve his own path as an amateur boxer — determined to put Moncton on the map, even if "the Maritimes doesn't have yet the biggest scene in boxing." He's already competing, racking up wins, and training for upcoming competitions in Quebec, with his sights set on matches as far as Ontario and Alberta.
Most days, he retreats to the Y, one he calls his "safe space", to quietly build the foundation of his dream. "I'd always come here, do my sprints on the treadmill, do my workouts, use good equipment, and find a good space where people are not judgmental. Even if some of the workouts look a little silly, because they're boxing specific, no one really looks at me or judges me. Everyone is very friendly, and willing to help and show each other how the workouts are done."
But more than the gym, it's what the Y represents that keeps him coming back. "The Y has everything for everyone. There will be guys playing basketball or pickleball, but also a lot of community programs especially for people that are differently-abled. That's what I've seen change over the years and I love that. To have a place where people can feel safe and supported, with a community that guides them."
As someone who grew up with the Y, Ethan's message to kids is simple: "If you stick with something, regardless of who you are, hard work will always beat talent — whether that be a sport, weight lifting, or anything at all, you will succeed in it, as long as you just continue doing it."
Like Ethan, your Y Story matters. Share it with us at https://forms.office.com/r/684YZrQGqn