“Garden of Tranquility, Harmony, and Connections” by Tashin Rodoshi

Mau has been a leader in his community for many years now. Take a moment to read Mau’s words in a short blog post discussing their experience as a leader, their vision for Gender Equality Week, and their hopes for the future of the gender equality movement!

Georgia LaPierre, YWCA Canada’s Project Coordinator, shares her own experience as an former active member of the Bishop’s University’s Sexual Culture Committee (SCC) and her hopes through the YWCA Canada’s project, “Not Online. Not On Campus.” that all post-secondary communities, regardless of their resources, are able to support survivors.  

YWCA Canada submitted 5 recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance for the budget 2025 to reflect the reality of women, girls, gender diverse individuals and their families across Canada. Take a look !

YWCA Canada calls on the Government of Canada to implement the 11 recommendations released in the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples’ report called Missing Children, Missing Records.

Last May, The Nova Scotia government announced new youth mental health sites in the province coordinated by multiple community organizations, including YWCA Halifax.

In late May, YWCA’s Violence Against Women Staff Network virtually gathered to advance sector knowledge and practices to support survivors of human trafficking. Check out this blog post to learn about the key moments of this panel event!

YWCA Canada is thrilled to welcome 7 new and 8 returning National Board Members elected at the 132nd Annual Members Meeting held in Muskoka, Ontario earlier this June.    

Take a look at our 2023-2024 achievements as we continue to fight for gender equity into 2025 and beyond. 

Thauana Morais, YWCA Halifax’s Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator, joined YWCA Canada’s delegation for this year’s United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW).

In March 2024, YWCA Canada gathered 20 delegates from across the country to champion our mission and values at the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW)

YWCA Canada and our 29 member associations are united in solidarity with trans women and trans communities.  

Invisible Entrepreneurs: New Report Exposes Systemic Discrimination and Presents Recommendations for Change

This 💖 Valentine’s Day💖, YWCA Canada is releasing a compilation of Clapback Cards to turn the tide on online hate.

As a part of our ongoing housing series, YWCA Canada spoke to Jennifer Breaton, CEO of YW Kitchener-Waterloo.

As part of our housing series, let's take a moment to dive into the reality of YWCA Quebec, and learn about its recent successes in advancing homelessness and the gendered housing crisis. 

As part YWCA Canada’s ongoing series unpacking the gendered housing crisis as a public health issue, this blog post spotlights YWCA Cambridge’s report, “Women’s Homelessness in Cambridge: Knowledge Sharing & Interventions”.

As a part of our 16days of Activism against GBV programming, YWCA Canada hosted a panel "A Preventable Epidemic: Taking Urgent Action to End Gender-Based Violence " On November 30th 2023. Check out this new blog post to delve into this significant dialogue and find different calls to action to support and share!

Today, we wanted to spotlight the powerful work that YWCA Toronto undertaken to advance the recommendation to declare IPV and GBV an epidemic locally and provincially.  

The safety of women, girls and gender diverse people on transit is a critical dimension of gender equity. Canada, with its vast and diverse landscape, faces unique challenges in ensuring safe, affordable, and accessible public transportation for all.

YWCA Canada’s Young Women’s Leadership and Engagement Committee member - Eraj Waqar shares her experience on attending the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

As a part of our 16 days of Activism against GBV, YWCA Canada hosted a panel "When Home isn't Safe: A Panel Discussion on Housing & Gender-Based Violence" on November 23rd, 2023.. let's recap the key moments and learnings of this panel.

When it comes to the plight of survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), the struggle to find permanent housing and escape the cycle of violence can be overwhelming.

Check out a recap of our panel discussion “Opening Doors: Towards Inclusive and Affirming Gender-Based Violence Supports" | September 27th 2023

In the midst of the Philanthropic Revolution, a transformative movement is redefining the essence of giving, calling for actions that are both efficient and sustainable. Enter Feminist Philanthropy, a potent force rooted in solidarity and empowerment, reshaping our approach to societal issues. As we celebrate National Philanthropy Day and the beginning of end of year campaign, YWCA Canada invites you to explore the challenges and incredible transformative power that Feminist Philanthropy holds for communities. Join us in creating change today!

Join this virtual panel discussion hosted by YWCA Canada to mark National Housing Day and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

This virtual panel highlights Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) as an urgent Public Health crisis across Canada. Through their reflections, speakers will focus on the need for a coordinated national public health approach to violence prevention and response.

I was first catcalled at age 12. I was confused and uncomfortable when older men began looking at me and speaking to me with sexual undertones. I thought I must have been doing something to provoke the behavior. This idea —that my preteen body was provocative— was something I learned at school.

Network of Neighbours was born out of the early days of the COVID 19 pandemic. Like dominos, places that served as natural intervention points for gender-based violence (GBV) – grocery stores, salons, coffee shops, social service and government agencies, and public gathering spaces– reduced their hours or were shut down completely. This situation brought the opportunity to build a network of neighbours in Waterloo Region who could act as points of natural intervention because they would have the skills and knowledge they need to push past their own fears and feel confident helping in situations of GBV.

In August, YWCA Canada made a written submission to the National Housing Council’s first-ever review panel, on the financialization of purpose-built rental housing.

In July, YWCA Canada spoke to Farah Rajan, program coordinator for YWCA Northwest Territories’ (NWT) Independent Legal Advice and Representation program, also known as ILAR program. YWCA NWT was established in 1966, and the ILAR program was established in February 2023. In this interview, Farah shares the program’s objectives, recent successes, and the importance of the program in the implementation of MMIWG calls to justice.

Annually on October 10th, the world commemorates Mental Health Day. Celebrated for the first time in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health, the day is dedicated to increasing awareness of mental health issues.

The Leadership Summit was an experience that I could relive several times without getting tired of it. I met people from various backgrounds, enriched by conversations nourished from several aspects and points of view. I have met people from across Canada who are all passionate about something that I find fascinating. Whether it was the arts, science, math, law, or social work, we all had our superpower.

From July 17 to 20, the Women Deliver Conference 2023 was held in Kigali, Rwanda. Local activists, civil society groups, governments, multilateral and philanthropic organizations, and youth activists from all over the world met to discuss, share their own expertise, and make their voices heard.

July 18th, 2023, marked one year since the launch of Canada’s first-ever national fund providing financial assistance directly to survivors of gender-based violence. YWCA Canada’s National Emergency Survivor Support (NESS) Fund began its operations serving over 30 communities in partnership with 12 YWCAs across the country.In just 12 months, 626 survivors have received over $810,813 of direct financial assistance.

As somebody who tends to hide in the back in an attempt to go unnoticed at large events, this was a great opportunity to challenge myself to share stories and ask questions when invited to. I was able to practice my public speaking skills in a safe and welcoming environment, and I got some great film and book recommendations from one of the questions I asked. My newfound friends even encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone by sharing a poem during open mic night—I participated alongside many other individuals who left me awestruck at their talent and courage.

A weekend by the beautiful Sparrow Lake in Muskoka [the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Wendake, Haudenosaunee, and Mississauga (covered by Treaty 20)], surrounded by over 100 wonderful humans, was all that I needed to feel overjoyed, rejuvenated, and hopeful for the (present and) future of social change and justice in Canada.  

Check out this blog post to learn more about online and offline hate-motivated violence on 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and how you can help activists and organizations

One year after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, attacks on sexual and reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and gender equality have only risen. YWCA Canada stands with Action Canada and LEAF to call on governments to act.

YWCA Canada has released  “What We Heard: Survivor-Led Strategies to Inform the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence”. The report highlights the recommendations, key learnings and concrete calls to accountability and action co-developed by over 60 organizations That represent pan-Canadian anti-violence leadership. 

In March 2023, following months of learning, YWCA Canada’s Think Big! Lead Now! National Leadership Program came to a joyous end with a successful summit. Grounded in intersectional feminism and social justice, this program is designed to equip young leaders living in Canada with the knowledge and skills to be change-makers in their communities and beyond.

In March 2023, the United Nations hosted the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). Jenny MacNeil was a proud member of YWCA Canada’s delegation this year. We asked Jenny to share reflections on her experience.

Shaped and nurtured by her experiences, struggles and perseverance, the new CEO of YWCA Canada, Aline Nizigama gets candid during her informal interview about work, life, and her vision for the Movement.

The COVID-19 pandemic moved much of our everyday lives online. Everything from healthcare to education to entertainment to socializing now operated through a screen and we continue to operate in a heavily digitized world.

This year, the United Nations (UN) hosted the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Eraj Waqar was a member of YWCA Canada’s delegation to the CSW. We asked Eraj to share her reflections on her experience.

In 2022, YWCA Canada released the #BlockHate National Research Report and Polling Data centering the voices, lived experiences and strategies shared by young women and gender diverse youth aged 16-30 years around ending online hate and creating safer digital spaces.

YWCA Canada is thrilled to announce the appointment of Aline Nizigama as the new Chief Executive Officer! Ms. Nizigama joins YWCA Canada from the Centre du Francophone du Grand Toronto, where she was the Director of Strategic Projects, Partnerships and Communications.

As Black History Month comes to a close, Raine Liliefeldt, Interim CEO and Director of Member Services & Development at YWCA Canada shares a painting and personal reflection as she travels from one coast to another.

YWCA Canada’s preliminary report, “What We Heard: Survivor-Led Strategies to Inform the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence” highlights recommendations, key learnings and concrete calls to accountability and action co-developed by 60+ civil society organizations and the communities across Canada that we engage with and represent. 

YWCA Canada stands in solidarity with Iranian women and girls, who are leading ongoing protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in custody after being detained by the nation’s morality police.

At home and at work, gender-based violence seeps into every element of a survivor’s life, and employment is no exception. From finding and keeping work when experiencing or healing from GBV at home to facing violence, discrimination and harassment in the workplace, survivors’ careers and economic stability are dramatically impacted.

As we observe the 16 Days of Activism on Gender-Based Violence and the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the announcement of charges in the murder of four Indigenous women at the hands of an alleged serial killer linked to white supremacist ideology is a tragic indication that the urgent action long called for by Indigenous women, families, and communities to address the ongoing genocide of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirt, and gender-diverse people has not been taken.

Young people are transforming GBV intervention and prevention work, starting conversations in new ways and challenging the beliefs and power structures that inform and fuel gender-based violence.

Without access to consistent, affordable and quality childcare, women and gender-diverse people struggle to find and maintain work, pursue educational opportunities and access support services.

Access to safe, qualified and affordable housing is a human right. It’s also a critical/important/essential part of the social infrastructure needed to end gender-based violence

Over the next 16 days, get loud with us to end gender-based violence

YWCA Canada has authored a new report about online hate in Canada, which centers on the voices, lived experiences, and strategies shared by young women and gender-diverse youth aged 16-30 years.

YWCA Canada has launched a new online, free, equity-focused employment training series for people managers and business leaders.

It’s Week Without Violence, and YWCAs all over the world are connecting with their communities to envision and advocate for a violence-free world.

Today October 5th, YWCA is at OTTAWA on the Day of the hill to call on the government of Canada to implement shelter, transitional and affordable housing projects to address the gendered housing crisis. 

Burnout among frontline staff working with children and youth has increased during COVID-19. This policy brief surfaces emerging areas of concern for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) and Child and Youth Workers during the pandemic. YWCA Canada, together with BGC Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Canadian Childcare Federation explore these challenges through an intersectional approach, including gender, race, and socioeconomic considerations in this brief.

"Get over yourself. It is not about you, but the story you represent." Those were the words of award-winning filmmaker Andy Villanueva who was one of three amazing panelists to share their leadership journeys during the YWCA Think Big! Lead Now! National Leadership Program, a two-day virtual summit which took place on March 12 and 13, 2022.  

YWCA Canada and its member associations launched the first National Emergency Support Fund for Survivors of Intimate partner violence

YWCA Canada is deeply saddened and concerned that the Supreme Court of the United States has overturned Roe v. Wade. We stand in solidarity with YWCA USA and the people of the United States amid this devastating erosion of abortion rights. The decision undermines nearly a half century of progress on reproductive freedom and has life-threatening consequences for women and people of all genders who can get pregnant.

YWCA Canada is currently seeking executive search services to support with the search for a new CEO.

YWCA Canada welcomes the measures for stronger gun control introduced by the Government of Canada in Bill C-21 last week. We applaud the work of our Member Association, YWCA Toronto, as well as the Coalition for Gun Control, gun control advocates and the families of victims for their tireless work of calling to further government action on gun safety.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS : In Good Company, Project Implementation Evaluation

Organized around three pillars – investing in people, investing in the green economy, and investing in productivity and innovation –, this budget comes in while the YWCA Canada, the YWCAs all over the country, and its partners can testify how the lack of affordable housing, rising costs of living and the burn-out of many women, especially those working in the care sector in our country, still creates inequity and vulnerable living conditions.

Statistics Canada revealed that hate crimes are on the rise in our country. The data highlighted that between 2018 and 2019, the number of race-based police-reported crimes increased from 793 to 876. A majority of the increase was a result of more hate crimes specifically targeting Black (an increase of 40 incidents) and Arab or West Asian groups (an increase of 35 incidents). All of this provides enough evidence that we as a country, and Canadians as a people, are not as benevolent a society as we’d like to think we are.

Storytelling through multimedia is a meaningful way to boost visibility, especially in a sector where the work is not often seen.

Let’s not go back to the way we engaged with the government pre-pandemic.Virtual meetings with the government, while clearly not a panacea, allow for more inclusive and accessible engagement, are more environmentally conscious and can support caregiving responsibilities. Let’s not go back to the way we did government relations pre-COVID.

The fight for child care and broader investments in the care economy have been a long-standing struggle in Canada since the 1970s and continues to be a priority for feminist and aligned social movements. Finally, after years of tenacious efforts by advocates, there are monumental wins to celebrate.

On International Youth Day, YMCA Canada and YWCA Canada launch plan to support youth and prevent a ‘lockdown generation’ in CanadaYMCA Canada and YWCA Canada join forces to release a 6-point plan to build back better with a focus on economic recovery for young people in Canada.

#BlockHate campaign highlights the perils of inaction on online hate speech as politicians debate hate speech legislation in OttawaThe Canadian Race Relations Foundation and YWCA Canada launch an awareness campaign on the danger of ignoring the spread of online hate speech on social media platforms.

YWCA members were excited to hear from Roberta Jamieson, who delivered the keynote address at our 2021 Annual Members Meeting. Jamieson is a Mohawk woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She is a groundbreaker, a woman of many firsts: she was the first Indigenous woman in Canada to earn a law degree, the first non-parliamentarian appointed an ex-officio member of a House of Commons Committee, the first woman Ombudsman in Ontario, and the first woman to be elected chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Care has saved us in this crisis and it’s what will pave the path towards post-pandemic recovery. The only way we will recover from this pandemic is by recognizing, reducing and redistributing unpaid care work, and rewarding and protecting the rights of paid care workers.

Despite Gen-Z women making up 2.5% of the Canadian labour force, they have accounted for 17% of the total decline in employment during the pandemic. This, and other startling factors that disproportionately affect equity-seeking individuals is why conversations around what life will look like post-pandemic are so necessary and timely.

Since 2017, YWCA Canada has created a virtual space for staff, volunteers, and partner organizations to obtain in-depth knowledge and resources to inform the crucial work they are doing through the Violence Against Women Staff Network. Today there are 700 members across the country who have tuned in for over 20 webinars on topics ranging from trauma-informed practices to cultural competence. The sessions have surpassed 1,000 registrations overall to-date, with over 300 playbacks.

Earlier this year, Students for Consent Culture Canada and YWCA Canada gathered with over 15 students, student union leaders, and campus advocates to share best practices, experiences and ask questions about online campus sexual violence. The two-hour knowledge exchange, ZoomU and Sexual Violence, highlighted new and existing understandings of online campus sexual violence, with a focus on current virtual learning conditions brought forth by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Keep reading for the top highlights of the event.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted marginalized communities across the country and the organizations that serve them. This has only heightened during the 3rd wave. That’s why YWCA Canada is so grateful to Vistaprint for its donation of nearly $60,000 CAD in essential supplies to keep communities safe from COVID-19. The donation will directly support 14 YWCA locations across 6 provinces and 1 territory. From coast to coast to coast, the donation of Vistaprint’s masks ensures community members and YWCA workers alike are able to protect themselves against the COVID-19 pandemic. This donation allows the YWCA network across Canada to continue to operate essential services like shelters, housing programs and child care services.

Since the start of the pandemic, YWCA Canada has been advocating tirelessly and leading the call for a feminist economic recovery plan for Canada. As indicated by several of the Federal Budget 2021’s announcements, this advocacy prompted change.We celebrate the budget’s historic funding plan of $101.4 billion over three years to address the dual aims of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and setting the foundation for a feminist, inclusive recovery.

This is just the beginning. Much more needs to be done, but it must start with the recognition that Canada won’t have an economic recovery without an action plan that addresses the immediate and long-term impacts of this crisis on young people.The decisions made during this time, both good and bad, will be felt for generations to come. If we want an economy that works for everyone, we must prioritize and maximize opportunities for millennials and Gen Z. So let’s make sure we invest in younger generations to have a real shot at building back better.Our collective future depends on it.

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) and YWCA Canada have launched a social media campaign called #BlockHate to address concerns around the rise of hate speech and racism online. The campaign launch coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21. The campaign features women of colour targeted by online hate through social media who share their experiences.

Sarah Hannaford breaks down the need for targeted support for survivors at Post-Secondary Institutions. One in five women will experience sexual assault while attending a post-secondary institution, and this number increases for women and gender diverse people who experience intersecting systems of oppression that are linked to their identity. To meaningfully confront the landscape of gender-based violence in Canada, a National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence needs to include targeted support for survivors at post-secondary institutions.

For International Women's Day, the YWCA Canada federation is hosting and participating in several events. Check out the programming slate for 2021

Congratulations to YWCA Canada's CEO Maya Roy on being appointed to Canada's Taskforce for Women in the Economy.YWCA Canada is a leading voice for women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people.

If you’ve been following the work of the YWCA movement in Canada over the last 12 months, you’ve seen our fierce focus on a #FeministRecovery to safeguard against the potential rollback of gender equity and human rights. From British Columbia to Alberta to Northwest Territories to Ontario to Quebec to Nova Scotia and beyond, our YWCA colleagues across the country have been relentless in their desire for a gender-responsive approach to post-pandemic recovery. 

How many times have you Googled a badass woman from history who has improved the lives of women in your community, who was a trailblazer, shifted the needle on gender equity and women’s rights only to find… No entries.Well, we are doing something about it. Join us as part of YWCA 150: Look Back, Push Forward as we put those women and gender-diverse folks on the map on the web.

On Saturday, January 23rd, 2021, a coalition of Canada's largest human and community service federations, including YWCA Canada, participated in a Roundtable with the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. To address the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the sustainability of the charitable and non-profit sector, YWCA Canada is calling for a Community Services COVID-19 Relief Fund. They are joining in coalition with YMCA Canada, United Way Centraide Canada, National Association of Friendship Centres, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

The need for self-care is more evident than ever, however traditional notions of self-care have been turned upside down with the need to adhere to Public Health safety regulations. In this conversation, Myself, Marine Coeurdassier, Leah Davidson and Gurneet Dhami leaders from the YWCA’s Think Big! Lead Now! Young Women’s National Leadership had a conversation about what self-care looks like to us and how we have had to change it and adapt in order to impellent it into our lives, while still doing our work not just as professionals, but as well in our activism.

YWCA Canada will be coordinating a consultation process for members of the Minister’s Gender-Based Violence Advisory Council, members of the civil society-led group for the Blueprint on the National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and other community-based gender-based violence organizations supporting underrepresented communities.This consultation process will provide an avenue for eligible organizations to provide input on the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

YWCA Canada would like to thank Aritzia for its generous donations of 1000 SuperPuff Jackets.

Earlier this year, a young YWCA leader, Riti Nawroz, partnered with YWCA Saskatoon to provide 30 Power Bundles with essential supplies to the YWCA Crisis Shelter that provides emergency support for women and children. Hear her reflections on her leadership journey, what motivates her to get involved in her community, and her advice for fellow youth activists.

According to a new survey conducted by YWCA Canada, Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW), Canadian Women’s Foundation, G(irls)20 and Oxfam Canada, women’s rights organizations in Canada are facing increasingly insurmountable challenges that threaten their very existence. These organizations provide a vital lifeline to communities, and especially women, providing essential services and programs.

W. Matthew Chater is the National President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. Owen Charters is the President & CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. Dan Clement is the President & CEO of United Way Centraide Canada. Peter Dinsdale is the President & CEO of YMCA Canada. Maya Roy is the CEO of YWCA Canada. One thing is true of our organizations. We exist because communities need us. Over eight million Canadians rely on us every year. And when times are especially tough, like now, even more turn to us, Canada’s essential network of community services. We offer spaces where children safely learn and play while their parents work, a hot meal and a place to rest for the night, a first job or resources during times of unemployment, the support people need to break through barriers, and so much more. We are the heart of Canadian communities, helping those living in vulnerable situations, and right now we are struggling.

To mark International Human Rights Day, The Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) in partnership with YWCA Canada have released a special chapter on how to push forward a human rights approach to post-pandemic recovery.

On National Housing Day, we are pleased to share that Maya Roy, CEO of YWCA Canada, has been appointed to the National Housing Council.YWCA Canada is committed to advancing gender equity and ending homelessness in Canada.

Diversifying your portfolio among securities that target social issues has never been as easy as it is today. Learn what gender lens investing is and how you can apply this strategy to your portfolio.

This is the question that YWCA program staff grappled with in March when the country went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We know how important digital literacy is and, this year, as we have moved lives online, it has become even more critical to support people to build these skills.

Through Public Safety Canada’s Community Resilience Fund, YWCA Canada is receiving $759,762 for their Block Hate: Building Resilience against Online Hate Speech initiative. This is a 4-year research and knowledge mobilization project that will work with a variety of sectors to co-create concrete solutions for online hate speech and hate crime in communities across Canada.

The Week Without Violence, marked worldwide in the third week of October is a global campaign to end violence in our communities. Organizations bring people together to raise awareness and promote change with a goal of eradicating violence against women and girls, including, intimate partner/domestic violence, bullying, racism, elder abuse, trafficking, child marriage, sexual assault, and harassment. YWCA Canada’s theme this year is Take Time. Take Action. Stop Violence Before It Starts.

YWCA Canada welcomes the recently announced funding of $50 million for shelters, transitional housing, and sexual assault centres to support the provision of services and supports for survivors of gender-based violence.

YWCA Canada will be hosting and participating in several events throughout Gender Equality Week. Read on to check out the full calendar.

Our Research Coordinator, Rebecca Pacheco, reflects on the role of technology and digital literacy for YWCA Member Associations and women across the country in living through a global pandemic.

YWCA Canada is grateful for the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation’s donation of $100, 000 to support our COVID-19 response across Canada.Through their support, YWCAs across the country will be able to continue to provide essential services such as child care, housing and shelter services.

Released today, the ‘A Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for Canada: Making the Economy Work for Everyone’ report co-authored by the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and YWCA Canada offers an 8-point Plan to tackle systemic barriers and improve economic security for women, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people.

YWCA Canada is pleased to announce the awarded funding by Future Skills Centre to undertake the Project Synergy: Workforce Development for Vulnerable Women to Succeed. This is part of a three-year national participatory research and knowledge mobilization project addressing the unique challenges of labour market access for vulnerable women in Canada. Synergy will pilot, evaluate, and share three promising workforce development practices aimed at building social resilience among vulnerable women.

Two days ago, YWCA Canada posted a list of Black-led organizations that support Black-identified communities. YWCA Canada did not properly cite authorship of this list; the list was created and vetted by Black womxn in a private Facebook group, without respectful acknowledgement and citation of their expertise, time, scholarship and labour. It was a private conversation that was made public without consent of the authors. YWCA Canada is deeply sorry about the harm caused by this act.

Our Director of Public Policy & Strategic Communications, Anjum Sultana, highlights the work we've been doing with our #GenderEquityDuringAPandemic series. All of this work on the gendered impacts of COVID-19 points to what we must do to recover from this crisis. We need a feminist recovery plan - it's the only way to put our society on the pathway to recovery. YWCA is working on a roadmap for Canada which will be released in June. Stay tuned!

"What does peace mean to you?” This is a question I was asked multiple times over the course of the 2020 Peace Summit for Emerging Leaders in Bangkok, Thailand. I had a really clear idea of what peace meant to me when applying to attend, based on my experiences advocating for social justice in both Canada and the Philippines, but I was surprised to see my definition of peace had both expanded and deepened over the course of the summit. 

In honour of International Telecommunication and Information Day on Sunday, May 17th, Marie-Michelle Chong, a graduate of the Masters of Social Work program at York University, writes about what it means to engage safely on social media during the current pandemic. She offers insights from her study examining the experiences of racialized women in how they participate on social media and the social pressures they have to navigate online.

Catherine Morrison, alumnae of YWCA Canada Young Women’s National Leadership Program and graduate from McGill University in Gender, Sexuality, Feminism, and Social Justice Studies highlights the gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people. Catherine shares how we can stop the shadow pandemic during this crisis – gender-based violence.

YWCA Canada is grateful for Uber Canada’s donation to our COVID-19 Emergency Response.Through their support, YWCAs across the country will be able to provide transportation support for people experiencing gender-based violence, deliver groceries and necessary supplies to vulnerable community members and keep workers safe as they operate essential services like shelters.

YWCA Canada and YWCA Halifax foremost extend our deepest condolences to all the families and communities affected by this shooting.We also express our sincerest sympathies to the broader Nova Scotian community during this devastating time. We too are heartbroken.

YWCA Canada joins Amnesty International Canada and 300+ organizations and advocates to call for human rights oversight of government's COVID-19 responses.

YWCA Canada joins 190 organizations like Alliance for Healthier Communities and over 1600 individuals to call for race-based and socio-demographic data to inform COVID-19 response measures. We cannot effectively contain COVID-19 and mitigate its long term harms without addressing underlying inequalities that facilitate this pandemic’s escalation.

As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, we look back at the achievements of hundreds of leaders, volunteers and staff who have made possible the work of YWCAs across Canada.

Our CEO Maya Roy joined fellow members of the 2018 and 2019 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Councils to urgently call on G7 member states to take into account the gendered dimensions of the crisis and to prevent the deterioration of gender equality and women’s rights worldwide.

Join us on April 1 at 5:30PM EST for a special online townhall on gender (in)equity during COVID-19.

“There is no question – the COVID-19 pandemic is going to hit women and their families the hardest. From shelters to counselling to food delivery programs, charities and non-profits continue to run essential services. We need significant investments to keep our doors open and make sure no one is left behind.” – Maya Roy, CEO of YWCA Canada

YWCA Canada was pleased to hear in the Government of Canada’s announcement dedicated funding for women’s shelters to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In times of uncertainty and economic hardship, the risk for gender-based violence escalates.

YWCA Canada's Research Officer, Shiva Mazrouei, is doing research across the country on women's economic empowerment. Learn more about her experience in Yellowknife with YWCA NWT.

The Weinstein case verdict is a watershed moment for gender justice activists. Yet it still raises troubling questions for feminists. Read our CEO Maya Roy's take on the Weinstein sentencing today.

Last week, our CEO Maya Roy met with the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen. 

"This past month, I surrounded myself with Black people and our stories, often over food and with music. And no matter when you are reading this, this statement holds true: fighting for Black justice should not be limited to a calendar month. The end of Black History Month means that non-Black folks may use it as an excuse to stop doing the work. And while the need for Black History Month certainly never goes away, it’s simply too easy to forget by the time March rolls around."

🌟Happy #FeministFriday!This week, we highlight the incredible contributions of Akosua Tiwaah Bonsu, an alumni of our Think Big! Lead Now! Young Women’s National Leadership Program and one of Canada’s 100 Accomplished Black Women for 2020.

In celebration of Safer Internet Day, MediaSmarts and YWCA Canada are proud to launch a series of digital literacy workshops to help empower under-represented women from communities across the country.

Meet our Leadership Summit Animation Team member, Mickey Agnelli, and learn about her experience this year at the Think Big! Lead Now! Young Women's National Leadership Program.

In mid-December, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released his ministerial mandate letters.for this Parliament session. These letters essentially highlight key goals that each Minister is expected to achieve during their current term in office. For the public and policy advocates alike, they give us insights into what issues matter the most this minority Parliament.Using our YWCA intergenerational intersectional feminist lens, here are the top 3 things you may have missed and should be watching for this session of Parliament.

Grassroots social change is about small groups of committed people getting things done. How do you want to fight for gender equity in 2020?Our CEO Maya Roy believes advocacy for a feminist future starts at home. Next time you have your friends over - try this #DIYFeminism activity!

Congratulations to our National Director of Public Policy & Strategic Communications, Anjum Sultana! She was recently named a Global Woman of Distinction by the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, representing North America and Europe. She will be honoured before the 64th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York on March 8th, International Women's Day.

Ah, New Year resolutions… the annual reminder to eat more vegetables, of all those places I haven’t been, and of those career moves I feel like I have to make or else I won't be 'successful'. This year I’m trying something different - it’s a little more intentional, a little more inward facing, and a lot more about my growth as a person and a community member. Without further ado, here are my 2020 feminist resolutions...

Every four years, the World YWCA conducts a series of business meetings inviting women from YWCAs across the world.The focus of these meetings is empowering women, laying out the strategic framework for a movement focused on gender equality and ending violence, electing a new governing body for the worldwide movement, and connecting with our YWCA sisters from around the world.

"For the first 22 years of my life, I was born and raised on Unama’ki, Mi’kma’ki territory. The things you do for fun when living on the island include long drives around the Cabot trail or long hikes through the Cabot trail."Content warning: Includes the use of strong language, descriptions of homophobia and sexual assault.

It is the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most comprehensive and progressive global blueprint for advancing gender equality and women’s rights. YWCA Canada contributed to Canada’s civil society parallel report - read our report to learn about Canada’s progress on advancing gender equality and women’s rights .

New Year, New Decade, New You?If you were to look back ten years from now, what lessons would you want to share? Things you would want to aspire to?Our colleague, Rebecca Pacheco did just that - read her letter to her 2020 Feminist Self!If you could speak to your younger self, what would you share? We want to hear from you. Tweet us at @YWCA_Canada with your #Dear2020FeministMe reflections!

YWCA Canada would like to extend our deepest condolences to everyone impacted by Sahar and Elsa’s deaths, our YWCA Toronto colleagues, and all the loved ones, friends and families impacted by this heartbreaking tragedy. We also extend our sincerest sympathies to the broader Iranian Canadian community during this unimaginably difficult and sad time.

YWCA Canada will be hosting 2 sessions at the upcoming 64th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). Be sure to check out our social media platforms in February to find out more details about our speakers. We will also be posting about how you can register to attend in-person or via online live-stream.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to do participatory research? Interested in labour market access for women? Take a look at this interview with Shiva Mazrouei, YWCA Canada’s Research Officer, to learn more about what we’re doing to inform women’s economic empowerment.

"Thanks to the work I have done at the YWCA, I have met incredible women of all ages at the shelters and housing programs across the country. Many women come to the YWCA in such critical points in their lives; without the YWCA and your support, their circumstances would be so much worse. "

Through the Uber Community Impact Initiative, selected participating member associations have the opportunity to receive transportation services from Uber for rides to job interviews, medical appointments and training opportunities     

We wanted to take this opportunity to highlight an initiative in Canada that encourages corporations to commit to advancing gender equality in the workplace, WE EMPOWER. The WE EMPOWER Programme recently launched the Flex for Empowerment Campaign! Flex for Empowerment is a public engagement campaign designed to increase awareness of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) while increasing the number of WEPs signatories in Canada and showcasing good practices in the workplace, marketplace and community. The campaign will run from 22 September 2019 through the end of December 2019.

An in-depth interview with founder and managing editor, Claire Robbins, about how Btchcoin News is disrupting gender stereotypes one news story at a time with a weekly newsletter summarizing the latest Canadian financial trends in an accessible way.

From May to June of this year, YWCA Canada rolled out an advocacy campaign to mobilize Canadians across the country to take action and advance affordable housing for all.

YWCA Canada’s Manager of Philanthropy and Strategic Impact, Isabel Perez - Doherty was recently interviewed on the This is the NOT the Mandy Johnson Show podcast where she spoke to her experiences working in the non-profit sector as a racialized newcomer woman. Isabel highlights the systemic barriers in the recruitment processes in the Global North that lead to under-employment for newcomers and which prevent them from reaching their full potential. 

YWCA Canada’s Manager of Philanthropy and Strategic Impact, Isabel Perez - Doherty was recently interviewed on the This is the NOT the Mandy Johnson Show podcast where she spoke to her experiences working in the non-profit sector as a racialized newcomer woman. Isabel highlights the systemic barriers in the recruitment processes in the Global North that lead to under-employment for newcomers and which prevent them from reaching their full potential. 

YWCA Cambridge employee Tara Kleinsteuber exploring Truth and Reconciliation and her own story of moving through the world as an Indigenous person.

Shaya MacDonald, Member of YWCA Canada's Reconciliation Action Committee shares her personal reflections on what the discriminatory nature of the Indian Act has meant for her and all her relations.

YWCA Canada's Manager of Programs & Projects, Sydney Piggott, reflects on her experience visiting YWCA of Taiwan.

Anjum Sultana, YWCA Canada’s Manager of Public Policy & Strategic Communications was chosen by Young Diplomats of Canada to represent Canada at the 2019 G7 Youth (Y7) Summit in Paris, France from June 10-14. Anjum was one of four Canadian delegates tasked with representing the voices of Canadian youth at the highest levels of global diplomacy. Internationally, Anjum is the first YWCA affiliated person to represent their nation in Y7 processes and is embodying World YWCA’s mission of ‘transform[ing] power structures to create justice, gender equality and a world without violence and war’.

On Monday, July 08 and as we returned to our offices for the week ahead, we learned that YWCA Canada’s server was hacked. Please read our release.

Rosalind Gunn, Director of Marketing & Communications at YWCA Cambridge, was selected by YWCA Canada to go to the 2019 Ryerson University CanStudyUS Tour to Washington DC. In her blog post, she reflects on the power of storytelling and more to educate, mobilize and organize.

Brenda Okorogba, Member of Leadership Summit Animation Team (LSAT) of YWCA Canada’s Think Big! Lead Now! Young Women’s National Leadership Program, receives prestigious honour!

Maya Roy is currently the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Canada, the largest and oldest women's organization in the country. Her work has taken her to the UK where she worked with NGOs to support human rights and violence prevention. Her essays have been published in Going Beyond the Journey (2013) by Insomniac Press, and she is the winner of the Toronto Foundation's Vital People award in 2014. Maya was a member of the Gender Equality Advisory Council for Canada's G7 Presidency. Recently. she was selected as one of the World Economic Forum's 2019 Young Global Leaders.

YWCA Canada took part in Women Deliver: the largest global conference on gender equality.

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Will your kid's daycare survive COVID-19? Many child care centres across Canada are just scraping by. Read YWCA Canada's CEO interview in Today's Parent to learn more.