What We Do

A secular, registered charity, YWCA Canada is the country’s oldest and largest women’s rights organization, driving change for over 150 years.

With 29 Member Associations across the country, we work together to advance gender equity. At National Office, we strengthen and unite the national movement by providing tools, training, national convening, and capacity-building to amplify the work of YWCAs across Canada. Through research, governance support, professional development, and advocacy coordination, we help local YWCAs deliver impact in their communities while growing the collective power of our national movement.

Our work at YWCA Canada is grounded in six Drivers of Impact that guide everything we do.

  1. Ending Gender-Based Violence
    Providing direct support to survivors and driving national awareness and prevention efforts.
  2. Providing Safe and Stable Housing
    Advocating for affordable housing that meets the needs of women and gender-diverse people.
  3. Achieving Economic Equity
    Challenging systemic barriers to economic security through policy change, research, awareness-raising and public education.
  4. Championing Child Care and Women’s Wellbeing
    Promoting universal, high-quality child care and holistic supports for mental health and wellness.
  5. Empowering Diverse Young Leaders
    Investing in the leadership of women, girls, and non-binary youth to shape inclusive, equitable and just futures.
  6. Informing and Shaping Our Feminist Futures
    Driving systems change through feminist advocacy, policy work, and research grounded in lived experience.