It has been a banner year for YWCA Toronto CEO Heather McGregor. In June, she received an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from Ryerson University in recognition of her over 20 years of leadership at YWCA Toronto. Heather’s skill in growing and expanding YWCA programs has improved the lives of women and girls all across our city. […]

Join us in celebrating the achievements and strength of Indigenous women who have received YWCA Toronto’s Women of Distinction Award. This annual award is given to leaders for their unwavering dedication to improving the lives of women and girls in Toronto and around the globe. June 21 is National Aboriginal Day in Canada. Each year, […]

Ishita Aggarwal is YWCA Toronto’s 2017 Young Woman of Distinction. Ishita has been encouraging girls’ participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs since she started Science4Girls – a high school club – where she encouraged girls’ to learn about the work of prominent women scientists. She was instrumental in the creation of the first […]

My name is Erum and I am a grade 12 student at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute. My role at the YWCA Toronto Girls’ Centre is Media Relations Specialist on the Girls’ Council, which is an advisory committee made up of girls who are interested in advocating for gender equity. I have visited several tech […]

April 11 is Equal Pay Day in Ontario. As women and allies stand together to demand economic justice, it is important to know the statistics: Indigenous women face a gender pay gap of 57 percent. For women with disabilities, the gap is 46 percent; for immigrant women, 39 percent; for racialized women, 32 percent. Women’s […]

As Toronto welcomes refugees, YWCA Toronto helps newcomer women make a strong start. We interviewed Beverly Justin, Coordinator of our Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program, to gain insights into the program’s impact and the work that remains to support refugee resettlement, and build welcoming communities. What makes you passionate about your role […]

My position at YWCA Toronto is unlike any other. I have taken a small plane in the middle of winter into the Neskantaga First Nation in northern Ontario to deliver training. While visiting Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation in northern British Columbia, a participant gifted me with an Eagle feather passed down from an Elder. That […]

Amari Bailey knew she had to make a change. She felt stuck in a customer service job that brought her little satisfaction. “The job was stressful and emotionally draining,” said Amari. “It was never fun for me, it was always just a paycheque.” Despite everything she put into her work, Amari felt completely, utterly replaceable. […]

As a queer, Caribbean-Canadian, Black woman, every day my personal is political. I advocate for understanding as an ally and for different perspectives to be shared. I speak up when I see injustice. And I march. I invite you to march with me as part of YWCA Toronto’s delegation at the International Women’s Day march […]

To mark Black History Month, we are taking a look back at Black women who are amongst those honoured with YWCA Toronto’s Women of Distinction Award. This annual award is bestowed upon women who have demonstrated an iron-clad commitment to improving the lives of other girls, women and marginalized groups. It has been going strong […]