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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Ebonnie Rowe (fourth from the right) is the founder of PhemPhat Entertainment Group, a dynamic, all-female non-profit company that provides promotional and educational opportunities for up-and-coming female artists. She is founder and executive director of Honey Jam, an annual Toronto-based showcase of female music acts, which has been going strong for the last 20 years. She is […]

Georgia Quartaro, Dean of the Centre for Preparatory and Liberal Studies at George Brown College, is a 2016 YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction. I have the privilege of working at a college where I see lives transformed every year. This is true across the college, of course, as students learn, develop skills, and find the […]

In the 36 years since its inception, the YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Awards have honoured and celebrated 256 trailblazers. The list is both impressive and inspiring. Reading through it, I see many familiar names. I know them as the mothers of childhood classmates (Bridget Lynch, 2012; M. NourbeSe Philip, 2001); as university peers (Chi […]

It was a great honour to receive the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award at an event earlier this year. That evening, I just thought I was the luckiest woman alive! Women mostly do not stop to recognize our achievements; and we certainly do not applaud ourselves much. Being honoured with this Award, together with six other […]

When you come to the 35th  YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Awards on Thursday, you are going to meet some of the top feminist leaders of today. But even more exciting than that is the chance to meet the top feminist leaders of tomorrow.  On Thursday, May 21st, at the Carlu, YWCA Toronto and 1,700 guests will […]

By Cara McCutcheon, Communications Consultant I was in a variety store recently and saw one of those mystery candy grab bags and a flush of childhood memories, wonderful memories, came to mind. I remembered riding my bike to the local “corner store” with some change in my pocket for penny candies and while I had […]

Cheryl Carbis, YWCA Toronto 2014 Woman of Distinction celebrating at last year’s event By Lise Schofield, Manager, Marketing and Communications, YWCA Toronto On May 21st, seven outstanding women in our city will be honoured at the 35th YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Awards. This year’s bold, remarkable women will inspire you with their achievements in improving […]