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 […]

YWCA Toronto condemns Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism. We offer our support and solidarity to the Muslim community, in Toronto and across Canada, during this challenging time. Never has there been such an important moment for us all to speak out and take action to counter Islamophobia and racism. We must also call on our elected representatives to […]

Some of the most passionate mental health advocates work in women’s shelters. Women on the front-lines for addressing mental health needs. Women supporting other women to find safety, stability, and empowerment in their lives — in a way, sisterhood embodied. We need to hear their voices as Canada embarks on necessary (and overdue) conversations on […]

There is a lot at stake in this year’s city budget. YWCA Toronto supports new revenue tools to stop unacceptable service cuts, and we urge Council to make a substantial investment in Toronto’s poverty reduction strategy. This is critically important for women in our city, who have disproportionately higher poverty rates. The women we work […]

Did you know that YWCA Toronto is part of a global movement working to help women and girls? In over 120 countries, YWCA’s create valuable resources and fight for women’s rights. As part of this global movement, YWCA’s from around the world come together to support sister Associations by funding projects that create opportunities for […]

“It’s important to take the opportunity to celebrate achievements,” said YWCA Toronto CEO Heather McGregor at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of YWCA Toronto’s 3090 Kingston Road Employment and Training Centre. And the employment and training team has a lot to celebrate. In the 25 years since they first opened their doors in Scarborough, they have […]

Growing up as a girl in today’s world can be a struggle. From bullying, harassment, and inequality to balancing family life with the expectations of school, girls and young women face many challenges. Discovering who you are and who you want to become can be a tough process and too many girls confront these struggles […]

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 […]

We all need a place to call home. At the very least, we need a place to feel safe, rest and recharge, raise families, grow old.  What we may call home could be made of brick, stone, mud, cardboard, tinfoil or a windblown UN tent in a refugee journey somewhere.  Lives and experiences could not […]

Elisheva Passarello is a social justice advocate, photographer, designer, and entrepreneur in Toronto, Ontario. On October 12, 2012, I was evicted from my apartment and for the very first time in my life I became homeless. That night, there were no beds available anywhere in Toronto so I was forced to sleep on the street. At five o’clock in the morning, I found a […]