"The most difficult thing is the decision to act.
The rest is merely tenacity."
~ Autumn Peltier
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LEADERSHIP MESSAGE
Dear YWCA Toronto Community,
On Monday, October 24th Toronto residents will head to the polls to
vote in the next Municipal Election. Our joint election campaign, #VoteEquityTO, urges all candidates to prioritize poverty reduction, end community violence, and promote gender equity. We know that united voices make our message stronger. When you sign our petition, you send a direct message to the candidates in your riding that you care about gender equity!
Lastly, I am proud to share that we have received $451,962 from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for our expressive art-based therapy programs in support of mothers and their children who have survived violence – thank you PHAC for your generosity!
Please make sure to vote on Monday if you have not yet done so!
As ever,
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Heather McGregor
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA Toronto
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Photo | Courtesy of YWCA Canada |
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YWCA Canada’s Day on the Hill 2022
Earlier this month, we joined YWCA leaders from across the country on Parliament Hill to call on the government of Canada to implement shelter, transitional and affordable housing projects to address the gendered housing crisis.
More than one-quarter of women-led, single-parent households live in unsuitable or unaffordable housing.
Our CEO, Heather McGregor, Director of Advocacy and Communications, Jasmine Ramze Rezaee, and Manager of Advocacy, Sami Pritchard met with elected officials and government representatives to present solutions to the pressing housing crisis faced by women, girls and gender diverse people.
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We are at the Gardiner Museum!
the Gardiner Museum. Many attended to celebrate the exquisite artwork of artists who created their pieces through a series of workshops with local artists.
A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council who sponsored the workshops that developed the artwork for this show.
Crafting Narrative runs until Oct 30. Be sure to visit the Gardener Museum to learn more about the artists and see their work.
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Adopt-A-Family Program
For many, the holidays can be the hardest time of the year. Help provide a sense of belonging this winter and make the season brighter for women, girls, and gender diverse people using YWCA Toronto programs and services. Your donation helps provide families with gift cards to use at their discretion for warm clothing, gifts for their children, festive meals and more.
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Photo | Courtesy of City of Toronto, MyVote |
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The City of Toronto has launched a new tool to make the voting experience easier.
The MyVote web application has everything you need to participate in Toronto's municipal election: Verify your voter information, learn about candidates in your ward, print your voter information card and more!
Learn more about municipal election issues here.
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Photo | Courtesy of PROOF
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A new report by the Homeless Hub examines the rise of household food insecurity across Canada.
The report drew upon data from 54,000 households from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey which found that 15.9% of the households surveyed were food-insecure in 2021.
Read the full report and its recommendations here.
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No More Violence. No More Guns.
Gun violence is an ever-present and long-standing problem in Toronto. YWCA Toronto believes this issue requires greater research and more meaningful policy responses.
We have seen how discussions of gangs and guns often miss the perspectives of mothers, women and girls impacted by gun violence. Public analysis also often misses the connections between gun violence and poverty, racism and police discrimination.
Read more about how YWCA Toronto is leading the charge on the gendered impacts of gun violence with our own research and community engagement.
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A Win for Gender Equity
Through an op-ed in Policy Options, our Director of Advocacy and Communications, Jasmine Ramze Rezaee, shares her hope around the city's first-ever Gender Equity Office that launched in 2019 and the forthcoming strategy. “When it is launched, the strategy will not only be the culmination of decades of activism to make visible the needs and perspectives of diverse women in Toronto, it will be informed by an extensive community consultation process.”
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
YWCA Toronto operates on the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We are grateful to work on this territory as we strive to build a more equitable and just city for women, girls, and gender diverse people. For a full land acknowledgment, please visit our website.
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