June News & Updates

In early June, members of our leadership team, our Board President, Norma McDonald Ewing, and Board Member, Stacey Colliver, travelled to Muskoka for the 132 Annual Members Meeting of YWCA Canada, hosted by our friends at YWCA Muskoka.

Pictured above is nearly all of the delegates from YWCAs across the country - from Nunavut to Quebec, BC to Newfoundland. To the left is YWCA CEO Kim Decker (centre) between Director of Philanthropy, Nataleigh Ballantyne (Left) and Director of Communications and Advocacy, Roz Gunn (right).

At this gathering, filled with workshops, roundtables and social events, YWCA Canada elected seven new board members, including a new President, none other than former CEO of YWCA Hamilton and good friend of YWCA Cambridge, Denise Christopherson!

Congratulations, Kim Decker, on Winning the National Cleta Herman Award!

At this year's AMM, YWCA Cambridge CEO was bestowed with the Cleta Herman Award. This award is presented in honour of Cleta Herman, who was Executive Director of YWCA Vancouver from 1958 until 1984. It recognizes an exceptional individual in the YWCA movement in Canada who has demonstrated a deep commitment YWCA’s mission through mentorship and role modelling, innovation in working towards gender equity for all women through informed advocacy, support of colleagues, and leadership at the local and higher levels.

Kim is known by colleagues, community partners and other leaders for leading with compassion, honesty, vulnerability, trust and respect. Every decision she makes for the organization is done with consideration to how it impacts not only service users, but staff.

Currently, under her leadership, YWCA Cambridge is simultaneously expanding its child care and summer camp programming while also embarking on establishing the first women’s emergency homeless shelter in Cambridge. 

The staff team at YWCA congratulate our fearless leader on this deserved recognition!

Congratulations one final time to the 2024 Women of Distinction Award recipients! The 30th anniversary Women of Distinction Awards gala was a resounding success!

It was an evening of celebration and inspiration made extra special by an appearance by none other than the Queen of R&B Soul Jully Black. Jully set the tone of the evening, talking about her nearly 30-year career, navigating life as a young woman and how she works to uplift and empower other women.

In May, we brought back our signature She Talks event for the first time since 2019! The sold out event, hosted at The Underwing featured Mallory Green (Co-Founder and CEO of Eirene), Kris Ejem (Founder of Girls Just Wanna Box), and Sera-Lys McArthur (Award-winning actor, producer and writer).

The speakers had the audiences' rapt attention as they spoke of their own stories of tenacity and grit, with a whole lot of humour sprinkled in. Thank you to Downtown Cambridge, 107.5 Dave Rocks and 91.5 Th Beat for helping make the evening possible! Thank you also to Em Rowsell for capturing the night in photos and video.

We're partnering with Cambridge Shelter for a charity golf tournament!

Join us for a fun-filled day to support two local charities, Cambridge Shelter Corporation and YWCA Cambridge. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, this charity tournament is perfect for golfers of all levels.

The 18-hole tournament will take place at the picturesque Galt Country Club. Come early to practise your swing, challenge yourself at our putting contest, and to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a great prize.

The formalities begin at 11:30 a.m. with registration, followed by a BBQ lunch before teeing off at 1:00p.m. 

Grab your clubs. Gather your friends. Register your foursome!

Not a golfer? That’s OK! Why not join us for dinner and enjoy the networking opportunity.

It's almost time for supper camp!

Our summer camp team is putting the final touches on what's going to be another epic summer of fun and exploring! They're excited to launch the new indoor summer camp at Wesley United Church this summer. Our outdoor camp at Shade's Mills Conservation Area is all full, but a couple of spots remain available at our indoor camp!

FREE Summer Day Camp At The W!

We have four weeks of free summer camps for ages 8-10 and 11-13.

The Camp with the Love returns with art-based activities to help build confidence, find new ways to practise self care and make some fun summer memories!

The Camp with the Art creates a safer space to get creative, learn more about art through different mediums and collaborate on art projects.

If you haven't been to The W before, join us for one of our three Mini STEAM events which offer hands-on science, technology, engineering, ART and Math activities and an opportunity to meet staff, see the space and learn more about our programming. Spaces still remaining in camps and STEAM sessions!

Free Community Art Event: Pride Paint Night

Join us on June 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for a special Pride Paint Night, open to everyone ages 9 and up.

Express Yourself Through Art: Be a force for change and witness the incredible transformations that unfold when folks channel their emotions through art. Together, we'll create a beautiful scenic painting with artist A. Decker that you can proudly take home and display.

All artist levels are welcome, and we will provide all the materials!

Date & Time: June 27, 5:30-7:30pm.

Location: The W, 20 Dickson St, Cambridge. Registration: Required as spaces are limited.

Let’s come together as a community to celebrate Pride and the transformative power of art.

SAVE THE DATE: Take Back The Night 2024

We are back for another year of raising awareness and resistance against sexual and gender-based violence! This year's march and rally will take place on Thursday, September 19 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. and will include a mini Feminist Night Market highlighting feminist artists, makers and small businesses! Mark you calendars, tell a friend and get ready to grab some feminist swag and march alongside us again this year in Cambridge! 

Registration for Fall Small Steps to Success Now Open

Registration for the fall session of Small Steps to Success is open throughout the summer.

SSTS offers pre-employment and life skills programming for women and gender-diverse folks looking to build new skills, make connections in the community and find meaningful employment opportunities.

Participants leave the program with updated resumes, cover letters and gain the experience needed to reach their employment goals through mock interviews and a three-week placement in the community. Participants receive all the materials needed to take part and a staff team to support along the way.

To speak with SSTS staff, feel free to reach out to Sara (s.hohenadel@ywcacambridge.ca or 226-929-6302) or Terra (t.macdonald@ywcacambridge.ca or 226-929-2698)