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Greetings Kim,
I hope this email finds you well on this mid October day.
I want to thank you for following along with our work here at YWCA Cambridge. One of our greatest challenges as a multiservice organization has been communicating the wide array of programs and services we offer, and the various ways we work to advance gender equity and justice. This newsletter is one way for us to show you the impact of your support (whatever form it takes), and to keep you looped in to the great work being done by YWCA Cambridge's dedicated staff and volunteers.
This month is no different than any other: everyone at YWCA Cambridge seems to be going a mile a minute. The shelter team is hard at work with the Region, architects and contractors to get our temporary women's emergency homeless shelter open before this Winter. We've also engaged in the ongoing review by the province of Bill 173, Declaring Intimate Partner Violence with our YWCA Ontario colleagues. And, our child care team is still working away on opening our newest child care centre, slated to open in 2026 in South Galt.
Read on more for updates and some exciting upcoming events - and don't miss the two surveys later on in this newsletter. We want to hear from you!
Warmly,
Kim Decker
CEO, YWCA Cambridge
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October 19: Indoor Lawn Sale in support of our women's emergency homeless shelter! | | | |
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Mark your calendars for our Indoor Lawn Sale featuring nearly new and gently used items curated by Lynn Spence herself. From statement pieces to everyday essentials, you won’t want to miss it!
Doors open at 9 a.m., but be quick—these deals won’t last long!
🗓️ October 19 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
📍 The W, 20 Dickson St, Cambridge
PLUS! WIGG (55 Dickson Street) will also be open from 9:30am-2pm! Come spend the day with us!
Note: the indoor lawn sale will be CASH ONLY.
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Point in Time Count: Help Us Make Every Voice Count | | |
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On October 22, the Region-wide Point in Time count will take place. YWCA Cambridge is working to ensure those often missing from these counts (particularly women and gender-diverse individuals whose homelessness is often invisible).
What is the PiT Count? The PiT Count captures a snapshot of how many people are unhoused in our region on a given day, along with their experiences, through an optional survey. Participants can choose to be included in just the count or to complete an additional survey for a $20 gift card (Giant Tiger, Dollarama, or Talize).
Why it matters: Women’s services often lack funding because of gaps in data. By participating, participants will help provide the information needed to advocate for better services that can end and prevent homelessness for women and their families.
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Who should participate? Individuals currently in a temporary living situation, such as:
- Pay-per-night hotel/motel/Airbnb
- Tent, vehicle, or public space
- Staying with friends, family, or community members
- Couch surfing
- Working to leave an abuser
- In a human trafficking situation
- Using hospitals or public buildings overnight
Your experience can help us close the data gap and push for better resources and funding.
Have questions or want to indicate your interest in participating?
Email us at: pit@ywcacambridge.ca
Call us at: 519-223-9957
Check out our social media for posts about the PiT count and help us spread the word by sharing in your own networks!
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Advocacy: Bill 173, Intimate Partner Violence and Gender-Based Violence | | | |
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We have long been vocal advocates for declaring intimate partner violence and gender-based violence an epidemic. We delegated to Cambridge City Council and the motion to declare IPV an epidemic passed unanimously.
At a provincial level, the province initially rejected the recommendation to declare IPV an epidemic. Declaring IPV an epidemic was the first of 86 recommendations in the 2022 Culleton, Kuzyk and Warmerdam Inquest Report, which followed the triple femicide of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam in 2015 by a man.
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In April of this year, the Government of Ontario passed Bill 173 to the Justice Committee on Social Policy to conduct an in-depth review of IPV and GBV in the province. This committee is being led by Cambridge South Hespeler MPP Jess Dixon.
YWCA Ontario was invited to participate in phase one of the review which involved giving verbal testimony to the committee, followed up by a written submission outlining our recommendations for the province to take action on IPV and GBV.
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Roots of Empathy: Family Recruitment | | |
We're looking for more Kitchener-based families! | |
Child Care: Maintaining High Quality Care | | |
All YWCA Cambridge child care staff will be participating in a Region-wide PD day | | |
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Child care centres staff and supervisors are going to be attending a regional wide professional development day on October 28. The theme this year is Inspire, Connect and Grow, and the program will feature sessions on enhancing inclusivity in the classroom, fostering belonging, embracing Indigenous pedagogies and more.
Participating in this PD day is just one way YWCA Cambridge child care staff ensure they're up to date on best practices and providing the best possible education and care for the littlest Cambridge residents!
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The W: Youth and Women's Program Updates | | |
SHYFT Registration is open | | |
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SHYFT registrations are open for Thursday evening programs from 6-7:30pm. SHYFT is a free, media arts based program designed to foster critical thinking skills, and provide a safer space for girls and gender diverse youth. Each week brings a new craft or art project and conversation! Registration is free and open to girls and gender-diverse youth in grades 6-8.
Email thew@ywcacambridge.ca to register.
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The W will be joining the annual Halloween Hunt again this year!
This event, organized through the Cambridge Downtown BIA, connects the community with business throughout the downtown core.
We will be offering treats for trick-or-treaters on Saturday October 26 from 11am-2pm. Inside The W you will find local community/organization booths, face painting, art activities and, of course, sweet treats!
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Sharing Space to Elevate Local Artists and Makers | |
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YWCA Cambridge's program space, The W (20 Dickson St, Unit 101) will now be highlighting local artists and their work as window display features! Artist bios and their work will also be featured on The W Instagram and Facebook pages.
This month, we are featuring the work of Pat Kendall, founder and creator behind The Crooked Line Design. Pat is a local artist transforming personal struggles into stunning works of art. As a woodworker and charcoal artist, Pat uses creativity as a sanctuary, turning pain into beauty and resilience.
Recently diving into digital drawing and soft pastel, Pat continues to explore the depths of the human experience, crafting a dialogue between emotion and expression.
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"As an artistic wood worker and charcoal artist, my creative journey is deeply intertwined with my personal experiences and the challenges I face. Art serves as both a sanctuary and a powerful tool for managing physical pain, allowing me to transform my struggles into tangible expressions of beauty and resilience.
As I continue to grow and evolve as an artist, I find myself exploring new mediums that challenge and inspire me. Recently, I have begun to dabble in digital drawing and soft pastel, both of which have opened up new avenues for creative expression.
My artistic journey is a reflection of my exploration of the human experience, a dialogue between emotion and expression."
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We're looking for parent/caregiver feedback on The W's programming! | |
We are currently undertaking a systemic review of our youth programming, work made possible by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. As part of this work, we're looking to hear from parents and caregivers of youth accessing our programming to help us understand what's going well in our programming and where we could be focusing in future iterations of our program offerings.
If your child has been involved in our youth programming, please take a moment to fill out the survey linked below.
We plan to use survey responses to help round out the information we're gathering, all with the goal of ensuring our programs remain responsive to current and emerging needs, are engaging and impactful and are FUN at the same time!
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Philanthropy: You can help us Build a Place Where Hope Finds A Home | | |
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As you may know, we've announced the opening of a 20-bed emergency shelter in Cambridge, and the community response has been overwhelmingly positive. People are eager to help, and we want to ensure you have the information to share within your networks. Here are four key ways to support the shelter:
1. Make a Monetary Donation
Your financial support is crucial in helping us meet our capital and operational needs and provide ongoing care to the women we serve. Please donate here.
2. Purchase from Our Amazon Wish List
Help us stock the shelter with essential items by purchasing directly from our Amazon Wish List. Your contributions will be directly shipped to us, showing how you’ve made a difference. Please see our Wish List here.
*Please note, that this is a 20-bed shelter, so if purchasing items for individuals please make sure to buy in bulk.
3. Explore Partnership Opportunities
Do you own a business, offer a service, or have skills that could benefit our shelter? We’d love to connect and explore how we can partner to make a greater impact together.
4. Host A Third party Fundraiser
Consider organizing a fundraising event, such as a birthday dinner, Work out class, Sunday BBQ, or theme night, with proceeds going toward the shelter. Your creativity and passion can make a significant difference in supporting our mission.
We are deeply grateful for the positive support we’ve received thus far and look forward to making this a true community effort. Thank you for standing with us as we work to create a safe place to stay for women in our community.
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We'd still like to hear from you! | | |
Please complete our quick survey! | | |
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Your generosity has played an incredible role in empowering the lives of women and girls in our community, and now we want to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey on your experience as a committed supporter. We want to understand why you support us, how we can communicate better, and how we can improve your experience with YWCA Cambridge.
Your insights will help us continue to grow and make a lasting impact.
Thank you for being such an important part of our mission!
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