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“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. Please remember that your difficulties do not define you. They simply strengthen your ability to overcome.”
~ Maya Angelou, Poet and Activist
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LEADERSHIP MESSAGE
Dear YWCA Toronto Community,
November 20th marked the Transgender Day of Remembrance, honouring lives lost to transphobic violence and offering us an opportunity recommit ourselves to building a future where every trans person can live freely and safely. In observation, YWCA Toronto’s Gender Diversity and Inclusion Committee hosted a film screening of Two-Spirited and Do I Have Boobs Now? Creating space for learning and unlearning together are an important part of our work to building more equitable and just communities. I am always grateful for opportunities such as this to listen, reflect and act.
This month, YWCA Ontario urged Premier Ford to reconsider Bill 60, recognizing it will deepen housing precarity, increase the risk of gender-based violence and jeopardize economic stability for women, gender diverse people and their families – especially for Indigenous, racialized, newcomer, and disabled women and gender diverse people. Shamefully, despite public outcry, the Bill passed. We will continue to unite in our collective effort to see a government that upholds the human right to housing.
While we navigate these challenges, we also recognize important steps forward. We joined feminists across the country in welcoming the federal government’s commitment of over $660 million to the Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) in the 2025 Budget. This funding is a testament to the collective advocacy of feminist organizations across the country.
Much remains to be seen in federal, and provincial, commitments to advance gender equity but together, we will continue to advocate for equity, safety, and justice to ensure women, girls, and gender diverse people can thrive.
In solidarity,
Sami Pritchard
Director of Advocacy and Communications
YWCA Toronto
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16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
We invite you to join our 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which began on November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and continues until December 10th, Human Rights Day.
As epidemic levels of gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) continue to soar, finding opportunities to take action is critical. Follow along on social media, share our content, attend events, and engage in conversations about how we can end GBV and IPV.
Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Inspirations Studio 31st Annual Holiday Market & Open House
Are you looking for a meaningful gift this holiday season? Join us at YWCA Toronto’s Inspirations Studio for the 31st Annual Holiday Market and Open House.
Inspirations Studio is a unique, low-barrier ceramics program for women and gender diverse people who have experienced poverty, homelessness, and housing instability. Through creative skill-building, members heal, gain confidence, and develop as artists while earning supplemental income. Every purchase supports empowerment, creativity, and community.
Visit us this weekend at 389 Church Street, Toronto! Market hours:
- Friday, November 28
(4–7 p.m.)
- Saturday, November 29 (12–4 p.m.)
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Sunday, November 30
(12–4 p.m.)
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Give generously this Giving Tuesday
Safety, stability and opportunity are intrinsically linked. Housing without support is fragile. Escaping violence without a safe place to go is impossible. Healing from trauma without community care is overwhelming.
Your donation will support YWCA Toronto’s continuum of care, helping strengthen affordable housing programs, respond to needs of survivors of gender-based violence, expand mental health services, and ignite new advocacy.
Special announcement: This Giving Tuesday, your gifts will be doubled up to $25,000 thanks to a matching gift from The Winged Achene Foundation.
Together, we can change the lives of women, girls and gender diverse people. Donate now!
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Demand Action on Poverty
Food insecurity is not only about access to food, it is about the systemic issues that drive people into poverty – unstable, low-paying jobs, a lack of affordable housing, and inadequate income supports.
Join the Daily Bread Food Bank in demanding action on poverty by sending a letter to your elected officials.
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Secure $10aDay Child Care for Ontario Families
The Canada-Ontario $10aDay child care agreement expires in March 2026, with no new funding deal signed. Together with the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC) and the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), YWCA Toronto signed the petition urging politicians to sign the agreement. Join us by signing their petition today.
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Celebrating National Day of the Child with YWCA Toronto’s Girls’ Council
On the National Day of the Child, we shared a blog post from our Girls’ Council and Girls’ Centre participants who shared highlights from their fall programming, ranging from inspiring events to team-building activities, and the importance of youth centered spaces.
Through our Girls’, Youth, and Family department, programs like the Girls’ Council and Girls’ Centre empower young people to share their ideas, build leadership skills, and drive meaningful change in their communities.
Read the blog post here.
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Strengthening the YWCA Movement: National Advocacy Summit in Ottawa
Last week, Sami Pritchard, Director of Advocacy and Communications attended YWCA Canada’s National Advocacy Summit in Ottawa. YWCA leaders from across Canada came together to strengthen and shape next year’s bold advocacy priorities for the YWCA Movement.
As part of YWCA Canada’s Rose Campaign, Sami attended The Walrus Talks: Ending Gender-Based Violence. The event brought together advocates, experts, and policymakers to highlight lived experience, evidence-based solutions, and urgent action needed to end gender-based violence nationwide.
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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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