Today marks an important moment for our organization. We’re introducing a refreshed brand—and with it, a clear and confident step forward as YWCA Calgary.

After a decade as YW Calgary, this change marks a return to something deeply familiar. For many in our community, we have always been known as YWCA. Stepping back into that name reconnects us to a global movement and to our own history, while reflecting who we are today: clear, confident and forward-looking.

As CEO Talia Bell shares, “We’re coming back to who we have always been, leaning into our legacy and expertise.”

A story that began with standing alongside her

More than a century ago, our story began with a simple but urgent need: a woman arriving in Calgary without a safe place to stay. The response was immediate, a community came together to ensure she had one. That spirit still defines us today.

For more than 115 years, we have stood with women and their families through moments of crisis, change and growth. That commitment hasn’t changed. What has changed is how clearly we’re telling that story.

Over the past few years, we took the time to listen, carefully and intentionally, to community members, participants, staff, partners and supporters. We asked what our brand should represent today, and what it needs to carry into the future.

What we heard was a strong foundation to build from: deep trust, strong relationships and an opportunity to better share the full scope of our work. This refresh steps into that opportunity with greater clarity, confidence and connection.

A clearer expression of who we are

YWCA Calgary has grown into an organization that supports women and families across a full continuum of care, from immediate crisis response to long-term empowerment.

Our refreshed brand brings that into focus. It reflects an organization that pairs compassion with expertise—combining heart and strategy in a way that allows us to respond to urgent needs while building lasting change.

At its core, this work is about creating pathways to safety, stability, resilience and opportunity.

Standing with her

At the centre of our brand is a simple idea: Stand with her.

It’s our North Star, grounding us in a longstanding commitment to stand with women every step of the way.

From the very beginning, our role has been to ensure women have access to safety, support and connection. Today, that continues in how we show up: walking alongside women and families, listening first and responding with care, dignity and respect.

The “her” we stand with could be anyone: a co-worker, a neighbour, a family member, or someone we pass on the street. And more often than not, change begins in those small, impactful moments, when someone chooses to show up, to listen, or to stand beside her.

Designed for this moment, and what comes next

This brand is also a response to the world around us. Calgary is growing and changing, and many women and families are navigating increasing complexity—from housing instability to gender-based violence to barriers in accessing opportunity.

In that context, clarity matters. So does connection.

Our new visual identity is more open, modern and expressive. Our voice is more direct and human. Together, they’re designed to better reflect the optimism, resilience and possibility that exists within the people we serve and the work we do alongside them.

This refresh gives us the language, the clarity and the confidence to carry that work forward, inviting an entire community to stand alongside her and help her move forward on her terms.

Because when we stand with her, she stands stonger.

A moment to be part of

As we begin this next chapter as YWCA Calgary, some people have asked how they can be part of this moment.

One simple way is through a donation. Gifts help us continue advancing equity through real, practical supports for women and families across Calgary, ensuring this work can grow, adapt and reach those who need it most.

For more information, feedback or inquiries on YWCA Calgary’s refreshed brand, please contact communications@ywcalgary.ca