The issue of domestic violence is well-known to YW Calgary. For decades, we have supported Calgarians impacted by violence by providing shelter, counselling, and community-based case management programs. As is the case with any issue, with time comes greater understanding and using an intersectional lens, we recognize that there are unique considerations for [...]

I recently decided to make a deliberate effort to learn more the “2S” in LGBTQIA2S+. Getting started, here’s what the full acronym means: L – Lesbian G – Gay B – Bisexual T – Transgender Q – Queer I – Intersex A – Asexual 2S – Two-Spirit + - All the other ways [...]

This Saturday, June 18th, 2022, communities throughout Calgary will gather to celebrate Neighbour Day with various types of events such as block parties, barbeques, and even neighbourhood cleanups. The tradition of Neighbour Day began in 2014, one year after Southern Alberta was heavily affected by flooding. The way that communities throughout Calgary supported [...]

At YW Calgary, we focus on mental health as one of the main measures to prevent crisis. We promote Breathing Exercises as useful tools for regulating our emotions in stressful times. Download and print the YW Breaking Exercises in English or YW Breathing Exercises in Ukrainian. At the end of the exercises, we [...]

Lana Bently, YW Calgary's Director, Program Strategy, introduces our latest offering for Social Service Professionals--Continuing Education! Every year, thousands of licensed and regulated professionals working in human services participate in learning activities to remain in good standing with their regulatory bodies. These activities ensure that the people who serve our community remain current [...]

National Victims and Survivors of Crime Week (May 15 – May 19) is meant to raise awareness about the issues facing victims and survivors of crime and the services, programs, and laws in place to help them and their families. To honor this week, we wanted to provide some information about how to [...]

Hi, I’m Dana – YW Calgary’s Community Engagement Coordinator and top wellness enthusiast! I am passionate about leading an active lifestyle and encouraging others to do the same. I am an avid rock climber, and I love spending time outdoors climbing, biking, or just relaxing in the sun. While I do oversee the Fitness [...]

As we head into Mother’s Day weekend, we’d like to introduce you to Aileen, a woman who experienced domestic abuse and fled with her three young children. With nowhere else to go, and lacking the financial means support her children, she sought refuge at YW Calgary. In addition to providing safe shelter and [...]

Like other non-profit organizations, fundraising is very important to keeping our doors open and our services benefiting the community. While applying for grants and funding is a large part of our funding strategy, a sizeable part of our donations actually come from community fundraisers, also called third-party fundraisers, by supporters of our mission [...]

I’ll let you in on what the original plan looked like.  When I was young, I wanted to be a “Video Jockey” on Much Music Television.  Alas, my TV career didn’t pan out and instead I became a Registered Social Worker.  I can say with confidence, I absolutely made the right decision. Another [...]