Our View – The YW Blog
March 2025
Dispelling Myths, Driving Change: An International Women’s Day Call to Action
As we celebrated International Women's Day on March 8th, we continue to honour the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide. This celebration follows YW's 13th annual YWHISPER Gala on March[...]
February 2025
Dive into layers of race and gender discrimination
On March 6, 2025, YW Calgary is honoured to welcome Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw at the 13th annual YWHISPER Gala – a rare opportunity to hear from a social justice pioneer who coined the[...]
November 2024
Finding Safety and Shelter with Your Furry Companions
It’s been over a year since we’ve opened the doors to YW Calgary’s expanded and fully pet-friendly crisis shelter – and what a year it’s been! If I could sum it up in[...]
Donating to charity in your Will: The why and the how
Did you know that, as part of your Will, you can set aside money for charity? You may have heard this called planned or legacy giving. And you’ll probably hear a lot more[...]
October 2024
Safe Spaces, Affordable Housing: A Week Without Violence
Every October, Canadians join a global movement to mark A Week Without Violence, a seven-day series during the third week of the month to end violence against women and girls. YWCAs nationwide unite[...]
May 2024
Celebrating Small Steps: Housing Advocacy
YW Calgary is pleased that the City of Calgary approved changes to its existing base residential zoning after lengthy public consultations with community members. Our organization participated in the public hearings to share[...]
November 2023
Redefining Support to Prevent Family Violence in Alberta
As we wrap up the month of November, we draw attention to the ongoing impacts of domestic violence in our communities. Alberta has been recognizing November as Family Violence Prevention month for nearly[...]
September 2023
Adapting to Needs of Women Through the Decades
As YW Calgary celebrates the Grand Opening of our newly rebuilt and expanded crisis shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence, it encourages us to look back on our history. YW's origins[...]
May 2023
The Importance of Early Literacy: Why it Matters
Lacie Wichert, Guest Contributor Education is one of the most valuable gifts that we can give the younger generation. All children deserve the opportunity to succeed in life, to become independent and to[...]
March 2023
Gloria Allred inspired audiences at the 11th annual YWHISPER Gala
All it takes is an amazing speaker, a beautifully set room full of more than 1,000 individuals, and a program filled with excitement and fun to melt away the past three years. That[...]
February 2023
Examining Environmental Justice this Black History Month
Lana Bentley, Guest Contributor Black history is characterized not only by adversity, but resilience. This month provides us with a reminder of the contributions that Black peoples have made not only to their[...]
January 2023
Guest Post: Canadian Mental Health Association Recovery College Partnership
Guest Contributor: Abby LaRocque, Canadian Mental Health Association YW Calgary works every day to establish a world where women and their families can thrive safely and equitably. They care about each other, their clients and[...]
October 2022
Week Without Violence 2023
Zandile Moyo, Guest Contributor The World Health Organization (WHO) defines violence as, "the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community,[...]
September 2022
WE ARE YW – Pritma Dhillon Chattha, Board Member
We are committed to sharing the changemakers who help empower our organization with you through our We Are YW series. This month, we wanted to highlight one of our incredible board members, Pritma[...]
The colours of immigration by Safa Shanneb
September 9-16 is Welcoming Week in Canada. In this post, Safa Shanneb, Communications Specialist, Communication & Community Relations, shares her personal experience. When asked what would surprise people to learn about me, I[...]
August 2022
We Are YW – Bruce Byford, Chief Financial Officer
It is thanks to the dedication and support of our people that YW Calgary can do the work we do to support our community. In this new monthly series, we invite you to[...]
July 2022
PASSING THE BATON – YW CALGARY WELCOMES NEW BOARD CHAIR
YW Calgary recently hosted their 111th Annual General Meeting which highlighted some of the amazing accomplishments of the past year, as well as welcoming the new Chair of the YWCA Board of Directors,[...]
June 2022
Exploring Domestic Violence in the LGBTQIA2S+ Community by Lana Bentley
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[...]