Leading Change

YW Calgary is committed to supporting women’s economic prosperity in our city. We want to make Calgary a place where women succeed economically and can prosper – to empower women so that she has what she needs to make the choices she wants.

When women are financially empowered, they are better equipped to exercise control over their lives, improve financial security for themselves and their families, and participate more equitably in the workforce.

Our Women’s Economic Prosperity programs provide women with the tools, knowledge and support to overcome economic disadvantages.

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403.232.1580

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Program Offerings

Navigating Entrepreneurship

YW Calgary offers support to women entrepreneurs, whether new or already established, by providing tailored coaching, business plan training, and mentoring. The program is completely free and will help you develop the necessary skills to successfully launch, manage, and expand your business idea.

Are you looking for a business coach to get you to that next step on your business journey? The START + SCALE program offers a flexible 10-week business training for women entrepreneurs ready to start or grow their businesses.

Accepted small businesses will attend a free, intensive ten-week program including interactive lessons provided by trained business coaches, with one-to-one learning provided weekly with an assigned business coach. Upon program completion, graduates will have a professionally developed business plan ready to take to financial institutions.

Activities Include:
• Learn about the business tools and strategies to run and grow a business
• Develop your business’ unique value proposition
• Receive training and support on how to write a Business Plan
• Receive training and support around creating Marketing and Financial plans

Workshops focus on the following training with the outcome of a business plan:
• Business Model Canvas
• Market Research
• Marketing Strategy
• Sales and promoting your business
• Business Operations
• Digital strategies and adoptions
• Financials includes pricing, forecasting, cashflow
• Developing your business pitch.

Participants must be:

  • Self-identifying women* who are looking to develop skills.
  • Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Able to commit with ten weeks of online and in-person workshops.

Start Date: June 10th

*This program is open to non-binary or gender diverse people. We warmly welcome members of the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+ and Disabled communities. If you have accessibility needs, please contact us to discuss accommodation.

Looking to start a side hustle or grow your existing one? Join us for an exciting 4-part series where we will dive into all things side hustle. From tips on finding your niche to setting up a shop, this series has got you covered. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your side hustle to the next level. Register now!

This event will be held every Monday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, starting on May 7, 2025.

Idea Exploration Pre-Launch The Money Part Setting Up Shop
April 21, 2025 April 28, 2025 May 5, 2025 May 12, 2025

Questions? Reach Barbara Guzman at bguzman@ywcalgary.ca

Vision to Venture – Business Model Canvas Workshop

Are you an entrepreneur with a passion for innovation? Join us for an exciting, hands-on 1-hour in-person session designed to ignite your creativity and transform your ideas into viable business concepts.

In this interactive workshop, you’ll dive into the Business Model Canvas, exploring its 9 essential pillars. With the guidance of experienced facilitators, you’ll brainstorm and develop new business ideas using giant canvases, making the process dynamic and engaging.

Whether you’re at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or looking to enhance your skills, this session will provide you with the tools and motivation needed to turn your vision into a successful venture. Take this opportunity to connect with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs and start your path to success!

What is a Business Model Canvas?

The Business Model Canvas is a simple, visual tool that helps businesses map out their key elements on one page. It outlines who the customers are, what value the business offers, how it reaches and interacts with customers, how it earns revenue, what resources and activities are needed, and the costs involved.

Questions? weprosper@ywcalgary.ca

Next Dates
March 26, 2025
April 23, 2025
May 28, 2025
June 25, 2025
July 23, 2025
August 27, 2025
September 24, 2025
October 22, 2025
November 26, 2025

Vision to Venture – Taller de Business Model Canvas

¿Eres emprendedor con pasión por la innovación? Únete a nosotros en una emocionante y práctica sesión presencial de 1 hora diseñada para encender tu creatividad y transformar tus ideas en conceptos de negocios viables.

En este taller interactivo, explorarás el Business Model Canvas y sus 9 pilares esenciales. Con la guía de facilitadores experimentados, generarás ideas de negocios y las desarrollarás utilizando lienzos gigantes, lo que hará que el proceso sea dinámico y envolvente.

Ya sea que estés comenzando tu camino emprendedor o quieras mejorar tus habilidades, esta sesión te proporcionará las herramientas y la motivación necesarias para convertir tu visión en una empresa exitosa. ¡Aprovecha esta oportunidad para conectar con otros emprendedores y comenzar tu camino hacia el éxito!

¿Qué es el Business Model Canvas?

El Business Model Canvas es una herramienta visual y sencilla que ayuda a las empresas a mapear sus elementos clave en una sola página. Define quiénes son los clientes, qué valor ofrece el negocio, cómo llega e interactúa con ellos, cómo genera ingresos, qué recursos y actividades son necesarios, y los costos involucrados.

¿Preguntas? weprosper@ywcalgary.ca

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Next Dates
May 29th

Career Acceleration

Take the first step toward a career in Early Childhood Education with our self-paced ECE training program. This online course equips Alberta-based participants with the foundational skills to obtain their Level 1 Early Childhood Educator certification and serves as a pathway to employment in the field.

Program Details

  • Virtual Level 1 Childcare Orientation through the Alberta Childcare Orientation via BaseCorp Learning Systems.
  • Eligible for First Aid and Police Check reimbursement if completed during the course period. 
  • Participants living in Calgary and the surrounding area are eligible for a practical, in-person volunteer experience with YW Kids, available only to those who start and complete the program while enrolled with YW Calgary.
  • 54 hours of online learning to be completed within 6 months

Eligibility

  • Available to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and work/student visa holders. Work permits with conditions such as ‘not eligible to work in childcare’ are ineligible for this course.
  • Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB level 5 or higher)
  • 16 years or older
  • Legally residing in Alberta
  • Designed for individuals with strong levels of digital, and English language skills

Questions? Email us at weprosper@ywcalgary.ca

Economic Empowerment

Supports young women in achieving economic empowerment and financial stability.

  • Banking products & saving accounts – TFSA, RDSP, RRSP, RESP, etc.
  • How to build your credit score & repay debt
  • Budgeting.
  • Building your assets.
  • How consumerism impacts our money.

Check out our calendar!

In partnership with MediaSmarts, a series of workshops designed to teach everyday digital skills, developed with YWCA Canada. Workshops intended to educate and empower survivors focusing on responding to and preventing technology-facilitated violence and building the digital literacy skills of survivors so that they can confidently participate in online communities. To help build survivors’ resilience to increase control over and improve health and well-being by developing the confidence and skills to engage as active and informed digital citizens.

Modules will cover essential digital and critical thinking skills so participants can protect their security, privacy, reputation, and safety online.

Discover Your Money Mindset and Shape Your Financial Future!

Join our engaging 10-week program and connect with a supportive community of like-minded individuals. Embark on a journey to:

  • Set meaningful financial goals
  • Establish a personalized budget
  • Put your budget into action

About the program:

  • Hour-long workshops over lunch tailored to increase knowledge and confidence in personal finances
  • A hybrid learning model: join in-person or virtually!
  • Minimum 2 customized coaching sessions to get you to your goal!
Information Session Application Deadline Program Start
April 2, 12:00 pm April 23, 2025 May 7, 2025

Want to register? weprosper@ywcalgary.ca

Upcoming Events

Start + Scale – Women’s Entrepreneurship Training (Closed Group)

May 15 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Start + Scale – Women’s Entrepreneurship Training (Closed Group)

May 20 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Networking Is The New Black

May 20 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Grow Who You Know

May 21 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Trusted Partners

Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce Logo

What Our Participants Have to Say…

The Financial Education program was non-judgmental, and the information was easy to understand. Thanks to this program I feel empowered to make good financial decisions and on the road to financial prosperity

I learned so many financial tips that I wish I had learned throughout my many years of schooling.
Thank you again!

I will be much more likely to reach out for professional support
around investing following this webinar!

Thank you for all of this great info! It was such a pleasure to join.
I hope that this seminar series will be hosted again!!

The HUB facility is a beautiful and well-equipped space
to learn and grow

Great workshop! Addressing barriers that women face when it comes to financial literacy, empowerment and independence is such a powerful tool.

There is nothing out there like HereforYouth, this is an excellent program
that is inclusive and preventative in nature

Resources

Domestic Violence Toolkit

Healthy Relationships Toolkit