Birthdays for most bring a time of celebration and reflection on the last year. It is often a time when one begins looking forward to what the next year may hold. There is excitement and anticipation for the experiences to come and the milestones to celebrate. Today, at YW Calgary we are celebrating our 106th birthday. In 1910, on December 16 the YWCA was incorporated by four forward-thinking Calgary women who wanted safe and secure accommodation for women in Calgary. The theme of safety and security continues to be present in the current activities of the organization and the hopes and goals we carry forward. As we plan for our future, let’s take a trip down memory lane and celebrate our past.
In 1907, a young woman arrived by train in Calgary and looked for a place to stay. She went to all the boarding houses and hostels and finally began knocking on doors of private residences, but she could not find a room. At that time, young women were considered undesirable boarders because they used more electricity and water to do laundry and bathe than men. Finally, this young woman found a safe place with Elizabeth (nee Boyd) McDougall.
The next day, McDougall met with her friends Emily Spencer Kerby and Alice Jamieson at the Central Methodist Church and they agreed something had to be done about the lack of accommodations available in the growing city to young single girls. The women decided to form a Young Women’s Christian Association to address the urgent need for accommodations for young women.
In 1911, Calgarians attended the grand opening of the first YWCA building. According to news reports, hundreds attended the opening and, upon request brought gifts of linens and books. The YWCA added a YWCA Banff Chalet and established Camp Kinnard in addition to rebuilding on the original 12th Avenue site in the 1950s. Finally, in the 1970s, YWCA built the facility it’s currently located in and opened a women’s resource centre.
Over the 100 year history of YW Calgary, we have provided Traveller’s aid and English instruction for “foreigners” and advocated for women and their families on a variety of issues. We have welcomed war brides and helped find homes for returning servicemen, we have spoken up sex education in schools, offered swim classes for women – who are that time could not swim at YMCA for reasons of ‘modesty’, people with disabilities and operated an emergency shelter for women and their children fleeing abuse since the 1980s.
As the needs of women in Calgary change, we have long remained agile and nimble to meet their needs when and where they need us most. We advocate to transform social issues and empower people to use their voices and feel empowered to effect change. We view change as duty and advocate with tenacity
We are unwavering in our services that support women to gain control of their lives, achieve economic security and live free of violence. As we enter our 106th year, we consider our next evolution. We will continue to respond to the needs of women in our community and work to create brighter futures for everyone. We will continue to focus on empowering women to move from a place of vulnerability to one of resilience; we will celebrate and activate a new brand that demonstrates our history while celebrating our continued growth; we will stand proud of our accomplishments over the last 105 years. We, at YW Calgary, have always been warriors and advocates and we believe in creating a better future for women and ultimately everyone in a woman’s life.
