As the largest and longest serving women’s organization in Calgary, the YWCA strives to create safe spaces to have difficult conversations; advocates to advance issues that impact women’s equity; and provides programs and services that empower, heal, offer safety and support and build healthy families living in a healthy community. Some of the work we [...]

Approximately every six days, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. As a public, we understand this action is domestic violence, but the actual nature of this crime should be known as violence against women. In response to the Calgary Police Service’s (CPS) release on the rise of domestic violence in 2015, [...]

Within hours of the fire entering Fort McMurray, Albertans were mobilizing to garner funds, goods and resources for those that were affected. While the level of support confirms the resiliency of our province in trying times — right now most of the community’s needs are still unknown. The YWCA of Calgary was deeply impacted by [...]

With the tragic situation in Fort McMurray forcing nearly 90,000 out of their homes to potentially never return, the concept of homelessness is perhaps more widely felt than ever for Albertans. On Thursday, May 5, the YWCA hosted the 9th annual YWCA KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS® fundraising event. Registered participants, who have been fundraising for weeks, [...]

In this special edition of our healing journeys series, we have a poem written by a YWCA Mary Dover House transitional housing client, in its original state: Starting Over - Peace At Last name blacked out for privacy reasons

Today marks the 100th anniversary of some womens’ right to vote in Alberta — nearly a decade after the YWCA of Calgary was established. In the early days of the YWCA, the lack legal status available to women posed disadvantages that required founding leaders to acquire male signatures and guarantees on documents to obtain property [...]

The way organizations approach staffing has shifted over the past several years and as a result the YWCA has begun to implement a new staffing model. The concept represents a significant change for non-profits and takes the YWCA down a new bold path. Traditionally, volunteers are treated as a resource that works for free. However, [...]

80 plus women in this house Getting here of different ways Arriving here on different days Some arrive a timid shaken little mouse A few come in battle form Others still a crazy storm   And the world goes on...   80 plus women Living in flood drained Air polluted Miniscule, congested rooms   80 [...]

Sitting in my favorite coffee place at the crack of dawn I slowly settle to still. Before the hustle and bustle of the day I allow myself to take a moment and breathe in gratitude. Some days I still feel myself reeling back to the emotional abyss I thought I would never get out of. [...]

The verdict is back in Canada's most watched sexual-assault trial. Jian Ghomeshi, the disgraced radio host, was found not guilty on four counts of sexual assault and and one count of overcoming resistance by choking. Three women came forward to tell their stories and testify against him. The trial was a media circus. News networks [...]