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.

Contact Us

403.232.1580

Email Us

Calendar

Check out our

Calendar

Program Offerings

Navigating Entrepreneurship


In partnership with the YWCA Hamilton, PowerUP program offers support to women entrepreneurs, whether new or already established, by providing tailored coaching, business plan training, and mentoring. PowerUP is a program that is completely free and will help you develop the necessary skills to successfully launch, manage, and expand your business idea.

Which PowerUP stream is right for you?

PowerUP EXPLORE:

PowerUP Explore is ideal for women who aspire to become entrepreneurs and want to explore the idea of self-employment. Participants will engage in a 4-week program of interactive assessments and training sessions with Business Advisors to kickstart their journey toward entrepreneurship.

A few things you will learn:

  • What is Self-Employment, and Am I Ready for It?
  • How To Develop a Minimal Viable Product (MVP)
  • Financial Considerations, Personal Budgets
  • And more!

Participants must be:

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

 Cohort 6 Cohort 7
Application Deadline September 25, 2024 November 25, 2024
Start Date October 15, 2024 January 7, 2024
End Date December 19, 2024 March 13, 2025

*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.

The PowerUP Program has been funded in part through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

In partnership with the YWCA Hamilton, PowerUP program offers support to women entrepreneurs, whether new or already established, by providing tailored coaching, business plan training, and mentoring. PowerUP is a program that is completely free and will help you develop the necessary skills to successfully launch, manage, and expand your business idea.

Which PowerUP stream is right for you?

PowerUP READY:
Are you looking for a business coach to get you to that next step on your business journey? The PowerUP Ready 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 (PowerUP Ready) weeks of online and in-person workshops.

 Cohort 6 Cohort 7
Application Deadline September 25, 2024 November 25, 2024
Start Date October 15, 2024 January 7, 2024
End Date December 19, 2024 March 13, 2025

*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.

The PowerUP Program has been funded in part through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

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 September 9, 2024.

Idea Exploration Pre-Launch The Money Part Setting Up Shop
September 9, 2024 September 16, 2024 September 23, 2024 September 30, 2024

Questions? Reach Barbara Guzman at bguzman@ywcalgary.ca

Bridging to Employment

Achieve Level 1 Early Childhood Educator certification online in a supportive cohort.

  • Virtual Level 1 Childcare Orientation
  • Eligible for First Aid & Police Check reimbursement if completed during the course period.
  • CLB Level 4 or higher required.
  • Access to computer and internet required. (Loaner laptops available)
  • 1:1 support from an employment specialist.
  • Childcare Industry Experience at YW Kids
  • Industry events
  • Labour market insights.

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.

In partnership with Momentum, we offer:

Financial Education

  • Improved understanding of financial matters (budgeting, assets, banking, credit, and consumerism), and develop long-term skills to self-manage their personal finances

Financial Administration

  • Receive one-on-one support to navigate online banking, develop and maintain a weekly budget, make bill payments on time, create a debt repayment plan, and work towards having emergency savings available

Healthy Relationships

An evidence-based program designed to support the Alberta Programs of Study for Health and Life Skills from grade 7 through high school (CALM) and is intentional in its multi-grade and formative approach.

The program supports students with developing and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships (family, friendships, acquaintances, and intimate relationships). Interpersonal relationships impact every sphere of an individual’s life and are key in the transition from adolescence to adulthood for healthy development.

Workshops are purely educational (not counselling sessions or legal guidance) and benefits students in that they will better understand the fundamentals of a healthy relationship:

  • The fundamentals of a healthy relationship
  • Social-emotional development and pro-social behaviour
  • Identifying red flags and addressing unhealthy behaviours
  • Communication and conflict resolution
  • Understanding the importance of personal boundaries, values, and consent
  • Better understanding the importance of diversity and inclusion

The program utilizes a strength-based approach that encourages students to deepen awareness of their own feelings and values, and references brain science education such as the Resilience Scale (Alberta Family Wellness Initiative). Youth will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to thrive in their relationships.

HERE for Youth can be delivered in-person or virtually and consists of two (2) 1.5-hour interactive and strength-based workshops specific to each grade. Each workshop (grade 7 to CALM) can be split into two (2) 40-minute modules that focus on identified learning outcomes. Workshops include a PowerPoint presentation, hands-on interactive materials, and a brief post-workshop survey to support program evaluation and delivery.

The program is inclusive of all educational settings and can be adapted for implementation with specific CBE programs to align with any of the following teaching philosophies: all boys, all girls, Indigenous education focus, or traditional learning centre. The program will collaborate with educators to modify delivery of curriculum if needed and as appropriate.

Want to see HERE for Youth in your community? weprosper@ywcalgary.ca

The Healthy Relationships workshops use skill-building activities and discussions to explore topics related to understanding, building, and maintaining healthy relationships.

Want to see more Healthy Relationships in your community? weprosper@ywcalgary.ca

What Our Participants Have to Say…

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

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

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!!

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

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

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

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

Resources

Domestic Violence Toolkit

Healthy Relationships Toolkit