"Community is an imagined thing. And if your imagination isn't working - and, of course, in oppressed people that's the first thing that goes - you can't imagine anything better. Once you can imagine something different, something better, then you're on your way.”-
~ Lee Maracle
|
|
|
LEADERSHIP MESSAGE
Dear YWCA Toronto Community,
June is Indigenous History Month and Pride Month! To celebrate, YWCA Toronto is hosting a series of events and workshops including a Pride trivia event, an Indigenous song-sharing workshop, a film screening, and a fabulous ball! We are also in the process of designing some large window decals that will be posted at our main office at 87 Elm Street later this month. The decals are a unique way to proudly proclaim our solidarity with both Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. They will be visible from the intersection at Elm and Elizabeth.
In honour of this month’s celebrations, our Advocacy and Communications team has also produced two colourful posters, which have been shared with program sites across our Association.
However you choose to celebrate, happy Indigenous History Month and Pride everyone!
Cheers,
|
|
Heather McGregor
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA Toronto
|
|
|
|
Our YWCA Ontario Coalition made waves with our #ChooseGenderEquity campaign in the lead-up to the provincial election. Our message was heard loud and clear – we need a feminist plan to address systemic inequities across Ontario.
More than 300 people signed our online petition, demonstrating that our community of supporters is ready for action on gender equity, racial justice and poverty reduction.
YWCA Ontario’s statement on the 2022 provincial election results can be found here.
Looking ahead to a municipal election in October, we are ready to maintain momentum as we plan for Torontonians to engage in our next campaign!
|
|
|
|
|
New Artwork at Winona’s Place
During National Indigenous History Month we are celebrating the creation of a mural at Winona's Place in partnership with community members and Chief Lady Bird, a Chippewa and Potawatomi artist from Rama First Nation and Moosedeer Point First Nation. The mural is called, ‘The Way We Walk – Debamse Wewena’ and is a stunning addition to the community room of this site.
Winona’s Place is a supportive, subsidized permanent residence for Indigenous women, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people and their families. Learn more about this safe, affordable housing program.
|
|
|
|
|
THANK YOU!
Thanks to all who joined us on June 9th and helped to make the 41st YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Awards Gala such a big success. Together with our sponsors, donors and attendees we raised over $614,000 for our transformative programs and services!
that help women flee violence, gain employment, and access
affordable housing.
|
|
|
Photo | Courtesy of National Association of Women and the Law |
|
Strengthening gun control laws in Canada
As one of the founding members of the Coalition for Gun Control, YWCA Toronto has long advocated for a ban on handguns and assault weapons.
On May 30, the federal government proposed a new gun-control bill that will see a national freeze on the purchase, sale, import and transfer of handguns in Canada. Our Chief Executive Officer, Heather McGregor, joined Prime Minister Trudeau, alongside other advocates and families impacted by gun violence, for the announcement.
|
|
|
Photo | Courtesy of South Asian Women's and Immigrants' Services (SAWIS) |
|
Impacts of COVID on Equity Seeking Communities
South Asian Women’s and Immigrants’ Services (SAWIS, formerly known as the South Asian Women’s Rights Organization – SAWRO) recently released a report that discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on low-income and precariously employed immigrant women. The report focuses on creating awareness about the experience of highly-impacted communities, and informs the need for policy that centers on an intersectional feminist, anti-racist, and community-focused approach.
As Canada works towards a recovery phase of the pandemic, there is an urgent need to address the social and economic inequities that impact immigrant women.
|
|
|
YWCA Toronto WOD Blog Series
Our 2022 Woman of Distinction Award recipient for Advocacy & Women’s Rights, Deepa Mattoo spoke about her journey as a lawyer and as the Executive Director of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, and the importance of supporting women’s leadership to improve the lives of families and the conditions of society.
“When women become leaders, they provide a different set of skills, perspectives, and importantly, structural and cultural differences.”
|
|
Child Care Workers Are Essential Workers
Despite the 2022 Ontario provincial election coming to an end, we must continue the call for accessible and affordable child care. We met with our Manager of Children’s Services at our Bergamot Early Learning Centre, Karen Hipson, to talk more about the importance of supporting child care workers.
Karen highlighted the various measures child care centres have taken to ensure the health and wellbeing of children and their families and urged greater government funding to recruit and retain staff.
|
|
 |
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
YWCA Toronto operates on the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We are grateful to work on this territory as we strive to build a more equitable and just city for women, girls, and gender diverse people. For a full land acknowledgment, please visit our website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
