2004 Executive Director’s Report

The Long Straw

The theme of my report this year is The Long Straw.

I always like to begin reports with a reflection on our purpose, our mission, and our goals. Here at the YWCA we remain committed to advancing the status of women, and working for responsible social and economic change.

In our communities and our work, we are dealing with a number of social and economic impacts that are reflective of the seasonal economy we experience here in Muskoka. Under-employment and low wages increase social risks in any community. Here in Muskoka, our average family income is over $14,000 below provincial average, and we experience a wage disparity of $10,000 between the income of men and women. We have high demands for sexual assault and domestic violence services, protective services for children, and addiction services. We have the highest per litre consumption of alcohol in the province. We have both a homeless problem, often known as ‘couch surfing’, and an affordable housing crisis.

Last year, when I began my work with the YWCA, I described those compromised by these factors as ‘vulnerable, marginalized, or disenfranchised’. This past spring I made a commitment to change my language, and I would like to encourage you to do the same.

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We often try to make these issues more palatable and discussable by using polite and respectful language. After all, it is not pleasant to use words like rape, incest, beaten, battered, violated, sexually assaulted, poor, or in poverty. Moreover, individuals do not want to accept labels with these words associated with them, or be defined and limited by these images. After all, even with tragic experiences, we are all more than that.

I have since come to realize that it is important to gently introduce the language of reality or we do a disservice to our work, and the work of others committed to improving the quality of life of women, youth and families in Muskoka. For example, we have problems with incest. In 2002, a Simon Fraser University study at the FREDA Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children identified that 18% of girls under 16 in Canada experience incest, still. At any time you are in the given company of 100 people, I urge you to do the math. We will, unknowingly, be in the company of people who have been violated in this way, or violate in this way. This is only one social factor. There are many others. We need to take these words and issues into the social comfort zone, and lead our community to work together for greater peace, safety, and equity for all.

This year, the YWCA sustained important programs including Women in Business, Girlz Unplugged, Techno Splash, and Women of Distinction, while growing new promising adventures, such as the Homework Club, the Adult Computer Drop-In, Kidz Biz, and the Careers On and Off the Beaten Path Speaker Series. We are also exploring new ideas, such as employment programs for offenders and an Entrepreneur Expo. We are co-hosting an Anti-Violence conference with guest speakers Linda McQuaig, Jane Doe, and Judy Rebbick.

We have committed ourselves to a Strategic Map; we have increased our individual and community donor capacity. We have increased our profile. We have recruited more and more volunteer champions of our cause. More people know who we are. Mayors and Councillors throughout Muskoka now know about the YWCA at work in their community. We have expanded our services throughout Muskoka. Last week we received an evaluation form from a school principal that said Girlz Unplugged is the best program offered in schools by a community agency. This is encouraging, and affirming.

We have, and continue to attract, highly qualified and committed staff, who are the pillars of the YWCA at work. Heather McFadyen continues to build and lead a strong Women in Business program, with trainers Taude Haykoe and Joy Steed. With the ever-resourceful Margaret Levesque on maternity leave, we were fortunate to recruit Catharine Armstrong who has lead our youth programs and computer programs through tremendous growth this year. Helen Eatock has been invaluable in Girlz Unplugged, along with Catharine, Margaret and Joy. Techno Splash grew under the leadership of Danielle Bailey last summer. This summer we welcome Becky Boyes, Mitch Bourdeau and Krithia McHugh to lead our summer programs, Techno Splash, Girlz Unplugged and our new program Kidz Biz.

The number of people who ask “Where’s the pool?” is increasing. This is a good thing, because we get to tell them about the YWCA at work in their community, even without a pool.

We remain challenged to continue to fund the work of the YWCA. The decisions of the new Provincial Government have negatively impacted our fundraising capacity through government grants. The decision to move Muskoka out of the north makes us ineligible for Anti-Violence funding important to our work. This year, we must diligently work to increase our fundraising capacity to ensure that we can meet our commitments and sustain our growth.

Last week, at the National YWCA Member Association meetings, we has a visit from Her Honour the Honourable Dr. Lynda M. Haverstock, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan. Lynda reminded us of all the atrocities faced by women in oppressed and undemocratic countries throughout the world. They were grim. Very grim. And then she said, here in Canada, we have drawn the long straw.

The long straw means that we have a democratic forum to pursue solutions to our social problems. The long straw means that each generation of women in Canada gains more and more opportunities. The long straw means that we as women have rights unknown to most women throughout the world. We participate in elections, and host leadership candidates to discuss and debate the issues important to women, girls and families. The long straw means that victims of social atrocities of incest and rape and violence here in Canada have rights.

It seems appropriate that we are hosting an All Candidate Panel as a companion to our Annual General Meeting this year, as we invoke the rights of our long straw to address and request the means to eradicate violence, increase education and opportunities for women and families, work for economic equity, and demand universal access to childcare.

Today, I would like to celebrate our long straw with you. I look forward to working with you another year to embrace our mission, to work for the improved status of women and for responsible social and economic change.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Bray

Executive Director

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