Our History

The YWCA of Canada

The YWCA of Canada is a national charitable organization that works for the development and improved status of women and girls, and for responsible social and economic change. The YWCA of Canada is the national office for 36 YWCA History Book Member Associations that provide programs and services to women and their families in 200 communities across Canada.

Every year, the YWCA serves over 1,000,000 Canadians through a variety of programs and services including emergency shelter and non-profit housing; childcare; employment, literacy and related programs; fitness, health and wellness programs; information and referral, as well as crisis intervention, counselling and related services. The YWCA is the largest provider of shelter services in Canada for women and children who are victims of abuse, and takes a leadership role in addressing violence in our society with its annual YWCA Week Without Violence initiative.

The First YWCA in Canada was founded in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1870. In 1999, the YWCA of Canada was designated an Organization of National Historic Significance by the Government of Canada, Secretary of State (Parks).

Community YWCA of Muskoka

In the spring of 1998, a group of women's' organizations came together to form the Women's Resource Centre of Muskoka. These programs consist of the YWCA of Muskoka and Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Service , both incorporated non-profit organizations lead by a board of directors.

These services began to experience a frustrating number of gaps in services for women. Their commitment to better life opportunities and increased options for women in our community lead them to expand the mandate of the Centre to fill these gaps and to better respond to the needs of women coming to the Centre.

This lead to the development of economic self-sufficiency services which include our Women In Business Training Program and a monthly Luncheon Series for Women In Business.

A number of services and programs operate out of the Women's Resource Centre. The YWCA is the administrative sponsor of the Centre, providing leadership and support to the programs and services.

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