YWCA Metro Vancouver

Looking to kickstart a career in bike mechanics? The YWCA Gear Up program offers youth 15-30 years old hands-on training, industry certifications and job placements in the cycling field. 🚴♂️ Whether you're a bike enthusiast or seeking a fresh career path, this program equips you with the essential skills for success. The next cohort begins on October 1st, 2024. Learn more and apply today at ywcavan.org/gear-up 🌟YWCA Gear UP is proud to be the official charity partner for this year's RBC GranFondo Whistler.🌟

We are excited to be partnering with Harbour West Consulting Inc. and Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group to recruit for this important new VP role. This is an exceptional opportunity for an entrepreneurial leader with a profound commitment to social and community services, aiming to drive forward social enterprise innovations.

Join us for Rhythms of Resilience, an enriching community event filled with music, dance and storytelling in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This year’s theme centres on storytelling, resilience and the reclamation of voice and tradition. Let’s come together to celebrate survivors and intergenerational survivors while commemorating the children who never made it home. _________ Date: Wednesday, September 25 Location: Japanese Hall, 487 Alexander Street, Vancouver, BC Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Register Now: ywcavan.org/rhythms _________ The stories, songs and dances of Indigenous Peoples are the heartbeat of their communities, carrying the wisdom and teachings of ancestors across generations. Yet, the colonial residential school system sought to silence these voices, stripping Indigenous children of their right to sing, dance, or speak their languages. Governments and churches banned sacred ceremonies as they attempted to erase traditions and destroy cultures.

Join us for an online information session on September 10 at 11:30am to learn how you can nominate an exceptional woman or equitable workplace for a YWCA Women of Distinction award. More info: ywcavan.org/wod

We took to the streets of Vancouver to ask locals if they knew who we are and and their answers amazed us! Many were surprised to learn that YWCA Metro Vancouver is so much more than a gym.    We proudly offer over 81 programs and services across 42 locations, including affordable housing, early learning and child care, training and employment programs, and holistic support for individual, collective and economic well-being. Want to know how much more we do? Visit our website: https://ywcavan.org/

Do you know an exceptional woman?  Is your workplace equitable and empowering?    We are accepting nominations for the 42nd annual Women of Distinction Awards presented by Scotiabank, happening on April 28, 2025. This is the perfect opportunity to recognize an outstanding woman or organization who is driving positive change in Metro Vancouver. If your are not sure how to successfully nominate, join us for an online information session on September 10th, 11:30am to learn everything you need to know about the award process. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g4ct92Jy For more information about the awards, visit: https://lnkd.in/gTaAhZX

Traditional child care models don’t work for all families. Pre-registered child care based on a daily nine-to-five schedule may not be the preferred option for everyone, whether it's due to irregular work hours, sudden changes in plans or the need for occasional breaks. Drop-in care, like the free service at our YWCA Crabtree Corner child care centre, offers parents in the community flexibility to find the right fit for their family’s schedule, ensuring that their children are safe, happy and well-cared for. Every family is unique, and so are their needs. Let’s advocate for diverse child care solutions that adapt to the real lives of parents and caregivers.

Last week we got to spend a day enjoying our YWCA Rooftop Garden as we celebrated our YWCA Crabtree Corner volunteers for all the hard work they have done throughout the year! Our Crabtree volunteers work tirelessly to help the centre and our participants through sorting donations, cooking meals to serve the community, supporting our reception and child care centre. As a big thank you, we invited our volunteers and their families to spend an afternoon with our Master Gardener, Kim Enns, who taught them some gardening skills. Some folks got creative, making herb bundles or gathering flowers. Others enjoyed the creatures amongst the flowers! Lunch was served and we all enjoyed some celebratory cake too.  We could not do our work without our volunteers, so thank you to all of you! 

At YWCA Metro Vancouver, housing is one of our key priorities. Women, especially single mothers and those leaving violence, are hardest hit by the housing crisis and safe, affordable homes are critical to their safety and well-being.      Mixed-use housing, which blends residential, commercial and cultural uses into one space, allows us to creatively use available resources and provide community supports for residents. By partnering with government, business and community leaders, the YWCA is addressing BC’s housing crisis by actively providing hundreds of long-term housing units for women and their children.       Learn more about our mixed-use housing communities: https://lnkd.in/eQ2ntcZP

Happy International Youth Day!   At YWCA Metro Vancouver, we’re celebrating the boundless energy and creativity of youth as they lead the way toward a brighter future.    Our Youth Education programs are designed to support young people in navigating the ever-changing world with confidence while also creating a safe and inclusive environment for all.   To learn more about the schools we serve and register for our after-school programs, visit: https://lnkd.in/g6r_swtR