Your bi-monthly pulse on programs, events and inspiration.

In This Issue:

💙 Greetings from Kim

🙌 Upcoming Events

🥰 Welcome to Our Newest Leadership Team Members!

🤱Child Care: Progress on New Site 

🤝 The W: Programming Updates

💡Advocacy & Action

🎙YWCA in the News

😘How You Can Help

🔑Stay Connected

Dear friends and supporters,

This is a longer greeting message from me than usual, and that’s because it’s been a busy couple of months and I want to keep you informed. 

First, it was such a joy to see some of you this past Monday as we gathered for our Annual General Meeting. For the first time in over six years, we held our AGM in person, and it felt incredibly special to open the doors of our brand-new office space to this community.

Photos from our AGM Monday, April 27

During the meeting, we celebrated several major milestones from 2025, many of which are detailed in our newly released 2025 Annual Impact Report. I invite you to read the full report here to see the impact your support has made over the last year.

One of the highlights of the evening was when our Board Chair, Stacey Colliver, unveiled our new two-year Strategic Plan. We’ve intentionally chosen a shorter window because the world is changing too quickly for five-year projections. This plan is honest, pragmatic, and built on three clear pillars:

• Hold Fast: Protecting our core—the child care, employment services, and youth programs that are the bedrock of YWCA Cambridge. We are focusing on conservation and taking care of our people.

• Dig In: As the only organization in Cambridge with a mandate focused specifically on gender equity, we must grow where the need is greatest. This means expanding our housing and homelessness services for women and gender-diverse individuals.

• Speak Out: We are leveraging our profile to be bold advocates on issues facing women, girls and gender-diverse individuals. We have never been known to accept the status quo and, now more than ever, we need to vocally and tenaciously push back against harmful systems, policies, and norms.

We’ll be sharing more details about this roadmap in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Finally, I want to express my thanks to the Cambridge City Council. On April 21, I delivered a delegation to Council (find my delegation at the 41:14 mark) providing an update on the hard lessons we’ve learned during the first year of operating Cambridge’s first and only women’s emergency homeless shelter. The overwhelming support we received from Council that evening was heartening.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

In solidarity and community,

Kim Decker

CEO, YWCA Cambridge

Early Bird Tickets on Sale NOW! 

2026 Women of Distinction Awards
📅 Wednesday, June 3 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍Whistle Bear Golf Club

We are proud to officially announce the nominees for the 32nd annual Women of Distinction Awards! This year, 21 extraordinary women and gender-diverse individuals have been recognized by their peers for their unwavering commitment to community, innovation, and social change. Read the news release and see the full list of  this year’s nominees here.

Join us June 3, 2026, at Whistle Bear Golf Club to celebrate the nominees and recipients of the 2026 Women of Distinction Awards. 

Early bird tickets are on sale now and quantities are limited, so don’t wait!

 Welcome, New Leadership Team Members!

We are thrilled to introduce three exceptional leaders who have recently joined the YWCA Cambridge team. Each brings a wealth of experience, a commitment to inclusion, and a unique perspective that will help drive our mission forward. Please join us in welcoming Sarah, Amy, and Adeola!

Adeola Afolabi

Adeola Afolabi joins YWCA Cambridge as the new HR Manager, bringing a strong background in human resources and talent acquisition. Before moving into the HR field to support employees and leadership, Adeola studied law. In her current role, she supports recruitment, employee relations, and various HR initiatives designed to create a positive and inclusive workplace environment. 

Amy McKague

Amy McKague has stepped into the role of Interim Director of Child Care Services. She is a passionate RECE and leader in the early years and child care sector with over 25 years of experience supporting children, families, and educators. A significant portion of Amy’s career has been dedicated to Special Needs Resourcing in both the Waterloo Region and Oxford County, where she supported teams in enhancing inclusion and belonging within everyday practice. She cares deeply about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, believing that strong relationships are at the heart of quality child care. Amy is known for her collaborative and down-to-earth leadership style.

Sarah Amoah

Sarah Amoah has joined our team as the new Director of Philanthropy. They are a recent Master of Education graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University, where they studied Trauma-Informed Education principles in Adult Learning. Also certified in Community Services Management, Sarah has developed her professional skills through her work with House of Friendship and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She brings extensive experience working collaboratively with diverse community groups in the Waterloo Region to ensure social change remains inclusive and supportive for all stakeholders. Sarah is grateful to be part of YWCA Cambridge and is committed to creating opportunities for philanthropic investment in community healing, empowerment, and gender equity.

Wesley Blvd. Child Care Centre Update

🏗️Construction pushes ahead towards a September opening as the building reaches a major milestone

We’re excited for the opening of our new child care centre at 605 Wesley Blvd in Fall 2026!

Despite a challenging winter, construction is on track for a September opening. The roof is nearly complete, and work is progressing indoors as heating and cooling come online. More updates to come soon!

The W: Program Highlights

SHYFT Youth Programming

Our recent SHYFT youth groups focused on the intersection of artistic expression and identity, providing safe spaces for young people to discuss topics ranging from inclusion and racism to healthy relationships.

• Preston Heights Community Group SHYFT Group: Youth designed "affirmation mirrors" decorated with beach-inspired themes. These mirrors serve as daily tools for self-love; participants were encouraged to look at their reflections and name things they value about themselves to build long-term confidence.

• Kinbridge Southwood Group: This session focused on personalization through bedroom décor and letter stencils. The creative environment sparked organic, comfortable conversations regarding pop culture, relationships, and menstrual health.

• Kinbridge Champlain Group: To welcome spring, this group explored sand painting, clay work, and floral pop-up art. The session was anchored by deep discussions on what inclusion and self-love mean to each individual.

Dollars & Sense Financial Literacy

This April, our financial empowerment initiatives reached 34 participants through fully booked, volunteer-run tax clinics and "Wealth Workshops" held in partnership with PCHS-Waterloo. By providing accessible wealth-building strategies and vital support for tax filing and benefit applications, our dedicated volunteers and expert speakers continue to provide essential resources for the Cambridge community. 

Upcoming Opportunities

• Soroptimist International Series (May): In May, Dollars and Sense will offer a community‑wide financial education series in collaboration with Soroptimist International of KW. These workshops are tailored for different age groups and aim to make financial learning accessible, relatable, and confidence‑building. This partnership reflects our shared belief that financial literacy is a pathway to independence, dignity, and long‑term wellbeing. Register here. Click here for the program flyer with full details.
• Entrepreneurship Series with Kitchener Public Library (June): Designed for those with business ideas, this series covers feasibility, cash flow, and pricing to help early-stage entrepreneurs launch with confidence. By the end of the series, attendees will feel more confident deciding whether to move forward or refine their concept. Registration is now open on the KPL website:

• • • Session 1: Understanding Your Business Idea Through a Financial Lens | Kitchener Public Library
    • Session 2: Business Structures and Registration | Kitchener Public Library
    • Session 3: Funding, Cash Flow, and Startup Costs | Kitchener Public Library
    • Session 4: Pricing, Profitability, and Taking the Next Step | Kitchener Public Library

What to expect at every Dollars and Sense session:

• 100% Free: No products or services are ever sold.
• Accessible: Food, goodies, and gift cards for feedback.
• Expert Support: Every attendee has the chance for a one-on-one consultation with a financial expert.

Questions about our Financial Literacy programming? Reach out to Kiranjot at k.kaur@ywcacambridge.ca.

Advocacy Updates

Speaking Up Against Bill 10 and the Province's Decision to end funding for supervised consumption services

Together with our YWCA Ontario coalition colleagues, we sent two letters to the provincial government in March:

YWCA Ontario Letter: Re: Gendered Impacts of Bill 10 – Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, 2025

In this letter, we are urge the repeal of this Bill, as we fear it will:

• Increase homelessness: Vague definitions of "drug activity" and "due diligence" will lead to increased profiling and evictions of vulnerable women and families.

• Strain nonprofit housing providers: It downloads law enforcement and surveillance roles onto staff who lack the training, legal authority, and resources to perform them.

• Destabilize rental markets: Heavy penalties may drive private landlords to exit the market.

YWCA Ontario Letter RE: Supervised Consumption Services Are Essential Public Health Infrastructure.

With this letter, we also urge the government to reverse its decision to end funding for these essential sites. We worry the Bill will have a number of costly impacts, including:

• Increasing public drug use: Without indoor sites, drug use moves into public spaces, increasing discarded needles and public intoxication.

• Putting more women at risk of violence: Supervised sites are critical Violence Against Women (VAW) infrastructure; they protect women from predatory violence and human trafficking associated with using in isolated or outdoor spaces.

• Burdening emergency services: SCS sites have reversed over 22,000 overdoses. Closing them will inevitably lead to a surge in 911 calls, ambulance wait times, and ER overcrowding.

📰 YWCA in the News

• CityNews Kitchener: Women’s homelessness in Cambridge ‘being invisibilized’: YWCA

How You Can Help

Every action you take—big or small—helps us build a community where women, girls and gender-diverse individuals are respected, valued and equal. Here’s how you can make a difference today:

💛 Donate: Help us to provide safe shelter, empowering women’s and youth programs, and to be a strong voice for gender equity.

🔁 Become a Monthly Donor: Join a community of changemakers fueling sustainable impact all year long.

🎟️ Attend an Event: From Women of Distinction to community workshops and fundraisers, your presence matters.

🎉 Host a Fundraiser: Celebrate a birthday, milestone or community event by fundraising in support of our programs.

Stay Connected

There are so many ways to stay in the loop and be part of the YWCA Cambridge community. Be sure to follow us on social media for real-time updates, stories and opportunities.

Together, we’re building a stronger, more equitable Cambridge. Thank you for being part of it!

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