SHYFT – Afterschool Program for Girls and Gender-Diverse Youth (Grades 7 & 8)
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Introducing the Next Evolution of YWCA Cambridge Summer Camp: Action
Packed, Fun & Accessible for 2026
Reggio Training Session Strengthens Collaboration and Practice
❣️Thank You to Our Community Supporters!
📰 YWCA in the News
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we move into the holiday season, a time often defined by warmth, family, and reflection, I find myself thinking about the many women in Cambridge for whom "home" remains uncertain or unsafe.
This has been a year of profound transformation for YWCA Cambridge. In February, we opened the city’s first and only 24/7 women’s emergency homeless shelter. While we celebrated this milestone, the months since have revealed a sobering reality: the crisis of women’s homelessness is much larger than many realized. Since August alone, we have had to deny more than 130 requests for a safe bed because our shelter was full.
This is why our end-of-year campaign, Hidden No More, is so important. We are committed to making the invisible visible—shining a light on the couch-surfing, the car-sleeping, and the impossible choices women in our community face every day as a consequence of the housing and affordability crisis and the pervasiveness of intimate partner violence.
In this edition of our newsletter, you will see the breadth of that light. You’ll read about the heavy lifting being done by our frontline shelter staff, the incredible resilience of our Small Steps to Success graduates, and the creative energy of the youth in our SHYFT programs.
We are deeply grateful for the circle of care you have helped build. Because of your generosity through initiatives like Festive Futures, dozens of women will experience the dignity of choice and the comfort of being remembered this season.
Thank you for standing with us. Whether you give, advocate, or simply share these stories, you are ensuring that no woman in Cambridge has to remain hidden.
With gratitude and hope,
Kim Decker
CEO, YWCA Cambridge
P.S. Our small and mighty team has achieved so much this year, and due to the wonderful length of this update the email may be clipped in your inbox. Click the "view entire message" link at the bottom to view the entire newsletter.
Hidden No More: Shining a Light on Women’s Homelessness in Cambridge
When YWCA Cambridge launched Project Willow, our grassroots research into women’s experiences of homelessness in Waterloo Region done in collaboration with YW Kitchener Waterloo, we knew we were stepping into a largely unseen issue. We did not anticipate just how urgent and widely spread the need was.
Since opening Cambridge’s first and only 24/7 women’s emergency homeless shelter in February, we have received an overwhelming number of requests for support, turning away more than 126 requests for shelter between August and November. The hidden crisis we identified through research is now a daily reality at our doors.
Responding to a largely unseen and rapidly growing crisis of women’s unique experience of homelessness in our community means uncovering some hard truths.
Women’s homelessness often remains hidden. It can look like couch-surfing to escape violence, sleeping in cars while working full-time, or staying in unsafe situations because there is nowhere else to go. These realities don’t always show up in statistics, but they are felt deeply here in Cambridge.
The need is urgent.
36% of unhoused people in Canada are women, yet only 13% of shelter beds are dedicated to women
15% of women over 75 are living in core housing need
Women’s homelessness is closely linked to gender-based violence — both as a cause and a consequence
This year's end-of-year campaign, Hidden No More, invites our community to help make the invisible visible and invest in the sustainability and security of women’s shelter services in Cambridge.
For the first time in Cambridge, women experiencing homelessness now have access to a space designed specifically for safety, dignity, and healing. And we can’t stop now.
Every gift supports the compassionate, frontline work happening inside our shelter, where women are met with warmth, care, and stability. Because the truth is simple: you can’t heal without a safe space — and healing happens here.
Your support helps provide:
$75 = a full bedding + personal care kit
$150 = essential frontline support as women transition into shelter
$500 = sustainability funds to keep our shelter strong and stable
As we move through December, you’ll see Hidden No More shared across our community. We invite you to stand with us by giving, sharing, and helping ensure women experiencing homelessness in Cambridge have a safe place to go.
Shelter Update: Holding Space Through a Challenging Season
While the end of the year is a time of celebration for many, it can be an especially heavy season for women experiencing homelessness and for the frontline staff who support them.
The holidays often amplify feelings of grief, trauma, loneliness, and loss. Many women arriving at our shelter are navigating complicated family dynamics, financial strain, or memories of violence. During this time, the emotional weight of the season can be heavy. Our shelter team continues to hold that heavy weight with care, patience, and compassion.
Operational pressure
As a 24/7 women’s emergency homeless shelter, our work does not slow down over the holidays. Crises don’t take time off. Our staff continue to show up day and night, providing consistent, trauma-informed care while balancing the realities of the season in their own lives.
Service expansion
This winter, we are also responding to growing needs in Waterloo Region by expanding our services through a short-term winter warming hotel overflow program. This initiative will help ensure women have access to 5 more safe, indoor beds during the coldest months. This is a critical and timely response to rising demand in our community but is not enough and planning is underway to further expand winter warming support in 2026. Thanks to Regional Councillor Pam Wolf who brought forward a motion, and to Regional Council that voted in favour of it on December 16, we will be able to open a larger warming centre dedicated to women next winter.
As we move through the holidays and our Hidden No More campaign, we invite our community to hold this work alongside us.
We recently hosted a fantastic Staff Appreciation Event, and it was an amazing celebration of the dedicated individuals who make our programs thrive. The evening was filled with warmth, connection, and heartfelt recognitions that highlighted the hard work, passion, and commitment of our staff.
The W
Small Steps to Success: From ten brave beginnings to ten incredible graduates
The current Small Steps to Success cohort is wrapping up and the momentum has been incredible. This 12-week program supports women and gender-diverse individuals as they build confidence, skills, and pathways toward meaningful work and this fall’s cohort has thrived.
Hands-On Learning in Local Placements
Participants gained real-world experience and practical skills in supportive, community-based environments. We are deeply grateful to our local partners who make this possible, includingCambridge Food Bank, Chartwell Retirement Home, Alison Neighbourhood Association, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, ONESource Moving, Kinbridge Neighbourhood Association, Noor Wellness, Encore Threads & Treasures.
Preparing for What’s Next
Participants also took part in a mock interview session supported by community volunteers from Camino and Pioneer Youth Services, with space generously provided by The Literacy Group. These sessions help participants practice self-advocacy, communication, and interview skills in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
Clothing Drive Success with The Co-operators
A huge thank you to The Co-operators Insurance Group, who hosted a clothing drive and delivered two full car loads of donations, including interview-appropriate attire as well as casual clothing to support participants’ everyday needs. This generosity were a huge help for our Dress for Success Day!
Celebrating Growth
From ten brave beginnings to ten incredible graduates, this cohort completed twelve weeks of learning, courage, and transformation. Facilitators Terra and Gail had the privilege of walking alongside participants through every milestone, including a particularly joyful first for the program: our first-ever therapy dog graduated right alongside her human.
We celebrated graduation with laughter and connection at a bowling party! The event was packed with memorable moments and a standout performance from “Twinkle Toes”. We also welcomed back Lynne, a Winter 2024 graduate, who led a bracelet-making workshop. Small Steps is filled with beautiful full-circle moments like this that capture sisterhood and ongoing support at the heart of the program.
Small Steps to Success – Winter 2026 Registration Now Open!
Small Steps to Success is our 12-week holistic pre-employment and life-skills program for women and gender-diverse individuals across the Region of Waterloo. This in-person program offers a flexible, supportive environment to build confidence, discover strengths, set goals, and prepare for meaningful work.
Participants explore communication, stress and time management, and workplace relationships, while gaining hands-on experience through a volunteer placement. Graduates leave with updated job-search tools and connections that last beyond the program.
What sets us apart? Support continues even after graduation—whether it’s finding resources, navigating job searches, or simply having someone to talk to.
Programs start every September, January, and April. Registration for the Winter session beginning in January is now open.
📍In person - 101-20 Dickson St Cambridge 🕑 Monday–Friday 🫶 Group and one-to-one support available
Across in-school and community-based SHYFT groups, our SHYFT youth programs have been buzzing with thoughtful conversations, creativity, and connection. As 2025 comes to a close, some groups are wrapping up while others pause until after the winter break. Check out all the amazing activities we’ve done over the past few months!
Exploring Healthy Relationships
Youth have been exploring friendships and healthy relationships, considering questions like: What kind of person do I want to be? How do I want to be treated? And what helps us create safer spaces together?
Through discussions and hands-on activities, participants have created art pieces reflecting values and hopes. Groups examined key themes like connectedness, belonging, conflict, and respect, and explored what these look like when sharing space with others.
Youth also learned to recognize red and green flags in relationships and identified what makes friendships healthy. With support from Youth Program facilitators and WLU BSW student Samantha, participants co-led conversations on the values most important to them and created affirmation flags celebrating identity and self-expression. Each session developed and delivered healthy-relationship activities across programs, adapting them to meet the interests and needs of each group.
Another group analyzed examples of healthy and unhealthy relationships in media and took part in a song lyric-analysis activity that encouraged reflection and creative expression. These discussions inspired designs for their quilt squares, soon to be featured in our community art quilt project.
With a group of grade 6's this past week at St Michael's, we decorated mittens and chatted about things we are looking forward to over the winter break. It was so lovely to hear all the stories about things youth are excited about, and all their plans to spend time with people they care about.
Dinner at Wesley United Church with Kinbridge SHYFT Group
Our Kinbridge SHYFT group recently visited Wesley United Church for a baking session and a shared dinner! The youth had the opportunity to help prepare the church’s famous apple dumplings, which were served with butterscotch sauce for dessert - Yum! The meal also included crepes stuffed with red peppers, smoked tofu, and hummus, drizzled with balsamic jus, alongside mushroom rice and salad. It was a wonderful experience for the group to connect with community members, enjoy a delicious meal, and learn a special recipe.
Keith Haring-Inspired Collaborative Art Piece
Following a presentation by our BSW student on healthy friendships, our youth group created a collaborative art project in the style of Keith Haring to explore the values that make friendships meaningful. Each participant designed their own 8x10 canvas alongside a word or sentence representing an important value in an ideal friendship, such as connectedness. The individual canvases will be displayed together with a banner, creating a collective showcase of creativity, collaboration, and the qualities our youth cherish in their relationships.
SHYFT – Afterschool Program for Girls and Gender-Diverse Youth (Grades 7 & 8)
The W’s After School SHYFT program creates a welcoming, participant-led space where youth can explore their interests and build connections. Each session includes a mix of conversation, creative art projects, and snacks, offering a fun and supportive place to unwind after school.
Program Details:
When: Tuesdays, 3:30–5:00 PM
Where: The W, 20 Dickson St, Unit 101, Cambridge
Who: Girls and gender-diverse youth in Grades 7 & 8
This program is designed to be flexible and responsive. Youth guide what topics, activities, and projects matter most to them. It’s a space where they can feel heard, supported, and engaged.
To register for the new year, call or email The W.
📧thew@ywcacambridge.ca 📞519-622-9960
📈 Financial Literacy Program Update
We’re thrilled with the momentum building around our renewed Financial Literacy Program, though we cannot yet release details about the funding source, we have recently hired a Financial Literacy Program Coordinator! This role will be instrumental in shaping the program’s delivery and impact in the new year.
More updates to come soon; stay tuned!
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and Trans Day of Remembrance
This year, staff facilitated a December 6 workshop to raise awareness and recognize the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a day that commemorates one of the worst mass-femicides in Canada’s history, the Montreal Massacre, also known as the Ecole Polytechnique massacre, when a man intentionally shot at the women present, killing 14 of them. There is a community-facing display with the photos and names of each of the victims of the Montreal Massacre, as well as information about the event in the window at The W.
Child Care
Introducing the Next Evolution of YWCA Cambridge Summer Camp: Action-Packed, Fun & Accessible for 2026
We have exciting news about YWCA Cambridge Summer Camp programming for 2026!
We are enhancing our camp model by transitioning from a primarily all-outdoor camp at Shade’s Mills Conservation Area to an enriched format exclusively in our high-quality, licensed child care settings. This change is rooted in our commitment to offer a safe, accessible, affordable and consistently outstanding camp experience for every child.
Here’s why this is great news for families:
Increased Accessibility: Our new locations are often more centrally located and accessible, making drop-off and pick-up easier and more secure.
Unwavering Quality and Affordability: By moving to this model, we can maintain affordable camp fees while significantly increasing the quality of the facilities (like AC) and the variety of our specialty-themed programs (STEM, arts, sports).
Consistent Fun, Rain or Shine: Campers will always have dedicated, comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces, so the fun never stops, even on hot or rainy days.
Extended hours! We know the 4:00 p.m. end time of summer camp at Shade’s Mills was a challenge for many families. Our 2026 centre-based summer camps will run until 4:00 p.m. daily, with the extended hours and our centres being open until 6:00pm (Although, indoor camp at Wesley United Church will continue running on a 7:30a.m. - 5:00 p.m. schedule).
Our goal is simple: to bring the fun, friendship, and inclusivity of YWCA Cambridge camps to an even better setting! Camp will continue to feature exciting weekly themes, a minimum of two hours of outdoor play daily, and weekly field trips, including time for swimming and water play.
You can learn more about the programming and logistics on ourwebsite here, and find answers to any questions you may have in our detailed FAQ here.
Registration will open February 1 and happen through the Region of Waterloo OneList.
Child Care
Reggio Training Session Strengthens Collaboration and Practice
Our Child Care Department recently hosted its third Reggio-inspired training session, with a focus on documentation, project work, and child development with risky play. Educators from different centres had the opportunity to share their current projects, exchange ideas, and learn from one another’s approaches. Staff surveys reflected overwhelmingly positive feedback, highlighting how valuable the session was in supporting reflective practice and strengthening our Reggio philosophy across programs.
We are excited to host future Reggio training sessions in 2026 to keep the learning momentum going!
Philanthropy
Festive Futures: Giving the Gift of Choice
Because of you, over 80 women in our Small Steps program and each of our shelter residents, will head into the holidays with full hearts, and the comfort of knowing they are not forgotten.
This community stepped up in such a big way.
Every dollar, every gift card, every share made a direct impact, giving women the chance to choose what they need, when they need it. That autonomy matters. It turns a stressful season into one where they can breathe a little easier and create moments that feel good for them.
Your generosity gave someone the chance to feel more in control, and to enjoy a bit of holiday magic on their own terms.
This kind of support doesn’t happen overnight… and it doesn’t happen without you. Thank you for helping us collect over 170 gift cards, and more than $7,600.00!!! ❤️🎁✨
Stay tuned for a full blog recap and pictures on our Socials!
❣️Thank You to Our Community Supporters!
The work we do at YWCA Cambridge is only possible with community behind us. We’re so lucky to have an outpouring of support from the Cambridge and North Dumfries community these past few months!
This season, we are extending a heartfelt thank you to the many groups, businesses and partners who have supported our mission. Through financial contributions, in-kind donations, shared resources and acts of genuine care, you have stepped up to support women, youth and gender-diverse individuals in a meaningful way. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!
We are deeply grateful to the following organizations and groups for standing with us:
91.5 The Beat Coat Drive
Ann Van Norman & The Women of Blair
ATS Automation
Cambridge Toyota
Christ Church Anglican
CrossWalk
Giant Tiger
Grace Bible Church
Greentec
Kindred Spirits at Knox United Church
La Vie en Rose
Lynn Spence
Manulife Staff
Mark’s Work Warehouse
Old Navy
Reid’s Candy and Nut Shop
Soroptimist
St. Elizabeth Child Care Staff
St. James Anglican
St. Margaret Child Care Staff
Stage Door Transportation
Stocking Stuffers
Teal Street Skin & Esthetics
Wesley United Church Apple Corps
Wild Heart Yoga
Women's Probus Club of Cambridge
WSP Global Inc.
And many more!
Thank you for believing in this work and for being part of the circle of care that surrounds YWCA Cambridge. 💕
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.
🤝 Volunteer Your Time: From events to special projects, we welcome community support.
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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