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YWCA Cambridge Updates
Feb 2026
Your bi-monthly pulse on programs, events and inspiration.
In This Issue:
💙 Greetings from Kim
🙌 Upcoming Events
🏠 Shelter Update: One Year In
💸 The W: NEW Financial Literacy Programming
📣 Advocacy and Action: 2026 Provincial Budget Consultations
Dear friends and supporters,
As we move through the final days of February, we join our community in celebrating Black History Month. The national theme for 2026, “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries,” resonates deeply with our mission.
In our child care centres, our programs through The W, and our emergency shelter, we witness the brilliance of Black women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals every day. This brilliance is not just a part of history, but the heartbeat of our present and the blueprint for our future.
Our work in Cambridge is a single thread in a larger, powerful tapestry of Black feminist leadership within the YWCA movement. As YWCA Canada CEO Aline Nizigama recently shared:
"At YWCA, our commitment to tackle anti-Black racism and advance Black liberation must be worthy of [our] inheritance. That means making space for Black leadership at every level, resourcing Black-led work, challenging anti-Blackness within and beyond our walls, and protecting Black joy as fiercely as we confront Black pain."
We also celebrate the enduring legacy of the Honourable Paulette Senior. Before her historic appointment to the Senate of Canada, Senator Senior served as the CEO of YWCA Canada for over a decade. Her journey, from managing frontline shelters in Ontario to shaping national policy, is a living example of the Black brilliance we honour this month.
We owe an immeasurable debt to the leaders who paved the way for justice in Canada:
Rosemary Brown: The first Black woman elected to political office in Canada (1972) and a tireless advocate for removing gender-based discrimination from our legal systems.
Viola Desmond: Whose 1946 refusal to accept segregation in Nova Scotia remains a foundational pillar of the Canadian civil rights movement.
Contemporary Visionaries: The organizers, doulas, educators, and artists who continue to push the boundaries of intersectional feminism today. We also recognize the incredible work done by local organization Rhythm and Blues Cambridge for their work to showcase and support the Black community of Cambridge, including through their powerful BHM programming over the past weekend.
We know anti-Black racism is not a relic of the past; it is a current reality. In Canada, we see this in the disproportionate rates of Black homelessness and the overrepresentation of Black children in the child welfare system.
We recognize that learning, doing better, and being accountable is a constant practice. We celebrate the diverse Black cultures—from the Caribbean to the African continent and centuries-old Black Canadian lineages—that enrich our team and our city.
Thank you for standing with us as we work toward a future where Black brilliance is not only celebrated but protected and resourced every day of the year.
In solidarity and community,
Kim Decker
CEO, YWCACambridge
Voices of Waterloo Region Podcast
Earlier this month, CEO, Kim Decker and Director of Communications and Advocacy, Roz Gunn, were guests on the Voices of Waterloo Region podcast, hosted by Preet and Tabitha. In the episode, Kim and Roz talked all things YWCA Cambridge, from our history, to the issues we work every day to address, particularly about the Canada-Ontario child care plan and its impacts, about our vital gender-based violence prevention programming with youth.
Check out clips on the Voices of Waterloo Region Podcast Instagram page hereandhere!
Thank you to Preet and Tabitha for having us on and for their great questions! Check out their Instagram page here.
International Women’s Day at The W
Presented by YWCA Cambridge 📅 Tuesday, March 10 | 5:30PM - 7:00PM 📍 The W - 20 Dickson St., Cambridge
🎤 Keynote Speaker: Rosheeka Parahoo, Pd.D 💛FREE to attend!
This year, we are honoured to welcome Rosheeka (Ro) Parahoo as our keynote speaker. Ro is an interdisciplinary researcher, strategist, and equity consultant whose work spans finance, philanthropy, education, arts and culture, and gender‑based violence prevention. Her keynote will explore gender equity, women’s financial history and independence, structural barriers, and the role of community engagement in advancing meaningful change.
The evening will also include a short fireside conversation, light refreshments, and opportunities for connection with community members and partners.
We look forward to coming together for this meaningful celebration of International Women’s Day.
📅 Tuesday, April 14 | 6:00–9:00 PM 📍 The Underwing, Cambridge
We’re thrilled to open ticket sales for our annual, intimate, conversation‑sparking event SheTalks, happening April 14, 2026 at The Underwing!
We’re bringing together four smart, local, and passionate speakers, women deeply rooted in community, driven by purpose, and committed to lifting others as they rise.
Together, we’ll explore:
Recipe for a Values-Based Business
Finding the Purpose in our Pain
Turning around a “bad” situation
Building community with intention
These are real stories from women who show up, lean in, and take on whatever challenge lies ahead.
It's time to nominate an inspiring woman for the2026 Women of Distinction Awards, but don’t wait too long - nominations close March 27, 2026.
If someone in your life has made a difference, big or small, this is your chance to honour them. Your nomination helps amplify their story and strengthens our community by celebrating women’s leadership and impact.
Whether they’ve blazed a trail in the corporate world, championed a cause close to their heart, or sparked creativity through an art program that inspired others to dream bigger, we invite you to put their name forward.
The process is simple, meaningful, and open to everyone.
How Easy Is It to Nominate?
We’ve made the nomination process simple and seamless:
Fill out the online form with details about your nominee and why they deserve recognition.
Submit your nomination before the March 27, 2026 deadline - it’s that easy! Take a moment today to celebrate someone who deserves the spotlight.
🤝 Sponsorship Opportunities
Both SheTalks and Women of Distinction offer meaningful opportunities for local businesses and community partners to support equity, empowerment, and impact.
If someone in your network comes to mind, an introduction would be warmly welcomed.
One Year of Cambridge’s first and only women’s emergency shelter.
This month marks one year since YWCA Cambridge opened the doors to the city’s first and only women’s emergency homeless shelter. While the shelter has provided a vital lifeline, our first-year data reveals a deepening crisis that requires urgent attention.
Since February 2025, we have provided 6,921 bed nights, operating at an average of 95% capacity. Despite this, the need continues to outpace our resources; since August alone, we’ve had to turn away over 160 requests for service due to a lack of space.
Key Insights from the Frontlines:
The Aging Face of Homelessness: In December 2025, 67% of our participants were aged 50 or older, many experiencing homelessness for the first time due to inadequate pensions or the gender wage gap.
Systemic Inequity: Indigenous women are significantly overrepresented, making up 26% of those served this year, despite Indigenous people making up only 2.9% of the population of Ontario.
A Call for a Continuum: While 20% of participants achieved successful outcomes—including transitions to long-term care and voluntary treatment—Cambridge still lacks the permanent, deeply affordable and accessible housing needed to move women out of the emergency system.
"We aren't here to celebrate an anniversary, but to sound the alarm," said Kim Decker, CEO of YWCA Cambridge. "Our 20 beds are a lifeline, but they are not a solution to the systemic failures pushing women into the streets."
As we continue our search for a permanent shelter location, we are calling on all levels of government for investment in a full spectrum of housing, including dedicated spaces for seniors and families.
Want to help? You can support our ongoing advocacy and frontline work by donating at ywcacambridge.ca and/or by sharing our socials on social media.
Dollars and Sense Financial Literacy Programming is Back!
Dollars & Sense financial literacy program marked its first program presence this month by delivering a guest lecture in the Small Steps to Success program, along with our first community engagement through the February Lunch & Learn session. Lunch & Learns will now run on a recurring schedule—offered in person on the first Monday of each month at The W (20 Dickson St) and online on the third Monday. In addition, we will be hosting weekly community drop‑in sessions every Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
We have a series of back‑to‑back financial literacy workshops beginning February 19 at The W, followed by a four‑week series at Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS–Waterloo) starting March 26, and another four‑week series with Soroptimist International of KW starting May 7.
For details on location and where to register, please reach out to Kiranjot Kaur at k.kaur@ywcacambridge.ca or 519-622-9960 ext. 238.
Advocacy Updates
2026 Provincial Budget Consultations
YWCA Ontario, an advocacy coalition comprising YWCAs from across Ontario, including YWCA Cambridge, provided our input on the province’s upcoming budget.
Here’s the TL;DR of our 2026 Pre-budget Submission
This year, YWCA Ontario is telling the provincial government that investing in women is an economic strategy, not just a social one. Here are our four big asks:
Treat Non-Profits Like Big Business: Our sector contributes $65 billion to Ontario’s GDP (as much as the auto industry!). We’re asking for stable, multi-year funding so we can focus on people, not paperwork.
Housing as a Foundation: We can’t help people find jobs if they don't have a safe place to call home. We are asking for more funding for VAW shelters and supportive housing to move people from crisis to independence.
A Robust Child Care System: $10-a-day child care only works if there are spaces available. We want the province to prioritize non-profit providers and fund the true cost of care, including fair wages for ECEs and other child care workers.
Real Career Pathways: We are asking for funded training programs that help survivors of violence and newcomers enter high-demand fields like STEM and the skilled trades.
The Big Picture: When our staff are supported and our participants are provided with the resources to thrive, Ontario’s economy grows. We’re asking the government to fund the "social infrastructure" that makes everything else possible.
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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