Over the past several years, we’ve engaged with community members, employees, participants, board members and partners to reflect on our name and what it should stand for today. You asked us to be open about our history, clear about our purpose and courageous in how we respond to the realities facing our communities. We listened, with intention.
Introducing YWCA BC.
This change honours the trust and recognition built through generations of work while reflecting how our organization has evolved. YWCA BC connects us more clearly to the communities we serve across the province and signals our commitment to advancing equity, supporting truth and reconciliation and creating conditions where people can thrive.
This is more than an update to our name. It is a deliberate step that reflects who we are, how we work alongside communities and the responsibility we carry to use our energy and voice to support lasting change.
As we begin this next chapter as YWCA BC, some people have asked how they can be a part of this moment.
One simple way to support us is through a donation. Gifts help us continue advancing gender equity through real, practical supports for women, children and families.
YWCA BC reflects the work we’re already doing beyond Metro Vancouver and positions us to grow where communities need us. It also ensures our name matches our values today, strengthens our commitment towards reconciliation and clarifies that we are not a religious organization. We remain focused on advancing equity for women, children, youth and families across the province.
Our website and emails have moved to ywcabc.org, but emails sent to our old addresses at ywcavan.org will still reach our inboxes during the transition. Our phone numbers remain the same.
Our new social media handles will be @ywcabc. If you already follow us on social, you’ll automatically continue to follow us under our new handles
Our legal name is YWCA British Columbia.
Going forward, charitable tax receipts, contracts and official documents will use this new legal name. Any tax receipts you’ve already received remain valid.
What's Not Changing
Our vision, purpose and programs remain the same
Our team, leadership and registered charity number are unchanged
Your donations will continue to support the same essential work
Any tax receipts you’ve already received remain valid
You’ll still find us in the same locations and communities
The YWCA Hotel (now Hotel Willo) and the YWCA Health & Fitness Club remain part of YWCA BC
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Supporting women and gender-diverse communities and advocating for gender equity remains central to our work. At the same time, our programs have always welcomed children, youth and people of all genders, and that won’t change.
We are not merging with another YWCA. We already operate beyond Metro Vancouver, providing services in communities across British Columbia, including Kelowna, Prince George, Vancouver Island and through province-wide virtual programs. While our work is rooted in Metro Vancouver, we continue to assess opportunities to strengthen our impact and extend our reach where there is need and alignment with our mission, vision and values.
YWCA started as an acronym more than 150 years ago, but we no longer use it that way. Today, our name is simply YWCA. It carries history, recognition and trust in communities here in BC and around the world. While the letters don’t stand for individual words, keeping the acronym honours our history and connects us to a global movement for gender equity.
