Annual Report Silvie, Natalie and Sandra, 2018-2019 Residents of the YWCA Montreal and the Women’s Y Foundation BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL WOMEN, GIRLS AND THEIR FAMILIES IS AN HONOURABLE, EXHILARATING AND AMBITIOUS MISSION. THAT MISSION IS OURS, ONE THAT WE STRIVE FOR EVERY DAY, HAND-IN-HAND, OUR GAZE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE FUTURE, WITH THE CONVICTION THAT TOGETHER, WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS. ISABELLE LAJEUNESSE EDITH CLOUTIER LOUISE POIRIER MÉLANIE THIVIERGE Executive Director Chair of the Board of Directors Chair of the Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer Women’s Y Foundation Women’s Y Foundation YWCA Montreal YWCA Montreal 1855 1875 1952 2000 2012 2013 First YWCA YWCA of Relocation to “Y des femmes de The YWCA has The YWCA receives the opens in England Montreal 1355 René-Lévesque Blvd. Montréal” becomes a green roof Korn/Ferry–Les Affaires West our new official name Award for excellence in corporate governance In the history of the Montreal YWCA and its Foundation, and girls regarding the three main issues that it 2018-2019 was without a doubt a landmark year. In champions: equality, non-violence and inclusion. fact, last January, the organization entrusted the Whether it was during a provincial election debate, Foundation with the task of implementing a major by signing an open letter regarding mental health financing campaign. The goal is a big one: to develop care (which made it all the way to the National and offer services that enable us to better respond to Assembly!), by launching the #LaisseToiPasAcheter the current needs of girls, women and their families. A on social media, or submitting a brief on Quebec’s major undertaking: a new building adapted to these secularism law, Bill 21, the Montreal YWCA has not ever-changing needs, a place that fosters personal faltered in its mission to remind decision-makers transformation and allows our participants to gradually and the general public of the inequalities still faced build a new life and develop to their full potential. by women and girls. INNOVATE TO BETTER COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT MEET NEEDS None of this would be possible without the unwavering The needs of women and girls1 are constantly changing, support of the two boards of directors. We owe our as are the many and varied means developed by the deepest gratitude to Sophie Fortin, past chair of the Montreal YWCA to respond to these needs. The virtual YWCA Foundation’s board of directors, for her four reality project Where are you from? is proof of this years of service, her strategic vision and her deep innovative spirit. Aimed at employers, and with the commitment. We would also like to point out the objective of promoting inclusion and ethnocultural six years of significant contributions made by Josée diversity at the workplace, this awareness tool reached Goulet, Ginette Richard and Jean-Sébastien Lagarde almost 800 people. Now more than ever, the YWCA towards promoting the organization’s mission. hopes to bring about systemic change, and to do In October 2018, the winds of change blew through the so, it is reaching out to decision-makers in various Foundation’s board of directors with the nomination environments. of Édith Cloutier as chair and the arrival of six new As for our direct action with women, we have among administrators: Mariama Zhouri, Sophie Roy, Katia other initiatives - implemented a transcultural Robillard, Rodrigue Gilbert, Daniel Trottier and Andrew approach within our residential services. This allows Arnovitz. The Women’s Y Foundation is proud to be our teams to more competently respond to the needs able to rely on their expertise. and realities of women from around the world who As for the YWCA board of directors, we would like to have chosen to settle here, and give them the time thank Sylvie Bourdeau who, in her role as secretary, to rebuild their lives. contributed invaluable expertise to the organization Innovation is also crucial to a modern and vibrant through her nuanced remarks, her relevant observa- Foundation, which has completely redefined the tions and her deep commitment. We would also like concept of the Women of Distinction Awards. This to thank Martine Collins, Julie Martineau and Lyse significant event now allows patrons to participate in Des Rosiers, outgoing directors, for their informed inspiring and rewarding panels, while celebrating the contributions. As for Francine Belzile and Stéphanie incredible contributions the award winners have made Otou, we are grateful for their astute interventions to society. In addition, last spring, as part of the My within the board of directors over the past months. Bag is Yours campaign, the Foundation launched In Thanks to the expertise of this governance and its new My Bag of Tricks, a new fun-filled challenge aimed at members, the professional and passionate work of our rallying and raising awareness across an even larger internal teams, the help of our 440 or so volunteers, audience regarding the relevance of the YWCA and the generous support of our donors and partners, the Quebec YWCA’s mission.2 the combined force of the Montreal YWCA and its Foundation is now stronger than ever, ready to rise SPEAK UP, to the challenge and support women and girls in their WITH THEM AND FOR THEM search for a better future. Now, more than ever, defending the rights and interests of women and girls, in all their diversity, has shown itself to be necessary, as demonstrated Kudos to each and every person who has helped in by the current social context. Over the past year, the the building of our incredible organization. Montreal YWCA has taken several opportunities to strongly and clearly emphasize the needs of women ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 ANNUAL 1 Women and girls refer to any person identifying as such. 3 2 An appendix (in French only) is available on line with the detailed list of our actions at ra2019.ydesfemmesmtl.org/annexe Advocacy TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS CREATING A LONG-LASTING AND FAR-REACHING SOCIAL IMPACT AND TO REDUCE EXCLUSION AND SOCIAL AND GENDER INEQUALITY, AS WELL AS ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, WE MUST GO BEYOND OUR DAILY AND INDIVI- DUAL ACTIONS. THAT IS WHY THE YWCA HAS ORGANIZED, COLLABORATED ON, AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN MANY EVENTS AND CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE MOBILIZATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND RAISE AWARENESS AROUND WOMEN’S ISSUES.1 Four initiatives in 2018-2019 deserve special attention ELECTION DEBATES During the fall 2018 provincial election campaign, despite the waves created by the #metoo movement, reports of harassment scandals on university campuses, or the shock in response to the courage of high school-age girls to stand up and condemn the insidious phenomenon of sexual assault in schools, it was the silence of the political parties regarding challenges faced by women that spoke the loudest. Instead of sitting back and doing nothing, the Montreal YWCA decided to organize a debate to give four candidates the opportunity to elaborate on their party’s stand on these fundamental issues: violence against women; security and housing; employment, inclusion and immigration; prevention, education and healthy relationships. This event brought together more than 80 people and was made available online in the form of video clips. The debate revealed the positions of the different parties, and it is our hope that it also allowed those present to better understand some of the issues faced by women and have a more informed opinion on this topic when they went to the polls. MENTAL HEALTH Also in the fall of 2018, the media reported on tragic suicides that could perhaps have been prevented (one can only hope) if the safety net that is our health system had been more tightly woven. These heartbreaking stories touched residents of Quebec to the core. At the YWCA - among others, within our residen- tial services - we regularly note major difficulties in trying to coordinate the different resources available to help persons dealing with mental health issues. Unfortunately, we have noticed that the expertise and experience of community-based mental health services are too rarely taken into account, even though professionals working there are ready and able to effectively contribute to the support, services and guidance that people dealing with mental health issues so greatly need. Here too, we chose to take a stand. Our open letter, Les mains tendues, was published in the daily newspaper La Presse, and was quoted at the National Assembly of Quebec by member Hélène David to point out that it is time for Quebec to stop and collectively think about the growing issue of mental health in our province. ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 ANNUAL 1 The list of our main initiatives and the events we have taken part in advocating for women and girls can be found in the appendix to our annual report and is available online (in French only) at ra2019.ydesfemmesmtl.org 2 laissetoipasacheter.ydesfemmesmtl.org/ 4 3 The full text of our brief, available in French only, can be found on our website at www.ydesfemmesmtl.org/laicite Ludivine Reding • Julianne Côté • Françoise Abanda • Catherine Brunet • Noémie Bannes • Gloria Bella • Sarah-Maude Beauchesne SEXUAL EXPLOITATION An overwhelming majority of female sex workers are recruited as minors, the average age being around 14.7. Most are recruited in educational settings (from primary schools through to universities), youth centres, metro stations, and parks. Electronic communication, more specifically, social media, has expanded the arsenal of recruitment tactics used for the purposes of sexual exploitation, and large international events are a conducive environment to recruiting young girls. Gifts, the irresistibility of luxury and the easy money flaunted by recruiters are a powerful draw.