About NYWC
North York Women’s Centre (NYWC) is a community of diverse women. Founded in 1988, we are a Canadian registered charity based in Toronto working to advance equality and empower women to effect positive change. Please see our land acknowledgement and accessibility statement below. We offer a series of free women’s empowerment group programs, skills development programs, a drop-in lounge to connect with other women, one-on-one support for individual women and much more.
NYWC also creates community, works for systemic change and hosts or participates in events for International Women's Day, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and other important dates.
Read What Women Say About Us to better understand how we help, plus visit our Media Coverage & Contacts section to see recent articles about NYWC.
The NYWC Vision
We envision a world where all doors are open for all women.
Guiding Principles Of NYWC
The following guiding principles inform and guide all aspects of the agency’s functioning. We define our guiding principles as:
- Promoting equity, equality and social and economic justice for all women, and
- Working within a framework of anti-oppression, anti-racism and feminism.
We practice feminism by:
- Asking questions from a women’s perspective,
- Acknowledging a power imbalance to the disadvantage of women, and
- Demanding that women’s personal experiences become recognized in public policies.
NYWC Staff
Iris Fabbro, Executive Director
Iris (she/her) is proud to have led NYWC’s work to empower women since 1997. It was a chance volunteer gig three decades ago that ignited her passion for the non-profit sector. Iris found a like-minded community and work she loved at NYWC, and never looked back.
Above all, Iris looks for opportunities to drive change that leads to a better, kinder and more inclusive world. While the specific communities have differed, her work has always been rooted in gender equity and the experiences of precariously housed women, women living with HIV, immigrant/refugee women and women survivors of trauma and abuse.
Advised in her youth against being a “troublemaker” or getting “too much education,” Iris has proudly embraced both. Her passion for social justice is shaped by personal life experiences and fuels a commitment to forge a different future for her daughters.
Emily Charman, Coordinator, Group Programs
Emily (she/her) believes strongly in the power of community and the goodness of others, so it's no surprise that she thrives on coordinating NYWC’s group programs. With an MA in Social Justice and Community Engagement and experience with numerous community organizations, Emily helps the NYWC team create transformative programs that empower women and gender diverse people in their own contexts (being an extroverted chatterbox helps, too). Apart from work, Emily has recently made her home in Toronto and is happily exploring all the city has to offer alongside her partner and friends.
Anaya Boucaud, Coordinator, Drop-In Services
Anaya (she/they) might be the first staff member you’ll meet when you arrive at NYWC for drop-in services and events. She organizes on-site recreational and educational social activities for the Women’s Lounge. She also provides one-on-one assistance (in person or by phone) to women looking for support with issues like housing, food banks, legal issues, safety plans and more. Anaya chose social justice as their path at 16 while struggling to find help navigating an abusive relationship. She previously supported For Youth Initiative, Black Women In Motion and George Brown College’s Community Care Centre, among other women/gender nonconforming-centred spaces. What else brings them joy? Books (especially romances), abstract painting, astrology, learning to knit and “watching awful reality TV!”
NYWC Placement Students
Jade Smith
The pandemic had Jade thinking differently about the future, so she went back to school as a 30-something student after a 12-year career as a hairstylist and makeup artist. She’s completing a placement at NYWC as a fourth year student in social work with a minor in disability studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. At a prior placement at a drop-in centre offering meals, clothing and hygiene supplies, Jade most enjoyed helping run the women’s program, where she brought her Indigenous heritage to activities involving creativity or connecting with the land. As a person with partial hearing loss, she’s also passionate about making activities accessible for all bodies. “I want my calling for the second part of my career to be deeper than making sure you’re happy with your bangs,” Jade says. “I want to focus more on creating community, or helping someone find income-geared housing or get connected with a counseling service.” Outside of school and the NYWC, Jade loves plants, dogs and going to the movies with friends.
Meghan Greco Giammarco
Meghan is happy to be completing a student placement at NYWC. A social work student in her third year at Toronto Metropolitan University, Meghan’s interest in social justice and community involvement was inspired by her mom, a principal, and her own experiences instructing hockey. The more she realized people were facing inequities and barriers, the more she wanted to do something to help them access resources and opportunities. “I like that the Centre offers empowering educational programs and a safe environment for women to build themselves up and meet others who are doing the same. It strengthens women individually and as a community.” Meghan’s self-care is playing hockey, spending time with friends and her cat, and listening to music, especially folk and alternative indie with a dash of country.
NYWC Program Facilitators
Uttara Chowdhury, Program Facilitator
Uttara is a strong believer in women’s empowerment and social justice. She has been working in the non-profit sector for the last nine years, supporting women who are ready to take charge of their lives. With experience as a social service worker and education in Human Rights and Equity Studies, Uttara is committed to a collaborative, trauma-informed and strength-based approach that enables women to reach their highest and most-creative potential.
Fluent in Bengali, Hindi and Urdu, Uttara connects with her South Asian culture through art, music and literature.
Danielle Di Prizio, Program Facilitator
Danielle’s compassionate nature and experience as a life coach shine through her work in NYWC’s Women’s Empowerment Series. After all, she has more than 15 years of experience developing workshops, coaching clients and helping individuals overcome barriers at non-profit organizations.
For Danielle, it’s all about building trust, helping women develop self awareness and confidence and identifying positive belief systems and actions that drive progress. As she says, “I love making people feel supported, empowered and proactive in living the best lives they can envision.”
Yaa Gyamfuah Nsiah, Program Facilitator
Inspired by the strong females in her life, Yaa loves supporting women’s resilience and personal power through NYWC programs. In addition to a master’s degree in International Development, Yaa has extensive experience in advocacy, child-protection and refugee resettlement work at non-profit groups in Ghana and the U.S. In her free time, Yaa enjoys swimming and watching Korean shows.
Aditi Thakker, Program Facilitator
Aditi is a registered social worker with over six years of combined experience supporting women and children facing domestic violence and abuse, as well as people in conflict with the law. She is passionate about advocating for the rights of youth and womxn. Her goal is to help women and youth develop self-compassion and good mental health, and to be empowered to face any challenges that come their way.
Leanna Tuba, Program Facilitator
Leanna thrives on supporting women and children and helps facilitate the NYWC Women’s Empowerment Series. She has also worked in a Violence Against Women shelter for more than 15 years. She knows that even a single warm and encouraging moment can change the course of someone’s life for the better. As she says, “Life is a journey of experiences.”
As an educator at the University of Guelph-Humber and other post-secondary institutions, Leanna shares insights from her experience and master’s degree in education to help students learn about the importance of advocacy, leadership, women, and children’s mental health and interprofessional collaboration through a social justice lens.
Veronica Williams-Dalrymple, Program Facilitator
Veronica has coached many women to be resilient in the face of adversity, throughout her career and as a facilitator of NYWC’s Women’s Empowerment Series. She is a registered social worker-psychotherapist, the director of a community-based mental health agency that supports youth and families and has helped communities reduce and eradicate poverty through capacity building, policy development and implementation.
With an MSc in Leadership and Management of Human Service organizations, a graduate diploma in Organizational Behaviours and a B.Sc. in Social Work, Veronica makes behavioural and organizational change happen. It all comes back to her strong belief in female empowerment, anti-oppressive practice and the power of individuals to find their strength and change lives.
Rogue Witterick, Program Facilitator
Rogue’s ability to spark transformative conversations about empowerment and agency inspires NYWC participants. An anti-oppression facilitator and activist, violence prevention consultant, youth advocate and writer, they have designed and facilitated programs and learning systems for organizations such as The 519, YMCA, SafeGuards Training and the Canadian Red Cross. Rogue is a queer parent with a disability who also speaks and educates powerfully about discrimination stress. In 2011, Rogue’s family was the subject of international media attention when they offered their youngest freedom from sex assignment. They’re now living in Tkaronto with their partner, three teens and a mischief making dog named Abbie.
Interested in helping NYWC? Follow us on LinkedIn to learn about career opportunities and find out how to become a member, volunteer, apply for a student work placement or make a donation. Also, read about our Board of Directors, Policies and our Annual Reports & Finances.
Accessibility of Our Women’s Programs
North York Women’s Centre recognizes the dignity and worth of all people and is committed to providing services fairly and equitably. NYWC strives to be accessible to all woman-identifying and non-binary people regardless of their race, ancestry, colour, creed, ethnicity, place of origin, citizenship, immigration status, age, disability, sexual orientation, receipt of public assistance, political affiliation, religious affiliation, literacy level, language and/or socio-economic status. We aim to create a harmonious environment free from discrimination, harassment and hate.
Talk with us about accommodations you need to participate fully in our programs and services.
Supporters
North York Women’s Centre is grateful for the financial support we receive from our funders, donors and other groups. It is because of their support that we are able to provide free programs and services. We thank them for working in partnership with us to address the needs of women in the community.
Green Sanderson Family Foundation
Griggs Family Fund
Schachter Family Fund
Bertram Family Fund
Past Supporters
George Lunan Foundation
Green Shield Canada Foundation
Land Acknowledgement
NYWC acknowledges that we are on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands. In the spirit of reconciliation, we commit to honouring the land and its Indigenous heritage.
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