YWCA Metro Vancouver maintains relationships with the YWCA of Canada and with local Canadian YWCAs. This is generally accomplished via: participation in National Conventions, National Councils, and other national meetings and workshops; the YWCA of Canada’s dissemination of policy statements, reference materials, annual reports, and other administrative records and publications to local YWCAs; general communications between YWCA Metro Vancouver and both the YWCA of Canada and local associations; and YWCA Metro Vancouver’s receipt of local Canadian YWCAs’ publications.

Records consist of publications, reports, National Convention and National Council material, reference materials, and other records arising from YWCA Metro Vancouver’s involvement with the YWCA of Canada, local Canadian YWCA associations, and national meetings. Material in this fonds recording interactions between the YWCA of Canada and other affiliated organizations (e.g., World YWCA, national and local YWCAs located outside of Canada, YMCAs) is also kept in this subseries.

Subseries documents YWCA Metro Vancouver’s research on its own history, typically for the purpose of producing historical summaries of the organization, staff, facilities, programs, and/or membership in the service of communications and promotion. Activities represented include: compilation of original and copied material; correspondence with former staff and members involving commentary on YWCA history and attached original materials; research and note-taking on the YWCA’s history; and communication of YWCA history via presentations, publications, and promotional pieces.

Records consist of collected original and photocopied material, material sent in by former members and staff, notes, written summaries, presentations, and other material used to produce, comment on, and communicate the history of the organization.

Similar to the YWCA, the YMCA is a movement operating at three levels: local, national, and world. The YMCA was founded in England in 1844 as the Young Men’s Christian Organization, with the mission of “the spiritual condition of the young men engaged in houses of business, by the formation of Bible classes, family and social prayer meetings, mutual improvement societies, or any other spiritual agency” (“Sir George Williams - Founder of the YMCA”). The movement’s mission has changed regularly since 1844 and is currently “to empower young people and communities worldwide to build a just, sustainable, equitable and inclusive world, where every person can thrive in body, mind and spirit” (“Our Mission”). The YWCA and YMCA are independent movements with different missions. However, some local YMCAs and YWCAs have merged into YM-YWCAs or YMCA-YWCAs, belonging to and offering programs from both organizations. At all three levels of both movements, YMCAs and YWCAs often maintain connections to one another and collaborate with each other.

YWCA Metro Vancouver maintains a relationship with YMCA organizations including YMCA BC and YMCA Canada. This is accomplished via YWCA Metro Vancouver’s receipt of YMCA annual reports and publications.

Records consist of annual reports, occasional reports, and publications from YMCA BC and the YMCA of Canada.

References:
“Our Mission.” World YMCA, 2023, https://www.ymca.int/who-we-are/the-worldwide-ymca-movement/the-ymca-history/mission/.
“Sir George Williams - Founder of the YMCA.” World YMCA, 2023, https://www.ymca.int/who-we-are/the-worldwide-ymca-movement/the-ymca-history/sir-george-williams-founder-of-the-ymca/.

YWCA Metro Vancouver began its residential camping activities in 1913 with the YWCA Girls Camp at Copper Cove, near Horseshoe Bay. After selling its Copper Cove site in 1936, the YWCA rented campsites on Galiano Island for several years, then at various leased campsites around British Columbia. The first YaWaCa camp program was offered in 1962 at Camp Potlatch, Howe Sound. Camp YaWaCa was run at rented facilities until 1971, at which point it became clear that finding a suitable rental space long-term would be infeasible. YWCA Metro Vancouver began site planning and development of the YaWaCa Outdoor Centre in 1971. Opened in 1972, the YaWaCa Outdoor Centre hosted Camp YaWaCa over the summer for girls along with other YWCA programs, including a counsellor-in-training program, a pregnant teenagers’ retreat, a camp for single mothers and their children, and a recreational program for adults with intellectual disabilities. The Outdoor Centre was also rentable to non-YWCA outdoor groups from September to June. The YaWaCa Outdoor Centre closed in 1983 due to financial constraints.

Subseries documents Camp YaWaCa and the development and management of the YaWaCa Outdoor Centre.

Records consist of reports, meeting minutes, promotional materials, photographs, and other records arising from running Camp YaWaCa and the YaWaCa Outdoor Centre.

YWCA Metro Vancouver and YWCA of Canada both maintain a relationship with the World YWCA located in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as with local associations globally. This is accomplished via: participation in World Councils held every four years; YWCA Metro Vancouver’s receipt of newsletters, reports, and other publications by both the World YWCA and by national or local YWCA associations; and communications between YWCA Metro Vancouver and local YWCAs from outside of Canada. From 1969 to 1986, YWCA Metro Vancouver also engaged with the World YWCA via the Y’s Owl Shop, a craft group of YWCA Metro Vancouver that raised funds for the World YWCA.

Records consist of annual reports, Council reports, occasional reports, publications, newsletters, correspondence, and other materials arising from YWCA Metro Vancouver’s and the YWCA of Canada’s interactions with the World YWCA and with national and local YWCAs outside of Canada. Material arising from interactions between the World YWCA and YMCAs is also kept in this subseries.

Subseries documents YWCA Metro Vancouver’s management of its property, facilities, and building amenities.

Records consist of meeting minutes, reports, correspondence, and other material arising from decision-making, documentation, and general management of YWCA Metro Vancouver’s buildings.

Subseries documents YWCA Metro Vancouver’s organizational planning and policies. Material arises from: task forces struck by the Board of Directors to investigate and recommend changes pertinent to a particular issue to policies, services, and programs; long range, strategic planning; the negotiation and implementation of policies from the YWCA of Canada and World YWCA; and YWCA Metro Vancouver’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Records consist of reports, strategic plans, meeting minutes, and other material arising from YWCA Metro Vancouver planning and updating its policies.

Subseries documents the coordination of YWCA Metro Vancouver’s staff and volunteers.

Records consist of directories, reviews, job descriptions, reference materials, and other records arising from personnel management.

Subseries documents YWCA Metro Vancouver’s programs, clubs, conferences, and workshops for special interest and social groups. The YWCA’s identified priorities have typically influenced the direction of its general programming. From the 1930s to 1960s, focus on leadership development for teenagers resulted in the high school YWCA club called Hi-Y or Y-Teen. This program reemerged as Soromundi between 1982 and 1991. A mentorship program began around 1990 to assist young women in enhancing their interpersonal skills and exploring career opportunities. The YWCA also developed and involved itself in programming including: several clubs at Pender Y engaging with the Chinatown community from 1940 to the 1970s; the Housewives Holiday, later called Take a Break, a program for home makers from the 1950s to 1970s; Single Mothers’ groups and the Annual Single Mothers’ Conference from the 1970s to 1990s; and the Mature Women’s Conference from 1987 to 1989.

Material in this subseries arises from Hi-Y and Y-Teen activities, About Town programs, the Mature Women’s Conference, and other programs, clubs, conferences, and workshops run by the YWCA.

Records consist of reports, programs, newsletters, brochures, photographs, and other material arising from planning, promoting, and running these programs.

Providing physical fitness services alongside other wellness activities was an early function of YWCA Metro Vancouver. The organization introduced physical training classes between 1912 and 1914 and expanded its offerings after the opening of a new gymnasium in 1924. Fitness programming first encompassed classes such as marching, calisthenics, aesthetic and folk dancing, as well as athletic sports such as basketball and grass hockey. These physical fitness courses were offered alongside adult education classes including English literature, Bible study, French, dress-making, and shorthand. Over the following decades, the YWCA further developed its fitness courses, programs, and clubs alongside its adult education offerings at its central program building, Pender Y, various branch Y’s, and off-premises with Y clubs and at city-wide events. In 1957, a pool was added to YWCA facilities and swimming courses and programs were introduced. In the 1960s, the YWCA responded to an increase in Vancouver community centres and public facilities by moving towards courses focused on “social development” and “development of the individual.” 1964 saw the introduction of classes such as “Yoga-Psycho-Therapy,” “Judo: the Art of Self Defense,” and yoga camps. During the 1970s, the YWCA focused on fitness for special interest groups with its post mastectomy, prenatal, and osteoporosis programs. In 1994, YWCA Metro Vancouver opened its Health + Fitness Centre in its Hornby building. Programs center around its facilities including a pool, gymnasium with machines and weights, two studios for various classes, and pickleball court.

Material in this subseries arises from YWCA Metro Vancouver’s fitness programs and adult education classes, management of fitness facilities, and operation of services associated with YWCA fitness centres.

Records include programs, photographs, schedules, and other material arising from the operation of fitness programs and fitness centres.

Subseries documents YWCA Metro Vancouver’s management of its funds. Activities represented include: attainment of funds from grant applications, foundations, and wills; receipt and documentation of funds from these sources as well as from fundraising and donations; use and/or reimbursement of funds; reporting of funds obtained and used; and contract negotiations with parties external to YWCA Metro Vancouver.

Records consist of financial statements with annual reports, meeting minutes, contracts, reports, budgets, correspondence, and other material arising from the attainment, use, and general management of funds.

Subseries documents meetings of the Board of Directors, the Management Team, and the Nomination Committee. Elected from and by YWCA Metro Vancouver Members, the Board of Directors is responsible for managing the affairs of the full organization, including policy- and priority-setting, planning, budget management, and evaluation of programs and services. The Management Team coordinates staff and volunteers organization-wide. The Nomination Committee is responsible for assisting with nomination appointments of the Board and for conducting elections at the Annual General Meeting.

Records consist of meeting minutes, reference material accumulated for these meetings, audiocassettes recording meetings, and other material arising from the business of these committees (e.g., memoranda, reports).

Subseries documents events held by YWCA Metro Vancouver for current members, former members, and the broader Vancouver community. Events held by the YWCA include: anniversaries, reunions, and grand openings celebrating the YWCA, its services, and its membership; and awards and competitions during which the YWCA directly engages with the broader community. Activities represented include planning, marketing, and documenting events.

Records consist of programs, flyers, photographs, videocassettes, and other material arising from the planning, promotion, and actual event.

Subseries documents YWCA Metro Vancouver’s communication and promotion of its organizational image, particular services and programs, and products for sale. Activities represented include communications with members and the broader community, promotion and advertisement of particular services and programs, and marketing ventures.

Records consist of newsletters, annual reports, media coverage clippings, brochures, audiocassettes, videocassettes, photographs, and other material arising from the planning, dissemination, and evaluation of YWCA Metro Vancouver’s communications and products.

YWCA Metro Vancouver has interacted with and/or been a member agency of several non-profit community service organizations located in British Columbia, including the Community Chest and Councils of Greater Vancouver, United Way BC, and the United Community Services Co-op. YWCA Metro Vancouver maintains these relationships through participation in the aforementioned organizations’ general meetings and commissions, fundraising campaigns, and budget negotiations.

Records consist of reports, meeting minutes, memoranda, awards, and other records arising from YWCA Metro Vancouver’s interactions with and participation in these agencies’ business.