YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin

05/22/2026

Have you applied for Canadian citizenship?
Do you need help preparing for the test?

Our Settlement Services, YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin would like to invite you to our Citizenship Information Sessions that will begin on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

The goal of the information sessions is to provide assistance to Permanent Residents who are looking to apply for Canadian citizenship and need help preparing for the citizenship test. Each session will cover different information found in the “Discover Canada” Study Guide. "Discover Canada" is the official study guide from the Government of Canada. Copies of the guide will be available at the session. You can also download the book or listen online.

Together, we will learn:

> Eligibility requirements and required documents for Canadian citizenship
> Overview of the citizenship application process
> Key topics from Discover Canada, including Canadian history, rights and responsibilities, government, and geography
> Practice questions and citizenship test preparation
> Helpful study tips and learning strategies

Session Details:

📅 When: Wednesdays from June 17 to July 15, 2026
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Where: YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin, 16 Mary Street West, St. Thomas

If you are interested in joining the Citizenship Information Sessions, you must register. To register, complete our registration form >>> https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=4CWJTOgrh0-zWpYpfBsS_i1elnzYPF9HuhgDXglaZ3ZUOUI0SlFOQzg5QzE0SVNCWUJRTkhGRVE4WC4u&route=shorturl

If you need help registering or have any questions, please Call 519-280-5028 or email [email protected]

Space will be limited. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
You must be a Permanent Resident of Canada to participate in the sessions.

05/22/2026

DATE CHANGE: Lifejacket Day is now Sunday, May 24!

Due to the weather forecast, Lifejacket Day at Lake Margaret has been moved to Sunday, May 24, 2026, from 1:00–4:00 PM at Lake Margaret/Jim Waite Park in St. Thomas.

Join the Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition for a free, family-friendly afternoon focused on water safety. Families are invited to stop by, meet local community partners, and learn simple, practical ways to stay safe in, on, and around the water. The afternoon will include lifejacket fittings, safe boating tips, lifesaving equipment demonstrations, kids’ activities, prize giveaways, and opportunities to support local drowning prevention initiatives. Doug Tarry Homes is proud to support this important community event alongside the City of St. Thomas, St. Thomas Fire Department, St. Thomas Police Service, and Elgin County Emergency Management Services.

When it comes to water safety, the message is simple: choose it, use it, wear it.

05/22/2026

Happy to have Home Tight Air Sealing part of this innovative build!

05/22/2026

Thank you so much for your ongoing support to affordable housing in Elgin County! 💙

We are proud to share all 2 and 3 bedroom units have been sponsored to be furnished and we just have 9 - 1 bedroom units available for sponsorship at $5,000 each.

Railway City Rotary members were pleased to present $6000 to the YWCA Tiny Hope project to help furnish a 2 bedroom home. It’s exciting to see the progress of this awesome project. By the end of summer, all 40 homes will be filled. Incredible team work on all levels made this dream come true. Donations are still needed to furnish 2 bedroom homes ( $6000) and 3 bedrooms ( $7000). This includes the appliances and all furnishings, giving families a safe place to live. If you can donate please consider this project to help YWCA reach this goal.

05/22/2026

A huge thank you to our YWCA Laughter Squad of over 20 staff and volunteers who brought the design, decor and magic to Spring into Laughter 2026!

05/22/2026

Whether it be a date night, girls night or lots of laughs with co-workers - smiles were shared throughout the evening at Spring into Laughter!

Thank you once again to all our guests for bringing joy to our first comedy night fundraiser!

✨Find your snapshot and share ✨

05/21/2026

Looking for a shady spot to sit with a good book? Stop by the new location of our little library at the corner of Mary St West and Curtis St!

05/21/2026

💦Make a splash in Aylmer this summer at the outdoor pool!

Registration for our Session 1 daytime classes as well as Sessions 5, 6, & 7 for our evening classes will close June 19 - don't delay as spaces fill up fast. 💦

Dive into all the details including programs available, dates, times, pool guidelines and more at https://ywcaste.ca/aquatics/

05/21/2026

Thank you to all our guests for making our very first Spring into Laughter comedy night starring Girls Nite Out such an incredible success! ✨

With more than 240 attendees, Thursday was an incredible evening highlighted by one-liners, improv skits, audience participation and a contagious enthusiasm radiating from the stage by Elvira Kurt, Jennine Profeta, Karen Parker, Diana Frances, and Jordan Armstrong. Much laughter was shared throughout the evening, it was truly a celebration of community and human connection.

Because of the generosity of our community, funds raised will support quality programming and essential services for women, youth, and families across Elgin County.

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, donors, local businesses, and community partners for helping make this amazing night possible.

Punchline Sponsor: Masco Canada

Headline Donors: and

Montage Sponsors: Cole-Munro Foods Group, Devonshire Consulting, .thomas and Hustle & Heart 94.1 myFM

Callback Sponsors: , , Elgin Contracting and Restoration Limited, Giant Tiger St.Thomas, , , Ainslee Tracey - Real Estate Broker of Royal LePage Triland Realty, St. Thomas and Scotia Wealth Management

We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us — and we can’t wait to see you again next year! Stay tuned in the coming days for more Spring into Laughter snapshots 📸

05/20/2026

WE'RE HIRING! NEW POSITION!

Now is your opportunity to join our growing management team as Manager of Aquatics. This role is accountable for program quality, safety and regulatory compliance, staffing, and community partnerships while advancing continuous improvement in alignment with YWCA values, legislation including Ontario Pools Regulation 565, Lifesaving Society standards, funding frameworks and partnership agreements. The Manager of Aquatics manages aquatic program operations including program coordination, delivery and evaluation, staff recruitment, supervision, scheduling and training, risk management, customer service, facility and community partnerships.

Are you a collaborative leader with strong organizational and communication skills, a passion for aquatics, and experience managing teams and program operations in a fast paced recreational environment? This may be the job for you!

Learn more & apply by Monday, June 8 via application form found at https://ywcaste.ca/2026/05/20/manager-of-aquatics/