About Us

Empowering Immigrant Women Since 1974

About Us

At the Working Women Community Centre, we are proud to be the largest women-focused settlement agency in Toronto, dedicated to supporting newcomers and their families. Since our inception in 1974, we have positively impacted the lives of over 26,000 clients annually across four locations in the Greater Toronto Area. Our comprehensive range of services includes settlement counseling, economic development, English language instruction, and educational support, all delivered by our caring and knowledgeable staff. We strive to create a welcoming environment where immigrant women can find the resources they need to thrive, making us a trusted friend and, in many cases, a vital lifeline.

Our Impact

Without help, many newcomers struggle with poverty and unemployment. When newcomers get the right support and have access to the right opportunities, they thrive in their communities.

26K

People Assisted



A group of people standing next to each other in different colors

18K

Women Supported


Two women are posing for a picture in front of a cherry blossom tree.

8K

Individuals Helped in 3 Ambassador Programs

A woman and child are sitting at a table holding paper hearts

4.4K

Restart their new lives in Canada as refugees



A man and a woman are standing next to each other holding books

550+

Children increased their skills through HIPPY & OYM Tutoring

A woman and two children are standing next to each other

6.2K

People accessing food & nutrional education events

Food at Working Women Community Centre

880+

Grew their own food through our community garden



A man and a woman are standing next to each other holding books

680+

Women helped through specialized services including domestic violence prevention

A woman and two children are standing next to each other

800

Improvded their English through our LINC Classes



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Our Mission

& Vision

To provide women with opportunities to improve their quality of life through self-development and community action.

As a leader among Toronto’s settlement agencies, our strong sense of values guide the important work we do every day.

Our Core Values

Diversity

We are as diverse as the newcomer community we serve, offering services in over 25 languages.

Self-Development

We encourage our clients to achieve economic well-being through access to our skills-training, leadership development and education programs.

Inclusion

We advocate for our clients’ rights to economic, social, cultural and political inclusion, promoting full and equal participation in their communities and Canadian life.

Compassion & Respect

We deliver our programs and services without judgment, based on a dignity model that demonstrates compassion and respect for all clients.


Community

We believe that the opportunity for newcomers to participate in their own communities leads to a deeper sense of belonging and easier adjustment to Canadian life.

Our Board

The members of our board of directors are thought leaders who have made a significant contribution to our society. Each and every one of them brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization.

Directors are elected annually, and oversee the financial health and strategic direction of the agency. Meetings take place on a monthly basis.

List of Services

WORKING WOMEN COMMUNITY CENTRE

Annual Reports

My first year as Executive Director has been a remarkable journey of growth and transformation. We've made significant strides in improving accessibility for our community by investing in our digital infrastructure. Our new website and client portal are nearing completion, paving the way for enhanced engagement and service delivery.


As we prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary next year, we're planning a

commemorative event to honor our organization's rich history and contributions to the community. We're also deeply committed to fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for our staff and clients. Our ongoing efforts to promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are supported by a Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) grant, which will enable us to expand our gender-based analysis and programming until 2026.

READ THE REPORT

26,000+ Total Individuals assisted

2023 continues to open opportunities for WWCC’s growth and that is especially evident in the areas  of innovation and partnership.

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15,000+ newcomer women and their families assisted

This year it feels especially good to reflect on our accomplishments because the end feels 

very near for the pandemic. Connecting with families in person is still our priority, but we 

know that providing some services virtually is an important accommodation for families 

that have challenges coming into our offices, so we are exploring new “hybrid” models that 

offer the best of both worlds

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Over 8,300+ newcomer women and their families assisted

With hopefully most of the pandemic behind us, we are 

now focusing on returning to in-person services at all four 

of our locations in 2022. Although many businesses are 

now back with easing capacity limits, we have been 

conservative in our approach to ensure that our clients, 

staff, and volunteers remain safe.

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Over 10,000 newcomer women and their families assisted

While everyone has been affected by the pandemic, we know that some families are being hit harder.  A November report from Toronto Public Health documents 79% of people diagnosed with Covid-19 in the city identified with a racialized group and that 24% of cases are among Black people who continue to be over-represented among COVID-19 cases.  

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A milestone year for Working Women Community Centre.

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