YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin

Our FREE English Conversation Circles kicked off at the St. Thomas Public Library this month and we'd love to see you there! Hosted by our volunteer Cathy and Settlement Worker Mansi. Open to Newcomers who wish to practice their English language skills.

Every Monday 10am - 12pm and Thursdays 5pm - 7pm until July 9.

Register today! https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=4CWJTOgrh0-zWpYpfBsS_gaq3OtkcdJHlcGXERjjx91UQlMyVzg0STBaNjRCSzJKUEhaNFJJNDkyTi4u&route=shorturl&fbclid=IwY2xjawST3VdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE2ejBsTWNVNkJYZFVHUmJMc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHiUyT8EX_dBEoui5eWWXfdiyKx-h-V5Yscr39lqNOFN7RSnTjJ-6YGm-Sjep_aem_YWdncwD2-NUC5IWkhGEWHlIfqblH&brid=YWdncwEchFbp-9WTjb8XdshjFQ2k

Make a BIG SPLASH at the Aylmer Outdoor Pool this summer! From Swim for Life Lifesaving Society Lessons to Aquatic Leadership Programs and Public Swim - we've got it all! Registration for our Session 1 Lessons and Session 5, 6, & 7 Evening Lessons will close on June 19 - register today! Don't miss out!

Looking for some fun in the sun this weekend? Join us for a swim on Sunday, June 14 from 1:30pm - 4pm as we open for Public Swim. View our online Program Guide for fees and admission standard details > https://ywcaste.ca/aquatics/

Town of Aylmer

Are you new to Canada? Are you interested in improving your English language skills?

We invite you to join our English Conversation Circle in partnership with the , where you can practice your listening and speaking skills in a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment.

Every Monday 10am - 12pm and Every Thursday 5pm - 7pm from June 1 to July 9 at St.Thomas Public Library on Curtis Street.

Our sessions cover a wide range of everyday topics, including food and nutrition, health, transportation, housing, family, banking, employment, education, and Canadian citizenship.

In this program, you will:
> Participate in small group discussions on a variety of topics
> Expand your vocabulary and improve your pronunciation
> Build confidence in speaking English
> Learn about Canadian culture
> Connect with people from diverse backgrounds
> Practice through informal language learning

This is a free program for newcomers. All levels welcome (Beginner – Advanced)

If you are interested in joining, register here https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=4CWJTOgrh0-zWpYpfBsS_gaq3OtkcdJHlcGXERjjx91UQlMyVzg0STBaNjRCSzJKUEhaNFJJNDkyTi4u&route=shorturl

For any questions, please contact Mansi Joshi at 226-688-7644 or email at [email protected].

Thank you so much to Kara and her co-workers at STEGH for thinking of our residents 💙

Our Settlement Services, YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin recently spent a rewarding volunteer day at , where teens came together to support food security efforts in our community.

What made the day especially meaningful was the incredible diversity in the room. Youth connected across languages including Korean, Punjabi, Italian, Spanish, Daree, French, Russian, Arabic, Farsi, Portuguese, and English. Through volunteering side by side, they shared conversations about their cultures, music, films, and life experiences.

Participants represented backgrounds from Afghanistan/Indonesia, Mexico, Jordan, South Korea, Italy/India, and Russia—showing how community service can bring people together across cultures and languages.

A huge thank you to all the youth volunteers and to Harvest Hands Canada for creating a welcoming space to learn, connect, and give back.

As our English Language Program year comes to a close, our LINC Instructors and Settlement Workers came together for a collaborative learning session to reflect on the past year. Together, they celebrated successes, discussed challenges, shared best practices in program delivery, and explored opportunities to support the continued growth and success of our newcomer learners.

Thank you to our dedicated team for their commitment to creating welcoming, supportive, and empowering learning experiences for newcomers in our community.

Settlement Services, YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin

(left to right: Ayman Sholkani, Avril Saunders, Kellie Coelho, Sylvia Van Hemert, Janette Wall, Nirali Naik, Rachel Weltz and Mansi Joshi)

We're excited to share the proposed slate of candidates for YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin's Board of Directors for the 2026/27 term! This diverse group of community leaders brings expertise in law, finance, human resources, social services, business, governance, and community engagement, all united by a commitment to empowering women, youth, and families across our region.

We are grateful to both our returning directors (Helen Button, Natalie Huston, Surbhi Chaturvedi, Rachel Honsinger, Mackenzie Jackson, Tori Taylor, Aurora Alcocer, Melinda Bole, and Sarah Pimlatt) and new nominees who have stepped forward to help guide the future of our organization. New nominees, Denise Philpott, Jade Antone, and Arshia will be presented for approval by the membership at our Annual General Meeting on June 18.

Learn more about the proposed slate: https://ywcaste.ca/2026/06/04/proposed-slate-of-board-of-directors-2026-2027/

WE'RE HIRING!

YWCA is currently seeking School Age Childcare Manager who plays a critical leadership role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, inclusive, and compliant licensed school age childcare programs across St. Thomas-Elgin. This position oversees program operations, staffing, licensing compliance, quality assurance, and family and community partnerships, while supporting safe, responsive, and engaging environments for children and families.

Applications accepted until June 21. Learn more about this unique role, qualification requirements and how you could contribute to the growth and development of childcare in Elgin County.

Visit for more details >>> https://ywcaste.ca/2026/06/02/school-age-childcare-manager/