On a Saturday afternoon in mid-September, the grounds of Mildred Hall School in Yellowknife will fill with the sounds of laughter, music, and the sizzle of a barbecue. The YWCA NWT is throwing a party — a free, family-friendly celebration marking sixty years of service to the Northwest Territories. There will be bouncy castles, face painting, and live performances from three northern musicians: Miranda Currie, Peekaboo Kazoo, and Tanya Snow. But beneath the festive surface lies a story of resilience, evolution, and unwavering commitment to some of the territory's most vulnerable residents.
The YWCA NWT began in 1966, when a local committee was struck to establish a YWCA in the Northwest Territories to serve the growing population of single, working women. Two years later, the doors of a seven-bed residence for women opened in Yellowknife. From that modest start, the organization has grown into the largest non-profit social services organization in Canada's North. Its evolution mirrors the changing needs of northern communities: from housing for women arriving for school or work, to the NWT's first daycare centre in 1972, to an after-school program at Mildred Hall School itself in 1974 — a program that continues today at five schools.
The list of milestones is long and telling. In 1978, the YWCA opened a large residence for women and children in Northern United Place. In 1986, the Alison McAteer House was established as a family violence shelter, named after a former YWCA president and city councillor. The organization has weathered tragedy, too: in 2018, a devastating fire destroyed the Rockhill family transitional housing building, displacing 33 families and severely disrupting operations. Yet the YWCA helped re-house many of them the very same day. In 2023, the new Gotı̨lı Kǫ̀ building opened in downtown Yellowknife, bringing 21 units of housing and all staff under one roof for the first time in years.
The September celebration is the culmination of this anniversary year. It's a chance for the community to come together in a spirit of joy and gratitude. The performers — Miranda Currie, Peekaboo Kazoo, and Tanya Snow — will provide an afternoon of music that celebrates the North's rich cultural tapestry.
But the celebration is also a moment of reflection. The YWCA NWT has not shied away from its own history. In 2024, YWCA Canada issued a formal apology to Indigenous communities for its historical involvement in the operation of residential schools and "Indian hospitals." The NWT branch committed to a reconciliation plan, and in 2024 appointed its first in-house Elder to guide Indigenous programming and implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations. This commitment to listening and evolving is central to the organization's identity.
As the YWCA NWT looks to the next sixty years, its leaders emphasize the importance of adaptation and partnership. "Reaching our 60th anniversary is an extraordinary milestone and a testament to the resilience of our organization and the strength of our communities," said executive director Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay. "We remain committed to building on that legacy through innovation, collaboration, reconciliation, and continued service to communities across the Northwest Territories."
The September 12 celebration is an open invitation to the entire community to share in this milestone. It's a chance to enjoy a free afternoon of fun, but also to recognize the quiet, persistent work that has made the YWCA NWT a cornerstone of northern social services.
For sixty years, the YWCA NWT has been a place of safety, support, and hope. The bouncy castles and face paint on September 12 are just the visible surface of a deeper legacy — one built by generations of staff, volunteers, and community members who believed that every woman, child, and family deserves a chance to thrive. The celebration is a thank-you to the North, and a promise to keep showing up for the next sixty years.