YWCA Saskatoon — Local services in Saskatoon

I attended the Women's Trade Journey program and dropped out after a month. The program has an amazing instructor Albert, but financially I feel like the program doesn't care about single living people. They don't give enough money for a liveable wage and the school is full time. They only give more money out to people with kids. The first two weeks was things I've already learned in high school and I felt that was a waste of my time. ie)Basic math, how to make a resume/portfolio, ect. But I guess that's what you expect from a program designed for people that didn't graduate high school. Some things that we were watching I felt like was a waste of time and just not productive at all. After a couple more weeks into the program I finally got hands on experience building log sheds. Group work is hard when no one is following instructions and measurements can be inaccurate and wrong. I feel like this program is way too lax as people come and go as they please and there's no punishment for it at all. It's very distracting and I feel like it's disrespectful to the instructor. I appreciate the idea of appealing to women in the trade industry because the lack of gender. The government is pretty desperate to add people into the trade work force as literally anyone can get accepted into the program including immigrants with "passable" English skills. The interview set ups start about 35 people in a board room and 3 people including myself showed up... A great thing about this program is that everything is free, your tools, PPE, ect. Even get a free 6 month pass in the gym. The gym instructors are amazing by the way very accommodating and just fun to be around. I'd recommend this program to anyone that wants to try something new but expect to pick up a part time job if you're single, or if this is something you really want to try. They teach Carpentry, Electrician, and Pluming. Your job placements will be within the last two weeks of your course. Hope this review helped anyone wanting to...

I stayed here for a few days at the women's shelter. I felt okay at first. Dealing with my mental illness, I felt like the staff were not trained well in that area. I left my place for domestic violence, mental illness, and addiction. Their page specifically says they help with this. I felt like I was pressured in to ask these questions I was not able to answer right away. I made the choice to leave due to my severe anxiety and over thinking that I was not welcomed there. I feel as if the YWCA women's shelter has failed me.

Update: Staff should be well more trained, esp with Indigenous people. YWCA does not need the 16Million donation to expand it, if their staff are not fully trained!! If I die from my mental illness, I will blame these people for failing me, as I was doing good at first being there; and me and my kids were happy. Now I am back to where I don't want to be. This will be shared, including the names...

Mr. Murray Gross's understanding of the employment landscape and his ability to tailor advice to my specific needs were incredibly valuable. From refining my resume to helping me prepare for interviews, his insights made a significant difference in my confidence and approach. What I appreciated most was his empathetic and encouraging demeanor. He took the time to listen to my concerns and aspirations, and his practical suggestions were always rooted in genuine care for my professional growth. I now feel better equipped to navigate the job market and present my skills effectively to potential employers. I am sincerely grateful for his dedication and expertise, which have been pivotal in this process. A big thank you...