Accession GA75 - Young Women's Christian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo fonds.

The Young Women's Christian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo (YW Kitchener-Waterloo), was founded in 1905 as the "Berlin YWCA" and operated out of rented premises on Queen St. South in Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario. Mary Ratz Kaufman served as the organization's first President. At the time of it's founding the YW's purpose was to provide for both the spiritual and physical welfare of the increasing number of young women who were coming to urban and industrialized areas seeking employment and education. The local YW offered both a residence and a programme of helpful classes in embroidery, cooking, and "physical culture". In 1911 fundraising began for the purchase of land at 84 Frederick St., Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario on which a new building opened on May 15, 1915. Although the motion was made in 1917 to change the name of the YWCA from Berlin to Kitchener, to reflect the name change of the city, the name was not officially changed until 1960.

In 1937 a new wing donated by Mary Ratz Kaufman, containing a gymnasium, was opened. A branch of the YW Kitchener-Waterloo was desired for Waterloo and in 1960 a property in the city was purchased at 186 King. St. S. It was later sold to the Red Cross in 1972. The building at 84 Frederick St. is now an emergency shelter called Mary's Place, named after Mary Ratz Kaufman and operated by the YWCA.

Over the years the YW Kitchener-Waterloo offered many programs for children and adults alike: camping started 1926 at Camp Tinawatawa, clubs flourished, physical, health and craft classes were offered and programs were devised for newcomers to the country and area. Rebranded in 2017 to YW Kitchener-Waterloo, the organization provides programming to meet the needs of women and advocates for "system level changes while working to provide shelter, supportive and affordable housing, improved education and training, and better childcare services."