Our Story

Times Change is a non-profit community agency that has inspired, supported and empowered women toward their career goals since 1974. Here is Our Story through some of the many milestones we have celebrated over the years.

1974
Times Change Women's Employment Service opens with funding from Canada Employment and Immigration, Outreach Program.
 
1975
Times Change incorporates as a non-profit charitable organization.

1983
The Times Change Access Centre officially opens, funded initially through a grant from the Atkinson Foundation and support from Great Northern Apparel Inc., The Bronfman Foundation, The F.W. Morrow Foundation, and corporate donations.

1987
Times Change becomes a member of United Way of Greater Toronto, receiving funding to operate and staff the Access Centre and provide Educational Counselling.

1994
Core funding from the Ontario Women's Directorate is established and the Career Planning Workbook for Women and Leader's Guide are officially launched at the National Consultation on Career Counselling in Ottawa.

1995
With additional funding from United Way, Times Change hires a staff person to assist clients with updating their computer skills.

2000
A part-time position for an Intake/Outreach Coordinator is created with funding from HRDC and the Ontario Women's Directorate.

2002
A part-time position for a Computer Support Technician is created with funding from United Way.

2003
Funding from the Trillium Foundation helps Times Change to renovate and grow, adding a new group workshop room and additional office space.

2005
Times Change successfully raises $31,000 from the Ontario Trillium, F.W. Morrow and Bickell Foundations. With these funds, Times Change upgrades client computers, updates the business software and tutorials, adds accounting tutorials, and introduces a Macintosh computer with design software.

2006
Times Change receives an extended contract from Service Canada/Employment Ontario from 2006 to 2009 to ensure continuity of the service.

The first year funding is received from Industry Canada's Community Access Program and the Youth Initiative Program to hire a student to work in the client computer lab at Times Change.

2007
Times Change successfully negotiates a three-year contract with United Way Toronto.

2009
Employment Ontario contract is extended to March 2010 including a new full-time position for an Employment Counsellor to process Second Career and Ontario Skills Development funding applications.

2010
Under the new Employment Service Delivery Model of Employment Ontario, Times Change starts the process of implementing new programs and improvements to provide clients with more assistance for their employment needs.

2014
Times Change celebrated "40 Years of Inspiring Women" in partnership with the SHAMBA Foundation.
Photos from top: 1970 International Women's Day March, 1970 (banner); Chris Lawrence, Founding Collective Member,  International Women’s Day March, 1978; Staff on the steps of the Davisville Office, Times Change Storefront Office Bathurst Street, 1986; Networking Event for clients at Enoch Turner School House, early 1980's; Staff at United Way Walkathon, 2006; International Women's Day event, 2008; Julie Warrington, Keynote Speaker Shannon Lee Simmons and Iona Frost celebrating Times Change's 40th Anniversary, 2014.