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Women Centered Services

The Centre for Women and Trans People (CWT) is a Waterloo campus student service that builds a community of people and ideas to challenge and examine gender-based inequities. To instigate change, this inclusive space for all people who identify as women offers an extensive collection of academic, community and resources and referral services, and opportunities to engage in awareness campaigns.

Our Programs

The Centre for Women and Trans (CWT) People is integral in delivering broader campus programming such as International Womens' Day Festivities.

Volunteering with the Centre for Women and Trans People (CWT)

Our volunteers are our most valuable resource. We are always looking for new volunteers, no matter what time of year. Interested in volunteering? Contact us at cwt@wlu.ca.

I Got Trained as a Volunteer... Now What?

Once you’ve undergone our training process, there are a few responsibilities that you have as a volunteer.

  • Volunteers are required to hold one office hour a week.
  • During your office hour, you keep the space open, greet visitors, shelve returned books, etc.
  • Volunteers are also required to attend the weekly CWT meeting, held on Sundays at 7 p.m. If you are unable to attend meetings, you are responsible for keeping up-to-date with meeting minutes, collective emails and for voicing your opinions on collective decisions in other ways.

As a new volunteer, this means that when you come to your first meeting, you have a say in what goes on. No matter how long you’ve been with the CWT, your major, academic year, gender identity, or political stance, every person has something unique to bring to the table. 

Get Involved

The Centre for Women and Trans People (CWT) uses a collective structure that values the voices and input of each member of the group. This model establishes a non-hierarchical relationship amongst its members by providing each individual with equal amounts of decision-making power. Everyone has equal value and equal authority so no one person or group of people is privileged. Because women’s voices have historically been marginalized, our use of a consensus-building decision-making process aspires to bring a variety of voices out of the margins.

Coordinators within the collective structure of the CWT possess no more authority or decision-making power than any other collective member. For each coordinator position, the collective elects a member to oversee specific facets of the centre’s operations. All coordinators can be reached at cwt@wlu.ca.

The Laurier Brantford Women’s Centre (LBWC) is a designated, safe(r) space for self-identified women on the Brantford campus. The LBWC aims to raise awareness of gender-related issues on campus, engage in intersectional feminist advocacy and foster growth and solidarity among self-identified women. We do this by providing space, hosting events and running awareness campaigns throughout the year. Our activities can include guest speakers, workshops, discussion groups, peer support groups, film series, and book clubs.

In the spirit of constant growth and development, we recognize that historically feminism has primarily served the needs of white, heterosexual, cisgender, non-intersex, able-bodied women. We hereby commit to broadening our perspective through anti-oppressive training, allyship, actively seeking out marginalized perspectives, and creating space for disenfranchised voices to be heard. We are committed to encouraging change through action, critical discourse, and providing a trans-inclusive, survivor-centred, choice-affirmative, woman-positive space and connections to community resources.

Our Programs 

The Laurier Brantford Women's Centre is integral in delivering broader Laurier Brantford campus programming and provides opportunities such as International Women's Day Festivities and The 'How I Dress is Not Yes' Consent Campaign.

Ways to Get Involved

If you identify with our service, you should become a member. To become a member of the Laurier Brantford Women’s Centre, you must commit to attending a predetermined number of events and/or meetings throughout the year. Membership in the Women’s Centre allows you to get involved in leadership roles and you will be eligible to list Women’s Centre involvement on your Experience Record. Get involved by attending one of our meetings or email thewomenscentre@wlu.ca for more information.