Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second-floor community room at YWCA Toronto’s Bergamot Avenue Apartments buzzed with activity. Women and children engaged in Homework Club, shared meals, attended tenant meetings, listened to guest speakers, contributed to the community garden, and frequently gathered for in-person opportunities to support each other. It was a lively spot for our residents. But everything came to a grinding halt when the pandemic began. With reduced opportunities for community engagement, our residents began reporting higher levels of depression and isolation.

Located in Rexdale, YWCA Toronto Bergamot Apartments is a 68-unit affordable apartment building for single women and women with children. The women of Bergamot are the primary caregivers of their families. Many are also survivors of violence. Taking care of children and assisting them with online classes during the pandemic, dealing with additional household duties, and for some, adjusting to major changes in their employment has presented new and complicated challenges. Children pivoting to virtual learning has not been easy on mothers. The emotional toll on their lives has increased.

At Bergamot, we have responded to these challenges by finding creative ways to deliver programs online to residents while ensuring, as much as possible, the safety and well-being of everyone involved. In partnership with Rexdale Women’s Centre, we have provided online parenting, wellness and self-care workshops. One-on-one counselling sessions continued with the Rexdale Women’s Centre therapist for the mothers that wanted to pursue this valuable opportunity.

We also organized virtual expressive watercolour workshops that brought comfort to our community members. Three sessions were offered for women to explore art in different creative forms. Our participants felt less isolated sharing in an activity with their fellow neighbours and residents at different YWCA housing sites. These programs were extended to transitional clients from the community and residents at our sister building, YWCA Toronto Pape Avenue Apartments.

Thanks to laptop donations from the Canadian Women’s Foundation, we were able to help the women at Bergamot overcome barriers to technology, which supported engagement with virtual platforms and online communities. Our residents deepened their computer skills and felt more comfortable logging on to see their neighbours, including other women and moms they could relate to.

We have also been able to partner with therapist Carole Sandy throughout the pandemic. She will continue to offer wellness and healing workshops this year. A parenting workshop, Nobody’s Perfect, has already begun this year as well and is taught in both Spanish and English.

Technology has allowed us to explore some wonderful opportunities as we navigate the ongoing challenges connected to the pandemic. Our virtual programs provide emotional support, sharing of experiences, and education, allowing our residents to give each other feedback and share tips on ongoing issues, and participate in assigned activities such as journaling and written reflections. The women at Bergamot also mentored one another and became virtual friends. Some were even reunited with other women now living in other YWCA housing sites.

What is clear is that mental health is more vital then ever – the demand for parenting, healing, art, wellness and self-care programs has increased. Virtual programs are a great resource for women experiencing isolation and going through difficult times, and help them build community and resilience during a difficult period.

Despite moving from in-person to virtual supports, we have continued to show up. We have adapted. We remain committed to helping women in their healing journey by creating safe spaces for them to connect, build resilience and draw upon their strengths. Our virtual workshops helped build bridges during a period of isolation, assisting residents to develop healthy coping strategies to reduce stress and loneliness. These opportunities have supported the women at Bergamot to make more informed decisions about their self-care, mental health and well-being. We provide our regular support with permanent residency applications, legal challenges, food and employment issues, and other referrals in a virtual capacity as well.

There is a preference to be together in-person because human connection is key to well-being. But online platforms and technologies have allowed us to maintain connections at Bergamot. The community room has fallen silent – but the community continues to be active. Now, buzzing more frequently online.

Image By August de Richelieu on Pexels