Aline Nizigama
CEO of YWCA Canada
Aline Nizigama is CEO of YWCA Canada since March 20, 2023. Aline is a dynamic, multilingual leader with extensive professional experience working with equity-deserving groups. Her career has instilled in her an in–depth understanding of issues affecting diverse and continuingly marginalized communities; how these complex issues intersect to produce varying degrees of inequities in the Canadian and global contexts; and how to address such challenges.
Aline joined YWCA Canada from Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto, the largest francophone multiservice charitable agency in the Greater Toronto Area, where she served as Director of Strategic Projects, Communications and Partnerships. In this role, she led the development and implementation of key initiatives, including the establishment of a new affordable housing department, strategy, and associated services. She has extensive experience in providing services for women, delivering affordable and supportive housing for women, grassroots organizing for feminist solidarity, and intersectionality.
As a leader deeply rooted in her community, Aline chaired the Board of Directors of Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services for over 8 years, where she actively supported the Executive Director and the rest of the Board in championing the redevelopment of 2 heritage properties into 35 new apartments for women with mental health challenges, new housing acquisitions and a merger with a small feminist housing charity. Aline was inducted to the 2016 Wall of Role Models as part of the annual Black Canadian Awards by the Diversity Advancement Network, a celebration of success and inspirational stories of Black Canadian community builders and outstanding achievers.