80 Years of Belonging!

Hi there! Recently, I was asked this question: In one word, can you describe what Boys and Girls Clubs does? My answer: belonging. Why? Well, our belief that every kid is amazing plays out every single day at BGC. And “every single day” goes waaaayyyy back to 1936… which is A LOT of days! At…

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Happiness is: 1,000+ volunteers

Hi All, Here at BGC, volunteerism is thriving. From ages 12 to 92, alone and in groups, volunteers of all ages make up the more than 1,000 people that choose to spend their discretionary time volunteering to help our amazing kids. We are celebrating them this week especially, because without their support, we’d be reaching…

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Curiousity kills… Kindness cures…

Hi All, A week after our 9th Pink Shirt Day campaign, I’m happy to reflect back on both this year, and how far we’ve come. In media interviews and on street corners on the morning of Pink Shirt Day, I found myself answering these curious questions: Do you really think this campaign is making a…

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Welcome to Canada, and Boys and Girls Clubs

A few short years ago, a group of 300 Karen refugees from Burma settled in a housing complex across the street from our Langley Club, arriving with little more than the clothes on their backs. 80 kids flooded into our already bustling Club, first simply discovering a safe place to play. They, along with their…

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Pink Shirt Day!

At BGC, we recognize that bullying, regardless of whether it’s physical, verbal, written, or online, has long-term negative impacts for everyone involved – the targets of bullying, the witnesses, and the bullies themselves. We also know that there are constructive ways for kids to develop skills to prevent bullying and to thrive, and that by…

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Saved by (the) Bell

This week, as you may have seen, Bell’s Let’s Talk event celebrates its seventh year. Here at Boys and Girls Clubs, we support Bell Let’s Talk – here’s why. On October 2, 2015, Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC were honoured to celebrate another Bell partnership – with us and NBA Canada –…

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This Holiday Season, Give Dignity and Belonging

Finding a way to respectfully support our families who, despite their best efforts, were having an especially hard time at Christmas was at the top of the agenda when I joined Boys and Girls Clubs way back in December 2005. The debate swirled, both internally and with our donors… “Do families really need this kind…

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Over 50 Years with Sears!

Not long after they began retailing in Canada, Sears decided to support quality, after-school programs delivered by Boys and Girls Clubs across the country. 2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. Over the past five decades, Sears Canada and its employees, customers and suppliers have donated an…

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The A Team

We are thrilled to let you know that here at Boys and Girls Clubs Foundation of South Coast BC, we have recently added seven new members to our Board of Directors. This is BGC’s Posse. Crew. Pack. Family. Light Bringers. Magic Makers. Goal Getters. World Shifters. Passion Seekers. Whatever you want to call them, these are the fearless leaders…

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Where Do You Belong?

I’ve been talking a lot recently about the same thing. Over, and over, and over. Kids need a place to really belong. Am I just paying lip service to Boys and Girls Clubs mission and vision? Is our intentional programming just a clever disguise for what is ultimately just daycare? Let me ask you this:…

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