National awareness initiative celebrates life-changing impact of BGC Clubs and shines a light on growing youth mental health crisis in Canada
TORONTO, ON, May 30, 2022 – On Friday, June 3, BGC Clubs (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs) will come together for an inaugural national awareness initiative, BGC Club Day, that will celebrate the positive impact of Clubs in communities across Canada and the important work we do to promote mental wellness for young people. Watch our BGC Club Day video and visit bgcclubday.com to learn more.
As Canada’s largest child and youth serving organization, BGC Clubs offer essential programs and services for over 200,000 young people at 700+ locations across Canada. We create opportunities that help kids and teens overcome the barriers that stand in their way. And right now, they need our help more than ever.
In a recent survey, 100 per cent of BGC Club staff surveyed believe Canada is experiencing a youth mental health crisis, with 76 per cent seeing double the number of youth experiencing mental health issues over the last two years. BGC Clubs are on the front lines of intervention and prevention, from regular mental health check-ins to peer support groups to national programs like Flex Your Head, which provides a safe space for youth ages 13+ to talk about their mental health and ways of coping with stress. We put youth wellness first and foremost—and we always have.
On BGC Club Day, we will celebrate the opportunities BGC Clubs create for young people that boost their mental wellness and set them on a path for success.
We’ll be joined by Canadian icons and local celebrities, BGC Clubs will host events in communities nationwide, landmarks will be lit up in BGC green, and we’ll be posting on social media all day to spread the word.
- Viral video sensations and Juno Award winners Walk off the Earth will air a special concert for BGC Club Day on Friday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. ET on BGC Canada’s Facebook Live @BGCCAN.
- Jully Black, Canada’s Walk of Fame inductee, SheEO, Queen of R&B/Soul, international recording artist, multi-Juno Award winner, stage & television actress, author, and speaker, will be our official BGC Ambassador. Jully is available for media interviews at the local Toronto Club she will be visiting on Friday morning, and she will be promoting BGC Club Day on social media.
- And watch out for local landmarks lit up in green, including the CN Tower and Toronto sign, Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, Sarnia and Red Deer’s city halls, and Niagara Falls.
Here’s how you can get involved on Friday, June 3:
- Follow @BGCCAN and #BGCClubDay to see stories and activations across all our social media channels
- Share your stories—whether you’re a former or current Club member, a BGC supporter, have kids who go to a Club, or just want to support youth mental wellness, let us know on social media with hashtag #BGCClubDay
- Donate to BGC Canada to support children and youth across the country
About BGC Canada
For 120+ years, BGC Canada has been creating opportunities for millions of Canadian kids and teens. As Canada’s largest child and youth serving charitable and community services organization, our Clubs open their doors to young people of all ages and their families at 736 locations nationwide. During out-of-school hours in small and large cities, and rural and Indigenous communities, our trained staff and volunteers provide programs and services that help young people realize positive outcomes in self-expression, academics, healthy living, physical activity, job readiness, mental wellness, social development, leadership, and more. Opportunity changes everything.
Media contact:
Mary O’Connell
Director, Marketing & Communications, BGC Canada
moconnell@bgccan.com
905-477-7272 x2223
