{"id":64,"date":"2025-04-21T19:30:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T19:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/?page_id=64"},"modified":"2026-03-16T21:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T21:39:54","slug":"our-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/about\/our-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Our History"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_section el_class=&#8221;ptop-10 pbottom-10&#8243;][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;bottom-to-top&#8221;][vc_column offset=&#8221;vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8&#8243; el_class=&#8221;center&#8221;]<div class='content-block section-content wpb_text_column wpb_content_element align-center   txt-navy margin-0 fw-bold fs-28 lh-140 ls_minus_28' ><div class='wpb_wrapper'><h2>BGC Canada has <mark class=\"text-green\">shaped generations of young people<\/mark> through after-school programs, community services, and opportunities for more than 125 years.<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><div class='content-block section-content wpb_text_column wpb_content_element align-center   txt-dark-grey  font_weight_default fs-18 lh-160 ' ><div class='wpb_wrapper'><p>In small and large cities, and rural and Indigenous communities, BGC Clubs continue to help young people overcome barriers, form positive relationships, and mature into responsible, caring adults.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>[vc_btn title=&#8221;Donate now&#8221; style=&#8221;solid&#8221; color=&#8221;donate_btn&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fbgcdonors.donorsupport.co%2Fpage%2FFUNBFVAKRMA%3Fform%3Ddonatenow|title:Donate%20now|target:_blank&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_section full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content&#8221; el_id=&#8221;history-timeline&#8221;][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1762473430841{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}&#8221;]<div class='content-block section-content wpb_text_column wpb_content_element align-left     font_weight_default   ' style=\"margin-bottom: 0px !important;\"><div class='wpb_wrapper'><div class=\"timeline-events\"><nav id=\"timeline_nav\" aria-label=\"Timeline navigation\"><a href=\"#event_1\" class=\"nav_item\">1900<\/a><a href=\"#event_2\" class=\"nav_item\">1929<\/a><a href=\"#event_3\" class=\"nav_item\">1947<\/a><a href=\"#event_4\" class=\"nav_item\">1974<\/a><a href=\"#event_5\" class=\"nav_item\">2021<\/a><a href=\"#event_6\" class=\"nav_item\">2025<\/a><\/nav><div class=\"t-events\" data-bs-spy=\"scroll\" data-bs-target=\"#timeline_nav\" data-bs-offset=\"0\" tabindex=\"0\"><div id=\"event_1\" class=\"t-event bg_pastel-blue-1\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"t-event_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/boys_club_board_game_1900_saint_john.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content_wrapper\"><h2 class=\"t-event_heading\">1900<\/h2><div class=\"t-event_subheading\"><p>A safe place to play<\/p><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content\"><p>In Saint John, New Brunswick, a group of concerned local citizens set up a <em>\u201cpublic playground movement\u201d<\/em> to provide a safe place for children to play, in particular boys from disadvantaged circumstances who had no place to go after school. Originally established as the <em>\u201cEvery Day Club,\u201d<\/em> it was later named The East End Boys Club of Saint John, the first Boys Club in Canada.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"event_2\" class=\"t-event bg_pastel-blue-1\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"t-event_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bgc-canada-logo-history-v3-scaled.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content_wrapper\"><h2 class=\"t-event_heading\">1929<\/h2><div class=\"t-event_subheading\"><p>Officially established<\/p><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content\"><p>In 1929, the Boys\u2019 Club Federation of Canada was officially established by Vernon McAdam, the first National Executive Director.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"event_3\" class=\"t-event bg_pastel-green\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"t-event_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/history-1947.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content_wrapper\"><h2 class=\"t-event_heading\">1947<\/h2><div class=\"t-event_subheading\"><p>A national nonprofit<\/p><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content\"><p>In 1947, the organization was renamed Boys\u2019 Clubs of Canada. A year later, it was recognized by the Canadian government as a national nonprofit.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"event_4\" class=\"t-event bg_pastel-green\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"t-event_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/history-1974.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content_wrapper\"><h2 class=\"t-event_heading\">1974<\/h2><div class=\"t-event_subheading\"><p>Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada<\/p><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content\"><p>In 1974, the organization changed its name to \u201cBoys and Girls Clubs of Canada\u201d to reflect the growing number of young girls participating in Club programs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"event_5\" class=\"t-event bg_pastel-teal\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"t-event_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/history-2021.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content_wrapper\"><h2 class=\"t-event_heading\">2021<\/h2><div class=\"t-event_subheading\"><p>Meet BGC<\/p><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content\"><p>In March 2021, Boys of Girls Clubs of Canada became BGC Canada. Clubs across the country open their doors to all kids and teens, and our name should reflect that. The brand refresh embraces that we serve young people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities. Removing gender from our name modernizes the BGC brand and echoes the inclusive practices we\u2019re known for without straying too far from our history and national brand awareness.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"t-event_modal\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"vc_general vc_btn3 vc_btn3-color-green_btn vc_btn3-style-solid\" data-bs-toggle=\"modal\" data-bs-target=\"#t-event-modal_5\">Watch Video<\/button><div id=\"t-event-modal_5\" class=\"modal timeline-modal fade\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-labelledby=\"Meet BGC - Celebrating 125 Years of BGC Club Impact\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div class=\"modal-dialog modal-dialog-centered\"><div class=\"modal-content\"><div class=\"modal-header\"><h3 class=\"modal-title\">Meet BGC - Celebrating 125 Years of BGC Club Impact<\/h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"close\" data-bs-dismiss=\"modal\" aria-label=\"Close\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-xmark-large\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/button><\/div><div class=\"modal-body\"><div class=\"video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"vimeo-player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/531310088?h=f4b6fde673\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"modal-footer\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-secondary\" data-bs-dismiss=\"modal\">Close<\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"event_6\" class=\"t-event bg_pastel-teal\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"t-event_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BGC-Gallery.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content_wrapper\"><h2 class=\"t-event_heading\">2025<\/h2><div class=\"t-event_subheading\"><p>Celebrating 125 years of impact<\/p><\/div><div class=\"t-event_content\"><p>In 2025, we proudly celebrated the 125th anniversary of BGC Canada\u2019s first Club in Saint John, New Brunswick. This historic milestone marks 125 years of our unwavering commitment to youth development, empowerment, and community support.<\/p>\n<p><strong>We look forward to continuing this legacy of providing opportunities for the youth of today and tomorrow.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_section full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1762792754447{padding-top: 0px !important;background-color: #003B4A !important;}&#8221;][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221;][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1760722765733{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;image-row-size-800&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1762554485595{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Children-learning-together-at-BGC-Club.jpg?id=3041) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; el_class=&#8221;bottom-up-100&#8243;][vc_column css_animation=&#8221;slideInUp&#8221;][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;custom-block-white&#8221;][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;center&#8221; offset=&#8221;vc_col-lg-offset-2 vc_col-lg-8 vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1767814199615{padding-top: 45px !important;padding-right: 45px !important;padding-bottom: 45px !important;padding-left: 45px !important;background-color: #FFFFFF !important;border-radius: 20px !important;}&#8221;]<div class='innermost-section-heading eyebrow align-center  pbottom-4'><p>Partner with us<\/p><\/div><div class='content-block section-content wpb_text_column wpb_content_element align-center   txt-navy  font_weight_default fs-38 lh-140 ls_minus_38' ><div class='wpb_wrapper'><h2>Our work is not done<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><div class='content-block section-content wpb_text_column wpb_content_element align-center   txt-navy  font_weight_default fs-18 lh-160 ' ><div class='wpb_wrapper'><p>The need for vital educational, recreational, and skills development programs and services at BGC Clubs is still great. Together, let\u2019s continue to provide opportunities for young people.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>[vc_btn title=&#8221;Become a partner&#8221; style=&#8221;solid&#8221; color=&#8221;green_btn&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221; link=&#8221;url:%2Fpartner-with-us%2F|title:Become%20a%20partner&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_section el_class=&#8221;ptop-10 pbottom-10&#8243;][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;bottom-to-top&#8221;][vc_column offset=&#8221;vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8&#8243; el_class=&#8221;center&#8221;][vc_btn title=&#8221;Donate now&#8221; style=&#8221;solid&#8221; color=&#8221;donate_btn&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fbgcdonors.donorsupport.co%2Fpage%2FFUNBFVAKRMA%3Fform%3Ddonatenow|title:Donate%20now|target:_blank&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_section full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content&#8221; el_id=&#8221;history-timeline&#8221;][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1762473430841{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_section full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1762792754447{padding-top: 0px !important;background-color: #003B4A !important;}&#8221;][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221;][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1760722765733{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;image-row-size-800&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1762554485595{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Children-learning-together-at-BGC-Club.jpg?id=3041) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; el_class=&#8221;bottom-up-100&#8243;][vc_column css_animation=&#8221;slideInUp&#8221;][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;custom-block-white&#8221;][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;center&#8221; offset=&#8221;vc_col-lg-offset-2 vc_col-lg-8 vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8&#8243; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":62,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/page-general.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-64","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}