{"id":83169,"date":"2024-06-25T09:40:28","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T13:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/?p=83169"},"modified":"2026-04-20T21:50:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T21:50:49","slug":"growing-together-creating-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/growing-together-creating-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"BGC Clubs need to grow to create opportunities for Canadian kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Owen Charters<\/a>, President & CEO, BGC Canada<\/p>\n

June 25, 2024<\/p>\n

We face a future where BGC\u2019s work is needed more than ever. We have spent the last six years building resiliency and strength\u2014now we must put that strength to work.<\/em><\/h4>\n
We owe it to the children and youth of Canada to do better<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Youth are not doing well.<\/a>\u202fThe impact of social media and messaging apps has given rise to anxiety, depression, and suicide at alarming rates.\u202fThe opioid epidemic continues to impact youth, with more deaths each year.\u202fFood insecurity is rising,<\/a> as is homelessness.\u202fEvery BGC Club I speak to has voiced concerns that learning loss continues to be a major issue, and they have never seen so many children and youth who are behind their grade levels in academic performance.<\/p>\n

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BGC Clubs are the answer to many of these problems. We have been the solution for 125 years, and we will be for many more.\u202fAs a collective, we are committed to advocating a broad agenda for children and youth in this country, building on\u202fcalls for a national child and youth strategy<\/a>\u202f(championed by Senator Moodie).<\/p>\n

Last month, we hosted our biannual National Conference: Making Waves. These conferences are a chance for senior leaders and staff at BGC Clubs to come together to learn and network with others from across the country. It\u2019s also a chance for everyone to be reminded of the greater impact of the BGC movement and discuss how we can further improve.<\/p>\n

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A new chapter for BGC Clubs<\/strong><\/h5>\n

This conference year was big\u2014it was the kick-off to a new chapter for BGC Clubs. We closed the books on the strategic plan that has guided us so well, including through a pandemic, saying farewell to\u202fStronger Together and launching our national strategic plan: Growing Together, Creating Opportunities.<\/em><\/p>\n

We face a future where what we do is needed more than ever. We have spent the last six years building resiliency and strength \u2013 even testing our capacity during a pandemic.\u202fNow we must put that strength to work, delivering for more kids and families across Canada.<\/p>\n

As of April\u2014less than a year after reaching the 40 million milestone\u2014Canada\u2019s population surpassed 41 million. Last year, we served more than 150,000 young people\u2014but Clubs can\u2019t keep up with the growth in needs. Canada\u2019s population is growing. It is time to be ambitious and to grow.<\/p>\n

Children and youth are moving \u2013 from large urban areas to smaller cities and towns, and Clubs must be ready to accommodate the influx. We need to be in communities we’re not already serving. But even within our existing communities, we must have ambitions to grow.<\/p>\n

We are lobbying governments for funds that can support growth, like the $100 million sport and recreation capital fund in Ontario. Or the federal program for daycare expansion.<\/p>\n

We are looking at programs that will helps us innovate and create new ways to build capital, like accessing the $900 million social finance fund.<\/p>\n

We are asking the BGC Canada Foundation to launch an ambitious campaign. We are asking corporate partners to help us grow.<\/p>\n

BGC Clubs matter to kids. They change the lives of every youth that comes through the door.<\/p>\n

Interested in supporting BGC Canada?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Donate today<\/a> or become a BGC partner.<\/a><\/p>\n

Read more:<\/b><\/p>\n