Published June 4, 2021 on Cision

National awareness day focuses on youth mental health and intentional connections

TORONTO, June 4, 2021 – On Friday, June 4, Canada’s Queen of R&B / Soul, international recording artist, multi-Juno award winning, stage and television actress Jully Black will join BGC Clubs across the country to celebrate Unplug to Connect by unplugging from connections that cause stress and plugging into connections that promote wellness.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, young people, families, and Clubs are faced with many challenges. Fatigue around social distancing, isolation, and living in the virtual world for school, work, and to connect with family and friends is taking its toll on our mental health.

For this year’s Unplug to Connect national awareness day, BGC Canada (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada) is celebrating the positive connections that our Clubs continue to create with young people and families in 775 communities nationwide during this trying time.

We are excited to announce that Jully Black will be hosting an #UnplugToConnect Instagram Live session with some of BGC Canada’s Youth of the Year Club members on Friday, June 4 @ 7:00 p.m EDT. Watch on Jully’s Instagram @missjullyblack.

As a BGC alumni and ambassador for our annual Unplug to Connect day, Jully will candidly talk with our youth about mental health, the importance of BGC Clubs in communities, and the power that young people have to shape our future.

“We are thrilled to have Jully Black join us again for Unplug to Connect to showcase some incredible young leaders and the positive impact of our Clubs,” says Owen Charters, President & CEO, BGC Canada. “Although so much of our lives are online right now, we have seen that positive virtual connections, like those between young people and their Club staff, mentors, and peers, can reduce stress and build confidence at a time when we are all struggling with distancing and lockdowns. On June 4, we look forward to showing the strength of those connections.”

On June 4, across our @bgccan social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), BGC Canada will be highlighting Club stories, intentional connections, and how our Clubs directly contribute to positive mental health for young people.

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 775 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 health, social development, leadership, and more. Opportunity changes everything. Learn more at bgccan.com and follow us on social media @BGCCAN.

Media contact:
Jared Morrow, Media Relations Manager
jmorrow@bgccan.com
905-477-7272 x2202

Published May 26, 2021 on Cision

New charitable program will connect 320 stores and Club locations in large and small communities from coast to coast

MISSISSAUGA, ON (May 18, 2021) – M&M Food Market and BGC Canada (formerly Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada) have formed a national charitable partnership to help address the most pressing issues affecting children and families across the country. The partnership comes at a time when countless Canadians have been impacted by COVID-19 and need support more than ever. The organizations will work together on community engagement programs that will connect families with local Clubs, enabling them to access the support and services essential to relieving some of the pressures exacerbated by the pandemic.

Under the terms of the partnership, M&M Food Market and BGC Canada will oversee a series of consumer-facing events and fundraising activities. The two groups will participate in marketing and communications efforts and special joint initiatives that encourage the elimination of barriers facing youth while building skills that can help change their communities for the better. Additionally, M&M Food Market will offer their support to Unplug to Connect on Friday, June 4, 2021, an annual BGC Canada event that highlights the unique ways their Clubs connect with young people and families to promote wellness and self-care.

“Throughout our 40-year history, we’ve supported important causes that serve the communities where we live and work,” said Andy O’Brien, CEO, M&M Food Market. “Partnering with BGC Canada just makes sense as our two organizations share similar values. We’re excited to apply the full power of our entire network of stores and I’m looking forward to seeing our thousands of passionate staff, including Franchise Partners, Store Managers, Meal Advisors and head office team members, come together and make a real difference in the lives of Canadians.”

Last spring, the two organizations joined forces when the pandemic lockdown increased the need for community-based food programs. In response, M&M Food Market provided $125,000 in gift cards for BGC Canada to distribute for families in their communities. The success of the effort led to further discussions about how to work together to make an even bigger impact.

“We’re extremely happy to partner with M&M Food Market. Like BGC Canada, they have long-established roots in hundreds of communities across Canada and they understand what children and their families need,” said Owen Charters, President & CEO, BGC Canada. “We have a strong Club presence and programming in many of the communities where M&M Food Market operates, which will allow us to work together to help young Canadians and their families in meaningful ways.”

Learn more about the new partnership here

About M&M Food Market
Founded in 1980, M&M Food Market is Canada’s leading retailer of frozen foods and has helped Canadians put delicious meals on the table by offering consumers easy-to-prepare, top quality foods and personalized customer service, all within a uniquely convenient shopping environment. Following the beginning of a significant rebranding effort in 2016 – including the name change from M&M Meat Shops, a new store design, new products and packaging, a new website and newly trained Meal Advisors – M&M Food Market has been focussed on innovation across virtually every aspect of the business.

It is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with locations in all ten provinces, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. M&M has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 12 years in a row. M&M products include delicious and convenient options across virtually every food category including:  appetizers, prepared meals, seafood, meats and poultry, vegetables, sides, bakery and desserts and come in formats ranging from individual portions to family-sized options.

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 775 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 health, social development, leadership, and more. Opportunity changes everything. Learn more at bgccan.com and follow us on social media @BGCCAN.

Media contact:

Jared Morrow, Media Relations Manager
jmorrow@bgccan.com
905-477-7272 x2202

On June 4, BGC Canada invites you to unplug from connections that cause stress and plug into connections that promote wellness.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Clubs across the country continue to create connections with young people and families, both in-person and virtually. This year, for Unplug to Connect, we want to celebrate those connections.

At BGC, we understand the importance of intentional connection. On Friday, June 4, we will highlight Club stories and focus on how they have directly contributed to positive mental health.

Unplug to Connect will be activated locally and nationally!

NATIONAL

Jully Black (@missjullyblack) will host an #UnplugToConnect Instagram Live with some of our Youth of the Year winners on Friday, June 4 @ 7:00 p.m EDT.

The Toronto sign, the CN Tower (10 p.m. – 12 a.m. EDT), and Olympic Stadium in Montreal will be lit up in BGC green! National and Club posts will also be shared across all social media channels throughout the day.

A BGC flag raising was scheduled at Toronto City Hall this Friday. With Flags across the country being flown at half-mast to honour the 215 children found buried at the Kamloops Residential School, we have decided to cancel the flag raising out of respect and solidarity.

LOCAL

Clubs will post on social media using the #UnplugToConnect hashtag about activities they’ve run in the last year to connect with youth in their communities.

By connecting to community, others, and ourselves, we can continue to create positive connections when we need them the most.

Supported by