Category | BGC News | BGC Canada

Celebrating 125 Years of Belonging at BGC

slapensee — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:40:47 +0000

This article was originally published by SJ Today on September 11, 2025.

Saint John has always been a city of firsts, and the Boys & Girls Club, now known as BGC, is another organization that got its start in the port city. What originally started as a way to keep troublesome boys off local city streets, has grown into a beloved organization helping youth find their way in over 600 club locations across the country.

Carl White, a lifelong club kid and volunteer, traced the history back to 1892.

“There’s actually a newspaper article that talks about how they noticed a number of boys running wild around town and decided to give them something to do…a place to gather.”

He explained that much of the push came after the Great Fire of 1877, when poverty and displacement left families struggling. “That rebuilding period had a big impact, and the priests from the Methodist church realized something needed to be done.” That initial movement eventually became the Everyday Boys Club, where young men could gather and be constructive with their time.

Records between 1892 and 1900 are sparse, but in 1900 the Rotary Club stepped in with a focus on youth, giving structure, funding, and vision.

“From 1892 to 1900 there’s a lot of history lost. That’s why BGC Canada decided to use 1900 as the start date. That’s when significant events happened, like the Rotary coming in as a major

Louise Dalcourt, Executive Director, and Carl White, lifelong club kid and volunteer, helping lead BGC Greater Saint John into its next 125 years

support,” Carl said. “All Rotary clubs followed that model of support for children and youth, but we were the first ones.”

“The Club gave us a place we were welcome, a place where we could learn and share with other youth. That gives a child self-worth, and the Club has done that for hundreds of kids over the years.”

For Carl, the story is personal. He and seven siblings grew up at the Club, where he found not only safety but confidence in himself.

“It gave us a place we were welcome, a place where we could learn and share with other youth. You could feel safe, you could feel comfortable. That gives a child self-worth, and the Club has done that for hundreds of kids over the years, including me and my family.”

He believes the Club helped shape his adult life.

“I became a city councillor, I became Deputy Mayor. And of course, I jumped at the chance to give back to those that gave me something, which was the Club.”

The Club’s resilience has been tested and proven time and again. After a fire in 1974 destroyed most of the building, the community refused to let it be the end. Executive Director Louise Dalcourt shared how it’s because of the community that the Club was rebuilt and brought to where it is today. “The majority of it was donated by the community. The materials, the architects, even some of the labour,” she said.

The new design expanded the space to 36,000 square feet, creating a hub that has since welcomed thousands of kids.

Over the years, the Club has continuously transformed its programs to meet the evolving needs of youth.

“The programs adapt, and the culture adapts to how the world works…leadership, educational programs, clean energy programs, skills-based trades, that’s what kids want to learn about,” Carl explained. He expanded on how every community is different, so what River Valley needs is very different than what Saint John or Sussex needs.

Louise added, “We have a joke amongst ourselves. We are master pivotors. Life evolves, and we have to evolve with it…because kids are going to need more and more, especially on the mental health side of things.”

Now, the Club is preparing to tell its story in print. This fall, BGC Greater Saint John will release a history book that traces its journey from the very beginning. The project started with Reverend Lloyd Lake in 2001, who gathered photos and research until his passing in 2013. The work sat unfinished for years until Carl and Louise decided to take it on as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations.

For Carl, the story is personal. He and seven siblings grew up at the Club, where he found not only safety but confidence in himself.

He believes the Club helped shape his adult life.

“I became a city councillor, I became Deputy Mayor. And of course,

I jumped at the chance to give back to those that gave me something, which was the Club.”

The new design expanded the space to 36,000 square feet, creating a hub that has since welcomed thousands of kids.

Over the years, the Club has continuously transformed its programs to meet the evolving needs of youth.

Immerse yourself in the rich history of the BGC movement and support BGC Greater Saint John.

Pre-order your copy of Timeless today.

“With Carl’s help we went through all the critical information and worded it in a way that’s inclusive and easy to read,” Louise said.

“We wanted to put together something that tells the story of where the Club came from in 1892 to where we are today,” Carl added.

This year, BGC Greater Saint John celebrates 125 years since the Rotary Club formally helped establish it as a model for youth programs across Canada. The anniversary has already included community events, recognition of longtime volunteers, and programs highlighting the Club’s history. The book will help cap off the year, preserving the story for future generations.

Through fires, rebuilds, and changing times, BGC Greater Saint John has stayed true to its mission: giving kids a safe place to grow, belong, and build their futures.

The post Celebrating 125 Years of Belonging at BGC first appeared on BGC Canada.

GUS announces national partnership with BGC Canada to support Canadian youth

eboiesbastien — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:02:33 +0000

Originally Published on July 22, 2025

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LÉVIS, QC, JULY 22, 2025/insPRESS/ – GUS, the largest network of property restoration professionals in Canada, is proud to announce a national partnership with BGC Canada, formerly known as Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. Dedicated to helping young people thrive, this iconic organization provides children and teens with safe, welcoming spaces to explore new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships, and develop the confidence and skills they need for life.

Every year, more than 160,000 young people walk through the doors of more than 600 BGC Clubs across the country. By partnering with BGC Canada, GUS aims to amplify this impact by mobilizing its franchisees to take part in concrete initiatives within their local communities. This partnership marks a new milestone in the group’s social commitment.

“Our network is made up of dedicated individuals whose hearts are in the right place. Across the country, initiatives to support our communities were already emerging naturally. Since our work is to help people, we felt it was time to align these acts of generosity behind a shared cause to create even greater impact. That’s why we chose to become a national partner of BGC Canada, an organization whose mission truly resonates with us,” says François Hétu, President of GUS.

Since 2001, the GUS Foundation has provided essential support to disaster victims without resources, delivering emergency aid during critical times. This mission remains at the heart of its actions. However, with this new partnership, GUS also wants to help prevent crises by positively influencing young people’s life journeys. “The goal is simple but meaningful: if we can help children and teens today, maybe they’ll never need the GUS Foundation tomorrow,” adds Mr. Hétu.

Brooke Duval, Senior Director of at BGC Canada, welcomes this collaboration:
“At BGC, we believe every young person deserves equal opportunities, no matter their postal code. This partnership with GUS is a fantastic opportunity to build lasting connections between our clubs and committed players in the business community across Canada. Together, we can provide young people with even safer, more inspiring, and future-focused environments.”

To measure the partnership’s concrete impact and foster a culture of engagement, GUS will implement a tracking and analysis system for all volunteer actions and financial contributions made by participating franchisees. This will help better understand results on the ground, showcase local initiatives, and inspire the entire network.

Through this partnership, all members of the GUS network will be called upon to actively get involved across the country by supporting BGC Clubs and their initiatives that help young people at key moments in their development.

About GUS

GUS is a leading full-service restoration provider that has delivered disaster relief to Canadians for over 33 years. Beginning from humble roots in Quebec City in 1991, GUS has expanded into a national company with 125 locations strategically located sites across 8 provinces and growing. GUS is well known for providing high-quality work coupled with professional open lines of communication for both the insured and insurer.

The post GUS announces national partnership with BGC Canada to support Canadian youth first appeared on BGC Canada.

2025 BGC Canada Golf Classic

eboiesbastien — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 14:14:34 +0000

When: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 @ 9:45 AM - 7:00 PM ET

Where: Glencairn Golf Club 9807 Regional Rd 25, Milton, ON L9T 2X7, Canada

It’s time for the 5th annual BGC Canada Golf Classic — Get ready to swing into action!

It’s time to register for the BGC Golf Classic on Tuesday, September 23rd and help support 150,000 children and youth at Clubs across Canada. BGC (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs) is the largest dedicated child and youth organization in the country – this tournament will provide important funding for meals, education, mental health support and more.

We will be returning to the beautiful Glencairn Golf Club (9807 Regional Road 25, Milton). Please join us for a fast-moving day on the links, followed by reception, dinner and fantastic silent and live auctions. Registration starts at 9:45am, shotgun is at 11am, and lunch and dinner is included with the purchase of a foursome.

In our 5th year of the tournament, we have an ambitious goal of surpassing $1 Million dollars raised – please help us reach our goal!

You can support in a variety of ways:

Round up your friends and register your foursome
Sponsor the event
Donate to our silent and live auctions
Invite new friends to join!

We have some terrific sponsorship options available for purchase on this platform. We also have Presenting, Albatross and Eagle level sponsorships available ranging from $10K – $50K; please reach out to Brooke Duval (bduval@bgccan.com or 416-420-8012) if you’d like to discuss these options.

See you on the green!

BGC Golf Classic Committee
David Renwick (Chair), Neil MacTavish, Angelo Papatheodorou, Dean Sockett, Brooke Duval (BGC Canada)

The post 2025 BGC Canada Golf Classic first appeared on BGC Canada.