By Owen Charters, President & CEO of BGC Canada

October 29, 2025

Kids need a place beyond home and school. At BGC Clubs, 160,000 kids find that special place each year.

When we talk about where kids grow up, we often think about two places: home and school. But there’s another place that plays a powerful role in shaping who they become—the ‘third place’.

Why Third Places Matter

The idea of a third place is important. It may have started as an idea, an academic concept of a place to pause between the rigours of school and the reality of home. But it has increasingly become vitally important in an era of screens, mental health challenges, and an ever-changing, always-on society.

A third place is a space that’s neither home nor school, but somewhere kids can belong. It’s where they can be themselves, connect with mentors, and build skills that will serve them for life. And across Canada, no one does that better than BGC Clubs.

BGC Clubs are built around one powerful idea: opportunity changes everything. In a world where kids and youth face growing challenges from stress and isolation to hunger and uncertainty, Clubs provide what every kid deserves: safety, support, and opportunity. Guided by 125 years of experience and across more than 600 communities in Canada, 160,000 young people find a place to belong each year.

RELATED: BGC Clubs want the best for Canadian kids.

BGC Clubs address critical issues that shape the future of young Canadians.

At BGC Clubs, kids find people who care. Through recreation, mentorship, and belonging, Clubs create safe, inclusive spaces where kids can talk, laugh, and just be kids. For many young people, that’s life-changing. It’s a reminder that they are seen, supported, and never alone.

BGC Clubs are where curiosity turns into confidence. From homework help to STEM and arts programs, leadership training to job readiness, BGC Clubs nurture every child’s potential. Kids build real-world skills, and even more importantly, they learn how to believe in themselves.

BGC Clubs step up to make sure kids have access to nutritious meals and snacks. For too many families, putting food on the table is a daily struggle. Kids who are fed can focus, learn, and thrive. Without food security, nothing else is possible.

BGC Clubs give kids a place to go after-school and a path forward for life. They give youth positive outlets and supportive mentors who help them make good choices, stay connected, and build stronger futures—for generations.

BGC Canada’s latest PSA: #1 Third Place for Kids

When home is the first place and school is the second, BGC Clubs are the third place where everything comes together—where kids find belonging, learn life skills, and build the confidence to lead.

The voice of The #1 Third Place for Kids campaign belongs to someone who knows firsthand what it means to belong at BGC. Kayla Grey, a proud BGC Alumni Hall of Fame member, lends her voice and her experience to bring the story to life. Through her work across traditional platforms and social media, she continues to amplify diverse voices and inspire the next generation, just like BGC Clubs do every day.

The third place is a place you choose to belong, not one where you are required. This choice matters, and it’s a safe, desirable place. Clubs provide that space and more—it becomes the space to find opportunities, to grow and flourish. We all need a third place in our lives.

National partners are donating funds and school supplies to support BGC Clubs

Published on Cision August 25, 2022

TORONTO, Aug. 25, 2022 /CNW/ – When kids and teens go back to school in September, BGC Clubs across the country will be there to support them, thanks in part to generous funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation, Giant Tiger stores, OSL Retail Services and Kleenex®.

The pandemic has been difficult for many Canadians, especially young people, and even more so for those from vulnerable and equity-deserving populations. In addition to providing much-needed school supplies, BGC Clubs also offer a wide range of supports that so many young people will need during the school year, from PPE to homework help, postsecondary planning to mental health check-ins, peer support groups to healthy meals before and after school, and so much more.

As the 200,000 kids and teens BGC Clubs support at 736 locations across Canada head back to school this September, four of our corporate partners have shown their dedication to young people and families through significant donations for the second year in a row:

• The Coca-Cola Foundation is donating $500,000 to support academic programs, after-school homework help and youth leadership at Clubs
• Giant Tiger Stores Limited is donating $150,000 to support the Giant Steps program, a national after-school homework program for students in grades 7-8, to help prepare them for the rigors of high school and equip them with strong academic habits and skills.
• OSL Retail Services is donating $50,000 to support #BGCBack2School and after-school programming at BGC Clubs. OSL is also hosting a school supply drive to directly support children and youth at school, as well as Club programming. Some Clubs have already received over 10,000 items, including backpacks, stationery, and calculators!
• Kleenex® is supporting children’s education by generously donating $50,000 to help BGC Clubs continue providing valuable programs, resources, and school supplies.

The generosity of our supporters will allow BGC Clubs to continue providing safe places, in-person and virtually tailored to community need, and healthy, empowering relationships that help young people develop the confidence and resiliency they need to thrive when they return to school and for years to come. If you would like to help, please consider donating to our #BGCBack2School campaign.

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

Media Contact
Mary O’Connell
Director, Marketing & Communications, BGC Canada
moconnell@bgccan.com
905-477-7272 x2223

The changes will give more parents access to safe, high-quality, and accessible child care

[TORONTO, ON] October 2, 2020 – With authorized recreation and licenced child care programs for 135,000 children and youth at over 300 locations, Boys & Girls Clubs across Ontario welcome the proposed changes announced today to regulations associated with the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) as part of the ongoing CCEYA 5-year review.

Child care accessibility is more critical than ever, especially in rural areas, as the province grapples with COVID-19 repercussions and looks to recovery. By permitting Boys and Girls Clubs to provide authorized recreation programming for more than three hours per day for school-aged children, Clubs across Ontario will be able to accommodate children before AND after-school, giving parents across Ontario more access to safe, high-quality, and affordable child care.

“The proposed changes will support our local Clubs in providing more community-driven programs and services to support families,” says Owen Charters, President & CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. “Improving child care access, affordability, and parental choice is critical in Ontario. Our Clubs remain committed to supporting children, youth, and families and we look forward to working with the provincial government and local stakeholders to ensure the success of these planned changes.”

“As a provider of both licensed child care and authorized recreation, we welcome the opportunity to increase our services to families in our area,” says Amy Terrill, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes. “The proposed regulatory changes will create greater opportunities for parents to participate fully and confidently in the labour force, particularly in rural areas.”

By recognizing the unique needs of school-aged children, the proposed changes will support keeping older children in before- and after-school programs, which evidence has shown supports all aspects of their development and has a long-term positive impact.

About Boys and Girls Clubs of Ontario 
As Canada’s largest child- and youth-serving organization, Boys and Girls Clubs provide vital programs and services to over 200,000 young people in 775 communities across Canada. At 319 locations across Ontario, 23 Boys and Girls Clubs provide before and after school programming for more than 135,000 children and youth every year. Our trained staff help young people build the confidence and sense of belonging they need to overcome barriers and form positive relationships. By delivering evidence-based and effective programs that reflect the diversity of their communities, our Clubs provide young people the opportunity to explore their interests, develop their strengths, and realize positive outcomes in academics, physical activity, technology, self-expression, healthy living, mental health, and more.