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.

Published on Canada Newswire on June 3, 2024.

Inductees include NHL star Taylor Hall, prominent sportscaster Kayla Grey, internationally acclaimed child psychiatrist Dr. Jean Clinton and politician Art Eggleton.

TORONTO, June 3, 2024 /CNW/ – BGC Canada (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs), Canada’s largest dedicated child and youth-serving organization, is pleased to announce the first inductees into the BGC Alumni Hall of Fame. All inductees are former BGC Club kids who embody positive change and are leaders and role models in their communities. They were inducted on Friday, May 31 at a gala event hosted by beloved Canadian comedian Steve Patterson, host of CBC’s The Debaters. Patterson is also a former Club kid who knows the life-changing impact Clubs can have.

The 2024 Canadian inductees include alumni from professional fields ranging from media and sports to education and politics:

• Kayla Grey, NBA Sportscaster, Changemaker: Grey joined BGC West Scarborough (Toronto) at 5 years old. She credits her Club with inspiring her lifelong love of basketball. She is now a reporter for the Toronto Raptors and has won multiple awards, including the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television’s Changemaker Award.
• Dr. Jean Clinton, Psychiatrist and Child Development Expert: Dr. Clinton is a world-renowned psychiatrist, internationally recognized expert on child development, and attended BGC Hamilton after her family immigrated to Canada. She specializes in child mental health and studying the impact of poverty.
• Taylor Hall, NHL Player: The left winger for the Chicago Blackhawks grew up attending a Club in his hometown of Calgary and has hosted fundraising events at the BGC Club in Kingston to support their life-changing work.
• Art Eggleton, Retired Politician: In a distinguished career, Eggleton served as the 59th and longest-serving Mayor of Toronto (1980-91), and as a Member of Parliament from 1993 – 2004, where he held numerous Cabinet positions. Most recently he has served in the Senate (2005-18). He is a fierce advocate of restorative justice and currently sits on the Board of Directors for BGC Toronto Kiwanis, his former Club.

“BGC Clubs across Canada are on the front lines of providing basic needs for children and youth so they can have a brighter future. Our 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees are proof that the future can indeed shine bright,” said Owen Charters, President & CEO, BGC Canada. “Our goal is to bring every kid to the same starting line so they can thrive regardless of the hand they have been dealt. Our incredible inductees prove the life-changing impact a Club can have. We are proud to shine a light on their stories and thank them for giving back to our communities that need support more than ever.”

Learn more about BGC Canada’s Alumni Hall of Fame.

About BGC Canada

For 125 years, BGC Canada (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs) 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 over 600 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 wellness, social development, leadership, and more. Opportunity changes everything. Learn more at bgccan.com and follow us on social media @BGCCAN.

SOURCE BGC Canada

For further information

Media Inquiries: Rachael Collier, Public Relations, BGC Canada, rc@rachaelcollierpr.com