Greetings! 

This is one of my first official communications as the Executive Director of our Club. While I am a relative new comer to Boys and Girls Clubs, arriving in May 2011, I have worked with many of the Boys & Girls Club staff in my previous roles with Pacific Centre Family Services and Victoria Cool Aid Society. I am a champion of the brilliant work that is created in the non-profit social services sector, of which BGCS Victoria has been a solid contributor. I value accountability, transparency and integrity in all that we do with the people we serve and I am committed to keeping front and centre the mission of our organization in the provision of high quality programs and services.

I had the great fortune to attend my first Executive Director Symposium within days of my appointment. It was a wonderful opportunity to be introduced to the extraordinary leaders who oversee 99 Clubs from coast to coast. I returned feeling privileged and in awe at the impact we have as member of a national entity. We are part of a strong network of support for our shared mission and the values from which we all work. Our communities and neighborhoods are diverse and unique and yet our movement's shared values of respect, belonging, opportunity, empowerment and advocacy resonate in all of the programs and services. We all strive to provide those opportunities for children, youth and families where they can overcome barriers and achieve their potential.

Annual Appeal

For many years we have conducted an annual appeal with the primary goal of raising funds for our summer camp programs and camperships. All children deserve to have their summers filled with fun and adventure but not all children get that opportunity. For families of limited financial means, filling the long days of summer with meaningful activities for their children can be very stressful. They know their children would benefit from a camp experience but they also know that their limited resources simply won't allow it...  

Annual Report

Our Annual Report for the year ending January 31, 2013 is available on our website! You can read all about the successes and challenges that we've had over the past year, see some great photos, and get a sense of the impact that our programs have in Greater Victoria on our website.  

National Youth Conference  

Lucky Westshore & Central Saanich Keystone club members attended the 2013 National Youth Forum, Oasis, hosted in Kamloops BC. The youth used their voice to show "The World According to Us", through digital cameras they received upon arrival. They participated many workshops including: dance, yoga, driving simulators, sign language, food prep, and shared their opinions in a town hall discussion on the environment and the effects of industry and consumerism on the planet and what youth can do. Our participants made great relationships with other youth from across Canada and are committed to keeping them strong! We'd like to thank Kraft Foods, Capital One, The Keg, and Canadian Heritage for flying us to Kamloops and funding our entrance fees to the forum. This was an experience that none of us will forget! 

Wild About Whales 2013 

I don't think there is anything more delightful to hear than the giggles of children or to watch them as they hunch over an art project, so intent on their work that not much else matters to them. And to see a little guy tuck into a hot dog with ketchup squeezing out from the bun? Absolutely priceless! We had all that and so much more at the Wild about Whales event at Esquimalt Gorge Park on June 15th. The event may be a fundraiser, and an important one for Boys & Girls Clubs, but it is also an opportunity for us to give families a fun (but free!) event for children and we certainly achieved that goal!

 

BGC'S AGM 

On May 29, our staff, care homes, participants and members of the community joined together at our Annual General Meeting to celebrate the successes that BGC has had over the past year. We heard from five moving speakers about the impact that Boys and Girls Club programs have had in their lives. Here we present two speakers, and to read the stories from the others, you'll have to wait until our August print newsletter comes out, at which time you'll be able to find it on our website.  

 

 

Jodi, a social worker and parent of two children attending our programs, has connections with Boys and Girls Clubs that reach back into her own past work experience, and extend into her current position where she often collaborates with BGC staff in the community. Although she had previously tried numerous programs for her middle son, she found that "Friday night boy's group is the only thing I have found so far he doesn't fight me about... most of what's made that is the staff in the program, part of it is his friends are there too, but the staff have taken the time to make personal connections with him." Both of her sons greatly enjoy their experiences at club, and we are glad that Jodi has continued her positive relationship with us.

 

Joseph, a parent who was struggling with a teenage daughter, conveyed that at first he was "pretty reluctant, to say the least. I was having a lot of problems with my daughter that I thought unsolvable at the time. I could not see a future with her, but I knew that me and my wife needed some kind of help." Thankfully, the Parents Together program was able to help Joseph "figure out what was important", and start "to model change, and [his daughter has] seen that. And instead of me trying to fix her, she's seen that I've been trying to change myself. And so she's taken that and worked on herself." He expressed his gratitude of Parents Together and the Evening Community Workshops, saying "I see the benefits definitely of both... if any of you have helped make the program, thank you because to me that made an immediate difference."

Canadian guidelines call for children to get 60 minutes of physical activity a day but there's no need to join an expensive sports team to make it happen. Some of these recommendations from Cameron - ParticipAction's Active Living Ambassador - may help families get moving.

Play - Kids need to play more. After school is optimum as it may help break that reliance on electronic devices for entertainment. Play isn't rocket science. When given the chance, it should evolve easily and naturally. It often starts with: "I have a good idea ... " A park or playground or a simple green space is all it takes. These oases are meant for exploring; trees are meant for climbing, sprinklers are meant for running through and mud puddles are meant for stomping. Invite friends for a game of tennis at the community court or try a long bike ride...