Since 1962 Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton’s goal has been to help children in Edmonton’s high-risk, low-income communities realize their potential.
1900 -- The first Boys' Club, then called the "Every Day Club", was established as part of the "public playground movement" in Saint John, New Brunswick. The Every Day Club later became known as the East End Boys' Club. The Club's original mission was "to give youth a chance to have some recreation and to see beyond the confines of their immediate situation."
During the ensuing thirty years, similar Clubs were established in cities throughout Canada, thanks to support from local service agencies such as the Rotary Club, Kinsmen Clubs and Kiwanis Clubs.
1929 -- The national dimension of the organization was founded by Vernon McAdam, our first National Executive Director, and named the Boys' Club Federation of Canada.
1947 -- The Boys' Club Federation of Canada was reorganized and renamed Boys' Clubs of Canada by the more than 30 Clubs in operation at the time, who believed a national organization could assist existing Clubs and spur new Club development.
1948 -- Boys' Clubs of Canada received its official charter from parliament as a national, non-profit organization.
1962 -- Edmonton's first Boys' Club opens in Boyle/McCauley area. Opening day membership is 35 boys.
1971 -- Edmonton's Boys' Club begins to provide services to girls.
1976 -- Edmonton Boys' Club Agency name is changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton to reflect the service to both genders. The Agency begins providing summer camp programs.
1977 -- Kinsmen Club is established in north Edmonton.
1978 -- A Summer Youth Employment initiative is established with Northlands Park called the Klondike Days Clean Up Program.
1979 -- Rundle Club is established in east Edmonton.
1980 -- The Volunteer Coordinator position is established, providing volunteer recruitment and training programs for all Agency programs.
1981 -- Tweddle Place is established in south Edmonton.
1985 -- West Edmonton club is established in west Edmonton.
1986 -- The Supported Independent Living Program is established providing supported room and board to child welfare youth in order to help them develop independent living skills.
1993 -- Parent Talk, a self-help peer support program for parents is established.
1996 -- Expansion of Parent Talk leads to the formation of four additional groups. Construction is completed on the new West Edmonton Club in Britannia/Youngstown.
1997 -- Brownstone, an enhanced supported independent living program, is established.
1998 -- Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton currently provides services to over 3,000 children and youth.
1999 -- Group homes, Solstice I & II, open to serve troubled teens, followed by B&G House, a receiving and assessment group home.
-- Aboriginal Resource Person is hired to coordinate cultural activities such as sweat lodge ceremonies for aboriginal persons in all programs.
2000 -- Crisis Intervention Program is established.
2001 -- Camp Discovery, a residential camp on the shores of Lake Wabamun, opens to children free of charge. Over the course of the summer, over 200 members enjoy the camp.
-- Bearpaw is established to provide an intensified placement for teens that require more structured programming than offered in the regular Supported Independent Living programs.
-- Bruce Campbell Youth Centre is established in West Edmonton Mall in partnership with several Edmonton organizations.
2002 -- Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton celebrates it’s 40th Anniversary.
2003 -- Club Connect, a collaborative drop-in program of Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Edmonton, is established.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton now employs over 200 full and part-time staff. Over 200 volunteers provide support to programs.