Keystone Club (BGCC Leadership Development) 

The Keystone Club is Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada National Leadership Development program for youth 14 to 18 years of age.  Keystone provides youth with the knowledge ad skills to make positive choices in their lives as well as a place to use their creative skills to make a difference in the Club and their community.  Youth are involved in the following five core areas:

Leadership

Teamwork

Healthy Choices

Service to Club

Community and Learning for Life

BGCB Youth Council

Youth Council members are ambassadors who influence decisions relating to issues impact Club members at the Club:

1) They identify interests, ideas or issues,

2) They create potential solutions,

3) They are given access to the Club decision makers, and

4) They collaborate with the Club to create solutions and/or change

Youth Council members provide the Club with valuable feedback on current programming, make recommendations for new programs based on interests and/or needs, collect relevant member data and are engaged with our community (e.g. focus groups, youth voice, youth wellness, etc.)

Ontario Youth Action Plan - Youth Mentorship Program

The purpose of the Youth Mentorship Program (YMP) is to support the positive development of high-risk youth through access to consistent, caring adults who will support youth participants to pursue and achieve goals and outcomes related to:

1) Employment/entrepreneurship

2) Educational achievement and/or

3) Civic engagement/leadership

The YMP supports program participants through the provision of mentorship opportunities, to make health and safe choices , increase resiliency and make progress toward identified goals.

The Club is the lead organization in the development and execution of the YMP and is currently executing 16 programs within our community,  supporting youth from BGC Brantford, Woodview Mental Health & Autism Services, Why Not Youth Centre, Youth Wellness Hub, St. Leonards Community Services and Brant Native Housing. 

Provincial & National Youth Engagement

We know that when we engage youth we make a big impact on their lives.  Nationally, provincially and locally we are committed to creating spaces and opportunities that support youth to reach their potential.

Provincial Youth Council - BGC Canada's Provincial Youth Councils (PYC) provide youth with an opportunity to bring their voice, creativity, lived experiences and leadership to their Clubs and their youth peers.  PYC youth develop their leadership skills, support and help guide youth program development and bring youth perspectives to BGC governance and public policy.

National Youth Council - BGC Canada National Youth Council (NYC) is committed to providing representation for Boys and Girls Club youth, reflecting issues and goals from across the country and ensuring youth input into national initiatives and activities.  NYC members serve as ambassadors and role models for other children and youth throughout the organization, positively influence decision-making on issues related to young people, and plan a national youth forum every two years.