BGC Battlefords executive director Nicole Combres, front centre left, is joined by Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill, left, Mayor David Gillan, right, and BGC Battlefords board members, staff and kids at BGC Club Day Friday. (Angela Brown/ BattlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Support for youth

City celebrates BGC Club Day in Battlefords with flag-raising ceremony

Jun 2, 2023 | 2:20 PM

Battlefords kids came together outside City Hall Friday to celebrate BGC Club Day.

The City of North Battleford held a flag-raising ceremony and read a proclamation to recognize the day.

BGC Battlefords Executive Director Nicole Combres along with North Battleford Mayor David Gillan, BGC Battlefords board president Darcy Woolfitt and vice president Heath Gabruch participated in the ceremony.

“We [BGC Battlefords] are joining clubs all across the country celebrating the amazing work that is happening all over Canada, and the impact that we are having on thousands of children and youth who attend the programs and services we offer,” Combres said.

She noted BGC Battlefords planned a club celebration for all its members and their families, with a barbecue, games for the kids, and face-painting on Friday afternoon.

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BGC Battlefords is the largest organization serving children and youth, ages five to 14, in the community. It has been operating for over 46 years.

Combres noted the local membership continues to increase.

“Each and every year we are seeing more and more kids accessing our programs and services,” she said. “We have great staff that are able to work with our children in a variety of different programs we offer. We’re grateful that the community supports us. If we didn’t have the support of our local community members, supporters and donors, we wouldn’t be able to offer the programs that we do.”

North Battleford Mayor David Gillan mentioned the city has always been very supportive of BGC Battlefords, formerly the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Battlefords, for many years.

“We’ve helped them over the decades with new facilities and operating funds and programming, and we continue to support them,” he said. “We really believe we need to support our young people because our young people need to have a positive influence in their lives, and support and structure.”

Gillan added organizations like BGC Battlefords provide a vital service in the community.

Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill said he heard from a number of kids attending the ceremony how much they enjoy participating in BGC Battlefords programs.

“These are our future leaders,” he said. “These are the future people who are going to build this community, and build this province. When you have an organization like BGC Battlefords that is building up the physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing of children of all ages there is not much more important in our community than that.”

For anyone looking to have an impact on the future generations of the community, Cockrill said, BGC Battlefords is a great organization to work with.

—

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow