Boys’ Clubs originated in the United States in New York in 1876 and the first Boys Club in Canada was established in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1900. The industrialization of the 1800s and the migration of families to urban centres found those families struggling to keep their children out of trouble. And what originally began as a desire to provide meaningful and constructive activities to keep young boys off the streets developed into an international organization that has the healthy development of children and youth at its heart. Today there are 103 Clubs operating in communities across Canada and over 2,000 in the United States. The Victoria Boys’ Clubs was founded through the vision of the late Colonel R.O. Bull. In the 1950s Colonel Bull had been Vice President and General Manager of Gairdner and Company in Toronto, a large investment firm. A trip to his doctor and the doctor’s advice to take it easy, found Colonel Bull and his wife retiring and moving to Vancouver Island. Before retiring Colonel Bull had heard much about, and been highly impressed with, an organization that was operating in the east – a Canadian version of a program that also appeared to be working well in the U.S. and in Britain. It was known as Boys’ Clubs, and its goal was to provide opportunities for boys who might otherwise not have had many. When he and his wife moved to Victoria, however, he found there was no Boys’ Club, nor anything like it, operating on Vancouver Island. After much consideration, he made up his mind to establish a Boys’ Club in Victoria. This would be his living memorial to his son who had been a pilot with the RCAF, a flying officer. Like so many young Canadian air force pilots, he had not come home from the Second World War, shot down and killed in 1943. This would be a project of which his son would approve. The Colonel started meeting with a number of other business people and professionals he’d met in Victoria, and discussing how best they could bring this dream to life. At the same time, he approached City Hall to talk about finding suitable space for the club, and the National Boys’ Club organization to ensure the Victoria branch would be formally recognized. With the aid of City Council and various other community organizations, the Board was able to secure a lease of the old fire hall at Yates and Camosun Street. Col. Bull and his wife personally covered the cost of the substantial renovations to the 1899 building and the Boys’ Club of Victoria was officially opened on December 23, 1960 by Lieutenant-Governor George Pearkes. At the opening, then Vice-President, the late D’Arcy McGee, outlined the vision he and the others involved had for the Club. “At no time in our history has there been a greater need for the guidance of our youth in sound Christian principles and democratic procedures,” he said. “This Club will be a home and a haven for many, and it will break down social barriers. Boys of all types can come here with any troubles or problems they have, and they will receive good counsel and guidance.” It took only six weeks before the club had reached and surpassed its goal of 300 members. By the middle of February, the Executive Director was going public with his need for more adult leaders because membership had risen to 365 and more supervision was needed. But the boys, and the adults, just kept on coming. By April there were 500 members and enough leaders to supervise them. With the motto ‘IT IS BETTER TO BUILD BOYS THAN MEND MEN” the great adventure had truly begun. (Note: After several years of providing programs for girls in Victoria, our local organization officially changed its name to Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Greater Victoria in 1975. In 2000, on the occasion of our 40th Anniversary, we merged with sister organization, Coastal Community Services, to form Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria.)
Bgcvic.Org is Victoria-based company (British Columbia, Canada) with a phone number 2503849133. Our data show that the company is located at the address: 1240 Yates St. The company has a web site: www.bgcvic.org.
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