BGC South East Expands Services to Leeds and Grenville to Support Local Children, Youth and Families

Kingston — BGC South East (Boys and Girls Club of Kingston & Area) is expanding its programs and services to Leeds and Grenville to ensure that children, youth, and families in the region continue to have access to essential supports following the announcement that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Leeds and Grenville will close operations effective December 31, 2025.

“In 2021, we embarked on a new strategic direction to meet the growing demand for high-quality programs beyond Kingston,” says Harold Parsons, CEO at BGC South East. “Changing our name from BGC Kingston to BGC South East reflected our commitment to serving a broader region. This expansion into Leeds and Grenville is a natural step in that journey, ensuring that no young person is left without access to meaningful, life-changing opportunities.”

BGC South East currently serves over 6,200 children and youth annually through more than 20,000 program hours in early learning, recreation, education, and youth employment. Programs are HIGH FIVE® accredited, ensuring the highest standard of quality and child-development outcomes.

The organization operates more than 10 sites across the South East region, including schools, community centres, childcare facilities, and Club locations. These spaces provide accessible, inclusive environments where young people learn, play, and grow under the guidance of skilled staff and mentors.

In recent years, BGC South East expanded beyond recreation into education and skills development. In the Fall of 2024, the organization launched its 9,000-square-foot STEM & Robotics Centre, one of Canada’s largest youth STEM hubs. The facility includes a Makerspace with 3D printers, a laser cutter, and hand tools; a computer lab with 15 high-performance workstations; a full-size competitive robotics field; and classrooms for hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, and math.

BGC South East also offers targeted literacy and numeracy supports, as well as specialized youth employment programs for young people with disabilities and those furthest from employment. More recently, BGC South East has delivered mentorship programming in Kingston and the surrounding area and provides one-to-one in-club mentorship, group programming and in-school programs.

“With the closure of Big Brothers Big Sisters Leeds and Grenville, we see an opportunity to ensure continuity of service while introducing an expanded range of programs that support children, youth, and families in new and meaningful ways,” says Parsons. “Before expanding programs in any community, BGC South East engages with community leaders, service providers, and local partners to identify gaps and priorities. Through ongoing conversations with the BBBS Leeds and Grenville Board of Directors and senior staff, we’ve identified that our programs will not only sustain existing supports in the community but will also enhance them. We are committed to building on the region’s strong legacy of children and youth programming and look forward to working closely with community partners across Leeds and Grenville to continue creating spaces where every young person grows up to be healthy, successful, and active participants in society.”

BGC South East will initiate services in Leeds and Grenville in January 2026. In the meantime, to learn more about us, visit www.bgcsoutheast.ca.