The hours after school can change everything.
Every weekday, when the school bell rings, something important begins. For some children, it’s the safest part of their day. For others, it’s the beginning of the most uncertain hours they face.
No one home. Nowhere to go.
No one to notice if something goes wrong.
And in these hours – quiet, unstructured and unseen – a life can begin to drift.
Parents are doing everything they can. They’re working longer hours, taking extra shifts, and juggling multiple jobs. But child care and after school spaces are scarce and expensive. And for many families — both are simply out of reach.
Everyone knows someone searching for child care — and not finding it. Or finding it… and realizing they can’t afford it.
So, families improvise. They piece together care. They rely on neighbours. They hope for the best. Too often, children are left to navigate those after school hours on their own. And what happens in those hours can shape everything that comes after.
You can open the door.
For hundreds of children, that door leads to a third place — not home, not school, but somewhere just as important: the Boys and Girls Club. A place where they are seen.
Known.
Cared for.
Where someone notices if they’re having a hard time. Where someone is there — every day. A place to move, to create, to try something new. A place to sit, talk, and be heard. For some children, the Boys and Girls Club is a place to spend a few hours after school. For others, it becomes the place where opportunity changes everything because one of the realities of the affordability crisis is that some families end up feeding their kids the same meals over and over. If you’re a kid, it’s tough to have soup and crackers almost every night.
Your gift will provide a diverse range of healthy food for kids from the new state-of-the-art kitchen.
Your leadership today can help create a place designed for children, youth, and families in Peterborough. A place where those after school hours — and the years that follow — can change everything for kids and their families.
If you’re from Peterborough, 780 Argyle is better known as the former Bible College. After the Bible School moved to Toronto, Trent University rented the building for many years. After the Mount bought the property, BGC Kawarthas signed a ten-year lease for the standalone former cafeteria and library. There is a full-sized gym in the main building, which BGC Kawarthas will use starting in September. If you know the site, it also contains a large park where, under the watchful eye of staff, school-aged kids can play and burn off steam.
Starting in September, the after school care and skill-building programs will start. In January of 2027, the program will expand to the licensed child care program. After launching the core programs, your gift will allow for many new programs starting in 2027.
The main floor will house two toddler rooms and two pre-school rooms, plus the new kitchen. The second floor will start by hosting a school-aged makerspace program exploring Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, often referred to as STEM.
Today, BGC Kawarthas operates at James Strath, Edmison Heights and Westmount. But 780 Argyle will remove the physical limitations of a school-based program and serve children from at least five schools supported with coordinated transportation. Children from other schools will be able to participate as programs grow. BGC Kawarthas is bringing 50 years of experience with kids to the 780 Argyle site.
Here’s what happens when a child walks through that door.
Moments like that stay with a child forever. They expand what a person believes is possible.
“Being at the Club kept me out of trouble. When I was young, there was a lot of stuff that could tempt you. I’m not sure if I could’ve stayed on the straight and narrow, to be honest, had it not been for the Club.” – Steve
“My first year there…I was in a group of kids that got to go see the Toronto Blue Jays during the World Series…Financially, that never would’ve worked for my family. It showed me what was possible.” – Christy
“With the Club, I had the opportunity to notice a different lifestyle, a different life. The staff team took me under their wings…It was the only thing that I think really saved my life. Being at BGC gave me hope – the hope that I started to feel after a year or so around different people, different ideals, loving and caring people, it really changed my own outlook on life.” – Perry
“We almost always went to Ken Reid Park every day, swimming in the lake, doing arts and crafts, playing tag…nothing too structured. My experience at the Club shaped my love for the outdoors. To this day, I still prefer going out on the fresh lakes to stay in a tent with my family. It opened my world.” – Charmaine
These stories are different, but they all begin the same way: A child walks through a door.
Your leadership today can help create a place designed for children, youth, and families in Peterborough.
A place where those after school hours – and the years that follow – can change everything for kids and their families.
If you’re from Peterborough, 780 Argyle is better known as the former Bible College. After the Bible School moved to Toronto, Trent University rented the building for many years. After the Mount bought the property, BGC Kawarthas signed a ten-year lease for the standalone former cafeteria and library.
There is a full-sized gym in the main building, which BGC Kawarthas will use starting in September. If you know the site, it also contains a large park where, under the watchful eye of staff, school-aged kids can play and burn off steam.
Starting in September, the after school care and skill-building programs will start. In January of 2027, the program will expand to the licensed child care program.
After launching the core programs, your gift will allow for many new programs starting in 2027.
The main floor will house two toddler rooms and two pre-school rooms, plus the new kitchen.
The second floor will start by hosting a school-aged makerspace program exploring Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, often referred to as STEM.
Today, BGC Kawarthas operates at James Strath, Edmison Heights, and Westmount. But 780 Argyle will remove the physical limitations of a school-based program and serve children from at least five schools supported with coordinated transportation. Children from other schools will be able to participate as programs grow. BGC Kawarthas is bringing 50 years of experience with kids to the 780 Argyle site.
Right now, a child in your community will walk out of school…and step into those same uncertain hours.
You can change that story. Because of you, a child can walk through a different door.
You can open that door.
Your gift today will:
- Open 78 child care spaces for families
- Ensure no child is turned away due to financial barriers
- Provide after school care for 120 children
- Create a place where children are safe, supported and seen
- Open a new kitchen
The new family will include a renovated kitchen with program and staff space spread over both floors.
The Mount will add an elevator to the building to facilitate accessibility for all kids. The Mount has the design and tendering process underway to facilitate a September opening.
Contact Info
Amy Terrill, CEO
705-341-5386
BGC Kawarthas
780 Argyle St., Peterborough, ON, K9H 4G7
705-813-023
