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Ahead by a Century: BGC Ottawa celebrates 100 years of serving children

Sold-out crowd of 400 gather at Taggart Parkes Family Clubhouse to reach $600,000 fundraising goal

May 11, 2023

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For one hundred years, thousands of kids have gleefully bounded through the doors of the BGC Ottawa Clubhouses that have been improving our community in ways everlasting.

“I was one of those kids,” BGC (formerly Boys and Girls Club) Ottawa CEO Adam Joiner said at the podium this morning while addressing a sold-out crowd of 400 community members and business leaders at the 14th annual Breakfast Social, presented by Mark Motors Group.

The early-morning gathering, held in the gymnasium of the Taggart Parkes Family Clubhouse on Heatherington Road, aimed to raise $600,000 while also celebrating BGC Ottawa’s centennial anniversary. It was closing in on its target by mid-afternoon.

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“The club shaped the person I am today,” said Joiner, who despite being excruciatingly shy as a kid, eventually came out of his shell through his repeated childhood visits to the Clubhouse near his apartment.

Adam Joiner, CEO of BGC Ottawa, at the 14th annual Morning Social, held at the Taggart Parkes Family Clubhouse on Heatherington Road, on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Today, BGC Ottawa serves more than 5,000 kids, from ages six to 18. Its goal is to provide children and youth with a safe and supportive place to experience new opportunities, to overcome barriers, and to help them develop confidence and skills for life.

The organization runs four Clubhouses, one summer camp, multiple satellite locations and a neighbourhood ambassador program. It offers sports and arts, homework clubs, and leadership programs. “Opportunity changes everything,” Joiner reminded the room.

A highlight of the morning was the thoughtful tribute to outgoing BGC Ottawa board chair Stephen Beckta. Not only is he one of Ottawa’s best-known restaurateurs but he was a member of BGC Ottawa’s former downtown Clubhouse as a kid.

Board member Michelle Taggart thanked Beckta on behalf of the board. The pair worked closely together on making the Taggart Parkes Family Clubhouse a reality in 2022 and also co-chaired a fundraising gala.

“You have helped make this place and all of the other Clubhouses a second home to so many children and youth who really need it, like you did growing up,” she told him. “Your contributions are deeply felt and greatly appreciated by the entire community.”

Another one of his close friends, Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify, spoke about Beckta’s special ability to make every person he comes into contact with feel like “they’re the most important person on the planet”.

It was heart-wrenching to hear about Beckta’s troubled childhood and how awful he had it, especially when one is aware of what a kind, caring and sensitive man he is.

“Despite all of this [hardship], Steve was fortunate,” said his wife of nearly 20 years, Maureen Cunningham, on stage. “In his early years, he had the BGC downtown Clubhouse, a place where he felt safe, where life felt normal, and where achievement and respect were not only valued but nurtured.”

She praised her husband for the remarkable life and career that he’s built “not based on negativity or bitterness but based on optimism, tenacity and the biggest, warmest heart anyone of us will ever know.”

Beckta, who owns Beckta dining & wine, and its sister restaurants, Play and Gezellig, hugged his two friends and his wife as the audience delivered a standing ovation. He also received a special honour from BGC Canada president and CEO Owen Charters, who described BGC Ottawa as “one of our oldest Clubs and also one of the largest and most ambitious”.

“It is impressive to see the support in this room,” he added.

Stephen Beckta, outgoing chair of BGC Ottawa, was honoured at the Morning Social breakfast held for the non-profit organization on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Taggart Parkes Family Clubhouse. Photo by Caroline Phillips

BGC Ottawa board member Michelle Taggart paid tribute to her friend and fellow board member, outgoing board chair Stephen Beckta, at the Morning Social fundraiser, held at the Taggart Parkes Family Clubhouse. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify, with his good friend, Stephen Beckta, at the 14th annual Morning Social fundraiser for BGC Ottawa, held Thursday, May 11, 2023. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Stephen Beckta, outgoing board chair of BGC Ottawa, and his wife, Maureen Cunningham, hug following a loving tribute speech she delivered at the 14th annual Morning Social, held at the Taggart Parkes Family Clubhouse on Heatherington Road, on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The breakfast was emceed by BGC Ottawa board member Jock Climie, a partner at Emond Harnden Labour and Employment Law, and Stefan Keyes from CTV Morning Live Ottawa, with a helping hand from BGC Ottawa board member Delaila and BGC Ottawa youth worker Faiza.

Announced at the event was a $50,000 donation from the Senators Community Foundation, represented by its president, Jacqueline Belsito, and the hockey team’s senior management.

“I know some of you are hoping today I’m going to give you the inside scoop on the sale of the team,” Belsito teased on stage. No such luck, however.

“It’s an exciting discussion to have, and it’s exciting for our entire community, so we’ve got some good things to look forward to,” she said.