Hopes to bring back the summer with some warmth of smiles

The sight of a bunch of kids rushing from school buses, running to their friends, laughing, learning, and beaming of innocence are some of the things the Boys and Girls Clubs of Thunder Bay has missed in over a year.

On a normal day, more than 150 children and youth from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 from different schools attend this after-school club where they make friends, participate in activities ranging from science, educational to recreational and outdoor.

The pandemic has however changed the way the club works. During the colour-coded framework of reopening in Ontario, the club could be open, however they could have only four schools and kids from different schools were not allowed to mingle with each other due to social distancing restrictions. The club that once saw 150 kids suddenly started seeing numbers as low as 60 as they were only able to accommodate four schools of different age groups. Despite the club being open, a lot of kids did not return as they did not want to come back without their friends from other schools.

Due to tough times, and a lot of staff gone during the pandemic, the activities will look a lot different when the province reverts to the colour-coded framework of opening. More emphasis will be given on outdoor activities, and safety is the club’s foremost priority.

Although the details of reopening are unknown, the club is most certain about welcoming back their family with a safe warm embrace. More safeguarding measures are being introduced; extended sanitizing, wearing masks within premises, rapid testing for staff is among the measures being taken to ensure the safe welcoming of the family. Lee-Ann Skirving, the program director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Thunder Bay is certain that with more staff members being vaccinated, the club will open the doors to their kids soon.

The big space, affordability of the program, the wide variety of activities, and most importantly the caring staff would bring back the kids once the doors are open.

“We want to bring back the smiles. For the past year, we have been closed or children have been wearing masks. When children come here to enjoy, it is so heartwarming to see their smiles. We take it for granted. I have been here for more than 30 years, and it is such a warm embrace when they give you a hug. I can’t wait for that day again,” says Skirving.

The club celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. With the hopes of some normalcy setting in again by the end of August, the club is planning a huge party for its new and old members, with a mix of indoor and outdoor activities planned to accommodate safety precautions in the new pandemic world and bringing the family back together.

“We really miss the hustle and bustle. We want to see the kids’ smiles and want to be a part of the village that raises kids. We have some kids checking up on us, but we cannot wait to open and celebrate our 50th anniversary together. We will follow protocols and open at any green light. Any shade of green.

We just can’t wait to reopen and going back to making friends and memories,” says Skirving.

Learn more about Boys and Girls Clubs of Thunder Bay and what services they offer by visiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Thunder Bay website.