BREAKFAST CLUB OF CANADA AND THE AIR CANADA FOUNDATION UNITE TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE FOR THREE B.C. INDIGENOUS YOUTH IN ONCE IN A LIFETIME TRIP TO MEET CAREY PRICE

This event took place thanks to our generous collaborator

Montreal, February 8, 2019 – To inspire children and youth to dream big, Breakfast Club of Canada and the Air Canada foundation joined forces to welcome three Indigenous youth from British Columbia on an exceptional trip to meet Club Ambassador, Carey Price. The fifth edition of the Shooting for the Stars event saw Arianna, Lashawn and Sireasha – from Westbank, Anahim Lake and Williams Lake respectively – board an Air Canada flight to explore a new area of their country: Montreal.

Being from the Ulkaltcho reserve in Anahim Lake himself, Carey Price is able to understand the importance of an experience like this, which encourages children from communities such as his to dream big and shoot for the stars.

Highlights:

  • The purpose of this visit is to inspire the children by way of meeting Carey Price, who is from the same region as they are and has been successful in fulfilling his dream; playing in the NHL.
  • They had the chance to skate with Carey while creating priceless memories.
  • Arianna, Lashawn and Sireasha met with the Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, at City Hall and signed the City’s Guestbook.
  • They experienced Carey Price defending the net during a Montreal Canadiens game against the Winnipeg Jets on February 7th, all the while comfortably seated in the Air Canada lodge.
  • Breakfast Club of Canada in Indigenous communities:
    • 226 clubs serving 24,244 children daily

Quotes:

“For these children, we know that a single spark can change their lives, or even the realities of their entire community. For this reason, nurturing these children’s dreams is especially important to us, and we are very touched and grateful to be able to play an inspiring role in their lives through the Shooting for the Stars event, orchestrated by the Air Canada Foundation and Breakfast Club of Canada.”
– Angela and Carey Price, Breakfast Club of Canada ambassadors

“It’s really amazing for me to see all the people who have worked so hard to give my granddaughter the chance to take this trip. She is incredibly lucky to have been selected and we are so touched by the generosity of Breakfast Club of Canada and the Air Canada Foundation.”
– Brenda, grandmother of Sireasha who accompanied her on this trip

“The Air Canada Foundation is proud to partner with Breakfast Club of Canada and be an integral part of an initiative like Shooting for the Stars, an event that allows young people from Indigenous communities to open their horizons while enjoying an exceptional experience! Beyond an unforgettable travel adventure, we are proud to transport them to their full potential.”
– Priscille LeBlanc, Chair of the Air Canada Foundation

“Breakfast Club of Canada is dedicated to helping children from Indigenous communities and allowing them to dream just as big as any other child. What might seem like just a trip is in fact the opportunity to partake in an out-of-the-ordinary experience, but also to create everlasting memories, and that’s why Shooting for the Stars is so important.”
– Daniel Germain, President Founder of Breakfast Club of Canada

Special thanks to our generous partners, without which this event would not be possible:

  • Sheraton Montreal
  • Central Mountain Air
  • Limo Krystal
  • La Cage – Brasserie sportive
  • McDonald’s
  • Cora
  • Observatoire Place Ville Marie
  • Montreal Science Centre
  • La Grande Roue de Montréal

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Breakfast Club of Canada is a charitable organization that provides funding, equipment, training and support to school breakfast programs across the country. The Club is dedicated to ensuring every child starts their day with a nutritious morning meal, in a safe and secure environment. Founded in Quebec in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is present in 1,640 schools from coast to coast feeding over 220,000 children every school morning. To learn more visit breakfastclubcanada.org or find us on social media.

About the Air Canada Foundation

The Air Canada Foundation, a registered charitable organization, focused on the health and well-being of children and youth, was launched in 2012. It offers both financial and in-kind support to Canadian registered charities.  Core programs include the Hospital Transportation Program which donates Aeroplan Miles to pediatric hospitals across Canada enabling children to access medical care unavailable locally and the Volunteer Involvement Program which recognizes the involvement of employees in their local community by providing airline tickets to the registered charities in support of their fundraising initiatives.  The Foundation, in collaboration with the airline, also engages directly in fundraising activities such as the Every Bit Counts program, which encourages customers to donate loose change of all denominations onboard flights or through airport collection containers, as well as through various fundraising events. The Foundation also offers continued support to major health-related causes that benefit Canadians and is an active participant in international humanitarian relief activity as the need arises.  For more information about the Air Canada Foundation and its impact, please visit www.aircanada.com/foundation  or www.aircanada.com/citizensoftheworld2017.

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For further information:

Meagan Conn
Project Manager, Public Relations and Government Affairs
Breakfast Club of Canada
Meagan.Conn@breakfastclubcanada.org
1 866 794-4900, extension 3704

CANADA JUST TOOK A HISTORIC FIRST STEP TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD STARTS THEIR DAY WITH AN EQUAL CHANCE OF SUCCESS

Federal Government to Invest in the Creation of National School Food Program

Statement from Daniel Germain, Founder of Breakfast Club of Canada Following the 2019th Budget Announcement

“Today, we applaud the government’s historic decision to provide children from around the country with access to a healthy breakfast before they start their day. The creation of a National School Food Program is a demonstration of true leadership in building a stronger, healthier and more equitable Canada, and is also a testament to the hard work that thousands of volunteers have put into running programs nationwide. We all know that when children succeed, society succeeds. Our team at Breakfast Club of Canada is overjoyed and incredibly proud of this initiative. We have been advocating tirelessly for a national program and are eager to see this project finally come to life. Rest assured that it is with a humble heart and with great determination that we are ready to start working in collaboration with the government and the Ministry of Agriculture as part of the Food Policy, to ensure that every child gets what they deserve, a healthy breakfast and the opportunity to thrive.”
– Daniel Germain, Founding President of Breakfast Club of Canada

BREAKFAST CLUB OF CANADA PROUDLY ACCEPTS A $100,000 DONATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF ARCHIE HARRISON MOUNTBATTEN-WINDSOR

BOUCHERVILLE, May 31, 2019 – Breakfast Club of Canada extends its heartfelt thanks to the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, for having selected the Club as the recipient of this donation.

This gift is a vote of confidence and recognition for the work we have been doing, with purpose and passion, for nearly 25 years. Our determination to provide children with an equal chance to succeed, one breakfast at a time, has never wavered. We do everything in our power to ensure as many young Canadians as possible have access to a school breakfast program.

“We share the honour we are receiving today with all those who help us fulfill our mission every single morning,” said Daniel Germain, President and Founder of Breakfast Club of Canada. “By that we mean more than 17,500 volunteers across Canada, as well as our 84 employees, financial partners, individual donors and community partners in every provinces and territories. Because of this incredible network, 230,000 children get to enjoy daily breakfast in one of the programs supported by the Club.”

“Today’s donation is also highly symbolic,” he added. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are committed to taking care of their new baby, no matter what may arise. That is exactly what a breakfast program represents in children’s eyes. It’s a warm, welcoming place where they know they will be taken care of, valued as individuals and given a nutritious breakfast in an environment that fosters their health and well-being.”

“We would like to take this opportunity to invite all Canadians to support us in our mission. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,” Germain concluded.

Highlights

  • Funding
    • Will be used to open 5 new breakfast programs in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec (in an Indigenous community)
    • Will benefit 500 children a day for an entire school year
    • Will make it possible to serve 100,000+ breakfasts
    • Will cover food-related expenses.
  • In Canada, one out of four children starts the day without breakfast. That works out to more than 1 million young people who do not have access to a healthy morning meal before they step into the classroom.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Breakfast Club of Canada is a charitable organization that provides funding, equipment, training and support to school breakfast programs across the country. The Club is dedicated to ensuring every child starts their day with a nutritious morning meal, in a safe and secure environment. Founded in Quebec in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is present in 1,640 schools from coast to coast feeding over 220,000 children every school morning. To learn more visit breakfastclubcanada.org or find us on social media.

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For further information:
Justine Plourde
Advisor, PR and communications
Breakfast Club of Canada
justine.plourde@breakfastclubcanada.org
1 888 442-1217, extension 3369

A YEAR BEYOND BREAKFAST FOR BREAKFAST CLUB OF CANADA

PUBLICATION OF THE CLUB’S 2017–2018 ACTIVITY REPORT

Boucherville, April 17, 2019 – Breakfast Club of Canada is proud to unveil its activity report for 2017–2018. During this pivotal past year, the Club hosted the Global Child Nutrition Forum, in collaboration with the Global Child Nutrition Foundation and the UN World Food Programme’s Centre of Excellence against Hunger. In addition, the Ministry of Education of Quebec recognized the importance of nutrition in children’s education by creating a policy allowing for more breakfast programs to be created. The report also presents new statistics on the impact of breakfast programs across the country, along with up-to-date information on the Club’s level of involvement depending on the needs of the school communities served.

Highlights

  • For the first time, the report includes a map showing the various roles played by Breakfast Club of Canada in each province and territory. This provides an at-a-glance look at how the Club adapts specifically to various types of needs.
  • In 2017–2018, three innovative projects were set up to help an even greater number of children from coast to coast.
    • In an effort to assist remote communities, an entrepreneurial project was created to feed children in three breakfast programs in La Loche, Saskatchewan, thereby having an impact on the lives of 1,100 students.
    • Neighbouring communities far from urban centres benefited from the Club’s contacts to tap into new supply networks, reduce food-related expenses and enjoy easier access to more nutritious products.
    • A pilot project funded by the Ministry of Family of Quebec was announced to evaluate the impact of breakfast service to early childhood centres.
  • The impact of the Club’s work was also measured through two surveys conducted during the year with the help of the school administrators and parents. The results are summarized in the report.

Quotes

“Not only is our organization feeding more children and experiencing continued growth, we have also taken on a global approach, which has allowed us to galvanize multiple stakeholders and raise awareness about the critical issue of child hunger.”
– Daniel Germain, President and Founder, Breakfast Club of Canada

“Backed by 24 years of experience, Breakfast Club of Canada is now a force to be reckoned with on the Canadian philanthropic scene. We will continue to pull out all the stops to ensure that no child starts their school day on an empty stomach and gets left behind.”
– Pierre Riel, Chair of the Board of Directors

Documentation

Full 2017–2018 activity report here.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been nourishing children’s potential by making sure as many of them as possible have access to a healthy morning meal before school, in an environment that allows their self-esteem to grow and flourish. But the Club is much more than a breakfast program: we take a broader approach that promotes the core values of engagement, enrichment and empowerment, and we team up with communities and local partners to develop solutions adapted to their specific needs. Operating from coast to coast, Breakfast Club of Canada helps feed more than 220,000 students every day in 1,643 schools.

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For more information:
Justine Plourde
Communications Advisor, Public Relations
Breakfast Club of Canada
1-888-442-1217 # 3369
justine.plourde@clubdejeuner.org

MEMBERS APPOINTED TO BREAKFAST CLUB OF CANADA’S NEXT GENERATION COMMITTEE

Joining Forces to Reach Out to Even More Kids

Montreal, Tuesday, April 30, 2019 – The result of the collaborative efforts of co-chairs Isabelle Lafont and Véronique Arsenault, Breakfast Club of Canada’s Next Generation Committee officially kicked off its operations this week. Sitting on the Committee are six professionals committed to contributing to the Club’s mission of giving children an equal chance to succeed in life. To achieve this goal, the Next Generation Committee will contribute to the Club’s existing fundraisers and introduce new activities, while helping to further strengthen the network of corporate support for the life-changing work done by the organization.

Highlights:

  • The six members of the Next Generation Committee are:
    • Véronique Arsenault, President and Founder, Exponentiel Conseil
    • Isabelle Lafont, Business Development Officer, Verger St-Paul Inc.
    • Christine Barcelo, Director, Rachelle-Béry Marché Barcelo
    • Marie-Catherine Girouard, Commercial Legal Counsel, Aimia Canada Inc.
    • Radosveta Ilieva, Senior Advisor in Enterprise Risk Management, Loto-Québec
    • Marc-Olivier Paquet, Head of Finance, Reflector Entertainment.
  • The Committee’s first assignment will be to help promote the next generation brunch to be held during the Club’s annual golf tournament on June 3.
  • The committee selection process also gave the Club an opportunity to connect with promising new contacts who will serve to expand the organization’s circle of supporters.

Quotes:

“There are still too many people out there who don’t realize the sheer number of children who rely on organizations like Breakfast Club of Canada. I truly believe that, by raising awareness about the Club and its vital mission, we will create a groundswell of support and inspire the business community to get involved and make a real difference for children in need.” — Christine Barcelo, Director, Rachelle Béry Marché Barcelo

“I think this is one of the most heartwarming causes there is in Quebec. And I noticed when I first started thinking about getting involved that the legal community, of which I am a proud member, is underrepresented among Club partners. I plan to leverage my own network of contacts to help diversify this support.”
— Marie-Catherine Girouard, Commercial Legal Counsel, Air Canada

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Breakfast Club of Canada is a charitable organization that provides funding, equipment, training and support to school breakfast programs across the country. The Club is dedicated to ensuring every child starts their day with a nutritious morning meal, in a safe and secure environment. Founded in Quebec in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is present in 1,640 schools from coast to coast feeding over 220,000 children every school morning. To learn more visit breakfastclubcanada.org or find us on social media.

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For more information:
Justine Plourde
Communications Advisor, Public Relations
Breakfast Club of Canada
justine.plourde@breakfastclubcanada.org
1-888-442-1217 #3369

TOMMY KULCZYK APPOINTED GENERAL MANAGER OF BREAKFAST CLUB OF CANADA

BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec, May 29, 2019 – The Board of Directors of Breakfast Club of Canada is proud to announce the arrival of Tommy Kulczyk as the head of the Club’s management team. He will be tasked with overseeing Canada-wide operations and optimizing the organization’s development in line with the strategic priorities set forth by the Board of directors.

With its 25th anniversary just around the corner, the Club is at a turning point in its history, with a significant growth foreseen in a near future. The organization is dedicated to implementing every possible solution to fully capitalize on opportunities as they arise in order to benefit Canadian children. Adding Mr. Kulczyk to the leadership team is a decision that embodies this ambition.

Highlights

  • With numerous awards and government accolades to his credit, he has earned an outstanding reputation in the non-profit and community services sectors.
  • The projects he has developed and spearheaded have been lauded at the national level and their impact are evergrowing.
  • His 35 years of outstanding contribution to Sun Youth and his recent experience as Montreal’s Commissioner for Children speak volumes about his tireless commitment to the younger generation and the most underprivileged members of our society.

Quotes

“Mr. Kulczyk comes to us with extensive management experience, a remarkable ability to rally stakeholders and institutions together around game-changing initiatives, and an in-depth understanding of the issues facing the Club as well as the socioeconomic and political realities underlying them. “
– Pierre Riel, Chairman of the Board of Directors

“The fact that Tommy Kulczyk accepted our invitation fills us with enormous pride. We believe that his leadership, his humanity, his integrity and his diligence will benefit our organization and the cause we all embrace of nourishing children’s health and potential, one breakfast at a time!”
– Daniel Germain, Founding-President

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Breakfast Club of Canada is a charitable organization that provides funding, equipment, training and support to school breakfast programs across the country. The Club is dedicated to ensuring every child starts their day with a nutritious morning meal, in a safe and secure environment. Founded in Quebec in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is present in 1,640 schools from coast to coast feeding over 220,000 children every school morning. To learn more visit breakfastclubcanada.org or find us on social media.

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For further information:
Sophie Boulay
Communications Director
Breakfast Club of Canada
514 240-4262
Sophie.Boulay@clubdejeuner.org