100 Youth from Boys and Girls Clubs and Big Brothers Big Sisters Job Shadow MPs on Parliament Hill

OTTAWA, ON, May 30, 2016 -- Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada (BGCC) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) are once again partnering to host the third annual YOUth In Office: JOB SHADOWING DAY ON PARLIAMENT HILL on Tuesday, May 31, 2016.

Young people aged 14 to 24 will get a chance to learn about politics and the political process from Members of Parliament (MPs) and Hill staffers. Approximately 100 youth and 100 MPs will spend the workday together as part of a joint initiative to inspire young people to become more engaged citizens by exposing them to politics and the democratic process in Canada.

"I learned so much from participating in the last YOUth In Office," says Lauren, a member of Boys and Girls Club of Truro and Colchester in Nova Scotia "To have a day on the Hill where the youth are the main focus is an amazing thing. It really sparked my interest in politics."

Recent polling shows that a strong majority of Canadians believe that young people have too little influence on public policy in this country. YOUth in Office puts these young people on a path to building that influence.

"At Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada we believe every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, as individuals and as citizens," says Peter Coleridge, President and CEO of BBBSC. "Events like YOUth In Office are, in essence, mentoring opportunities, which build confidence in young people and result in positive outcomes in mental health, employment, inclusion and civic engagement later in life."

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada are committed to improving educational and career outcomes for all youth. Before spending the day with MPs, participants will take part in a preparation day that will include a meet & greet, media training, networking, and skill-building.

For more information, visit www.bgccan.com and www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.

About Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is dedicated to supporting and encouraging children and youth as they discover, develop and achieve great futures. We are a national charity serving 96 member Clubs that provide services to 200,000 young people in 625 locations across Canada. Our trained staff and volunteers listen to the opinions and ideas of children and youth, applaud their accomplishments, lend support during their struggles and provide ways for them to explore their interests and talents. With this encouragement, young people develop the confidence and sense of belonging that helps them overcome barriers, form positive relationships and mature into responsible, caring adults. For 116 years, we have welcomed children, youth and their families into Clubs that reflect the diversity of Canada in small and large cities, and rural and Indigenous communities. Visit www.bgccan.com and follow us at www.facebook.com/bgccan and www.twitter.com/bgccan.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

For over one hundred years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been making a positive difference in the lives of Canada's youth by developing and implementing a wide range of mentoring programs. BBBS volunteer mentors teach by example the importance of giving back, of staying in school, and of respecting family, peers and community. BBBS provides quality mentoring services for more than 42,000 children and teenagers. The community-based youth mentoring organization currently has over 37,000 volunteer mentors working at 114 agencies that serve children in over 1,100 communities across the country. Learn more. Visit www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=40398

CONTACT: Jared Morrow
         Communications Services
         Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
         647-928-5801
         [email protected] 
         
         Jody Lundrigan
         National Director, Marketing and Communications 
         Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
         1-800-263-9133 x49
         [email protected]