News
Canadian School Councillor Magazine
September 2016
Vice-principal Walter Mustapich and theatre and film teacher Jimmy Crescenzo launched the Boys Club Network, or BCN, in 2004. Reunited that year at the secondary school both had attended in their youth, the long-time friends fretted over the regression they were seeing among their male students compared to the girls. “we realized boys had fallen behind academically and socially, that too many were living according to the belief ‘it’s cool to be a fool.'” Mustapich explains.
Knowing that adolescent boys have a much higher likelihood than girls to commit a crime, drop out of school and commit suicide, Mustapich and Crescenzo decided to act. A plan was hatched to develop a program for boys at risk of being lost to gangs, depression and suicide. In consultation with fellow staff, the men recruited 15 boys to attend weekly, after-school meetings and the Boys Club Network was born. “We were told that by Christmas the group would be half that size, but all 15 boys finished the year and, in subsequent years, all of them graduated,: Mustapich says proudly.
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Boys Club Network Partnership with BC Ministry of Education, announced at Abbotsford News Conference
A joint announcement by The Honourable Rob Fleming, Minister of Education, and The Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General: Twelve B.C. school districts receive a total of $1.12 million in gang-prevention funds. Moneys...
read moreNelson Star Newspaper: Helping Boys Become Good Men
Paul Luck thinks some adolescent boys are missing positive male role models in their lives. He’s the vice principal of Traflagar Middle School and has started a Boys Club Network chapter at the school to provide adult male mentorship to young boys. “The purpose is to turn young boys into good men,” he said.
read moreNelson Star Newspaper: Positive Conversations
There are a lot of difficult conversations going on in School District 8 in the wake of the #MeToo social media campaign, in which Nelsonites came forward online with stories of being groped, harassed, cat-called, raped and humiliated. But parents can feel assured they have an administration that takes this issue seriously, according to superintendent Christine Perkins.
read moreVancouver Sun: Boys Club Walk-a-thon Raises Funds for Syrian Refugees
Coming from as far afield as Abbotsford’s W.J. Mouat Secondary, the youths are members of the Boys Club Network, a mentorship program designed to engage at-risk boys before they drop out of school, join a gang, try drugs or otherwise are disenfranchised.
read moreTEDx Talk: Growing At-Risk Boys into Good Men
Walter Mustapich November 3, 2015 - running time: 20:20
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