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Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa to unveil new youth-created mural

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Club’s Police Youth Centre Members and local artist created three-panel artwork to be permanently installed at Clubhouse

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The writing is on the wall for the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa’s Police Youth Centre: thanks to support from the Paint It Up! program, a new outdoor mural hangs near the Clubhouse’s basketball court.

The Paint It Up! program is funded by

Crime Prevention Ottawa, in partnership with the City of Ottawa. The program began in 2010 as a way to engage youth, beautify Ottawa communities and prevent graffiti. In 2014, they agreed to fund the project for the Police Youth Centre (PYC).

Throughout the summer of 2014, a team of youth aged six to 18 years worked with renowned Ottawa-area artist Marcio Melo to bring their artistic ideas to life. Together, the group worked to create a

stunning three-panel mural to showcase how the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa (BGCO) makes them feel like they can belong, believe and achieve. The youth Members designed and painted the entire piece, with professional artist Melo assisting with the main outlines.

“At the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, we strongly support the creative arts,” says Colleen Mooney, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. “Not only can a mural project like this be a great creative outlet for our youth, it also teaches them teamwork, patience, cooperation and a whole host of other skills that will help them in their futures.”

The BGCO will be officially unveiling the mural on Wednesday, November 12 at 3:30 pm at BGCO’s Police Youth Centre (PYC) location at 1463 Prince of Wales Dr. Media and members of the public are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

[ Colleen Mooney, Executive Director, BGCO, cuts the ribbon with BGCO youth

](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/bgcopycribboncutting.jpg) [ bgcopycbelong

](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/bgcopycbelong.jpg) [ bgcopycbelieve

](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/bgcopycbelieve.jpg) [ bgcopycachieve

](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/bgcopycachieve.jpg) Colleen Mooney, Executive Director, BGCO, cuts the ribbon with BGCO youth **

About the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa

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Serving the Ottawa area since 1923, the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa is a leader in after-school, weekend and summer programs for children and youth aged 6 to 18 years. Each year, through its eight locations throughout the city, the Club offers approximately 4,500 children and youth access to a

supportive place where they can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life

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The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa is a registered charity (# 118814565 RR0001).

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For more information, contact:

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Julie Hawrishok Marketing and Communications Officer Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa 613-232-0925 Ext. 224 jhawrishok@bgcottawa.org

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