Connecting Youth Through Chess

The BCJCA is a student-run non-profit organization that aims to promote a more connected youth chess community in British Columbia.

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Throughout the past two years, we have organized many tournaments and events across BC, including the BC High School Chess Championships. Open to all secondary schools and high schools in BC, the team-based tournament consists of both in-person regional qualifiers and a final provincial championship. Last year, we saw a total of 37 schools participate across 9 districts. In addition to the High School Championships, we also host seasonal rapid tournaments open to anyone under 18 years of age; our past two tournaments each hosted over 80 participants.

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Our After-School Chess program connects local high schools with elementary schools, involving over 30 volunteer instructors and more than 150 students across 6 elementary schools. Lead instructors design student-led lessons, providing both high school and elementary students with the opportunity to actively participate in the chess community.

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Currently, we have over 75 clubs represented from all across the Lower Mainland and more than 300 members in our community, whom we connect with through our website, our Discord server, and social media. In the future, we hope to further support the creation of chess clubs at schools, continue to host regular tournaments, and expand our After-School Chess program.