It all started with a question.

“How can we get more kids into the building?” asked Lieutenant David Hipperson, the former Salvation Army pastor at Georgina Community Church in Jackson’s Point, Ont.

John Burrows, who has been attending the church with his wife, Alice, for 18 years, had a slightly surprising answer.

“I could start a chess club.”

Opening Moves

The suggestion was born out of a personal hobby of John’s, and a skill he had honed as a boy. The knowledge he gained was particularly useful later in life while working as a schoolteacher.

“As a teacher, you have to do extra-curriculars,” he explains. “The kids didn’t want to go outside in the winter. So, I ran a chess club. The kids would have their lunch and then play chess.”

Seeing this as a great opportunity to get young people into the church, Lieutenant David called John that week, explaining that he had secured a $1,000 grant from local charity sources.

Over the next few months, John, with Alice’s help, filled out forms, received the grant and set up the infrastructure for what would become the Georgina Chess Academy.

With John as the teacher and Alice handling administration, the academy officially kicked off in January 2023, running its first session out of Georgina Community Church. The eight-week program, consisting of lessons and a final tournament, saw a turnout of around 15 students, aged seven to 16.

Honing Skills

The academy now offers two sessions a year—one in the spring and one in the fall.

It has assembled a small group of volunteer helpers, expanded its capacity to accommodate 35 students in each program and has even accumulated a waiting list. The Burrows have also experimented with senior drop-in sessions.

Additionally, its tiered system—operating a beginner group and an experienced group—has not only helped students learn about chess but hone their competition skills. Since its conception, six students from the Georgina Chess Academy have qualified for and competed in provincial tournaments hosted by the Chess and Math Association, with half their entry fees subsidized by the club.

Not Just a Game

But beyond technical chess skill, the Burrows have been blessed by the opportunity to help kids grow.

“We have a very high retention rate. Five kids have been with us since the beginning,” Alice notes.

Whether it be young people with ADHD and other attention disorders slowly becoming focused, or quiet and timid teenagers becoming more confident, social and outgoing, the couple have seen how the club offers benefits that far exceed knowledge of chess.

Such individual growth has created a positive culture.

“They are very respectful,” John says. “As some students get older and better, they develop leadership and volunteer opportunities. They teach the younger kids, learning patience and self-confidence that way.”

The participants also help with cleanup, adding to their responsibilities.

As well, friendships have blossomed along the way. This was made particularly evident by a student who noted in an end-of-session feedback card: “Chess isn’t just a game. You can make friends.” 

“As some students get older and better, they develop leadership and volunteer opportunities. They teach the younger kids, learning patience and self-confidence that way.” JOHN BURROWS

Answering the Call

Though the academy is strictly about providing an opportunity for students to learn chess, without exorbitant tutor fees, and offering an alternative and possibly new point of interest—not all kids play hockey, for example—John believes it answered the call of his former pastor to get more children into the church.

For an evening a week, over the course of each session, Georgina Community Church’s fellowship hall is filled with young people. Community members have also become more aware of the church’s location and the building’s openness as they know the church, now with Lieutenants Jenny and Matthew Rideout serving as pastors, is donating the space and time to the free club.

It has also provided an opportunity to connect youth to other elements of church life. Some participants have attended the nearby Jackson’s Point Camp, while others have obtained high school volunteer hours.

“Some have volunteered to be Santa’s elves for church Christmas photos, some have done kettles or manned a booth at our community carnival,” Alice states. “They have also helped John and me to do outreach at town events.”

Endgame

Having completed seven sessions, the Burrows believe the club has reached the ideal level.

“We could probably run a whole separate club, but then it becomes work,” John admits. “That would become less joyous.”

More importantly, it would detract from the genesis of the idea.

“We could build it bigger,” says John. “The town has told us they can provide us with a bigger space; they’ve been most helpful. But the whole idea was the church. We don’t want to go beyond that.”

Photo: Courtesy of the Georgina Chess Academy

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