Happy 2018! We’re so excited for the year ahead. Help us keep up the momentum by signing up to be a Big Sister. We know you’d make an excellent mentor and we can’t wait to match you with your Little Sister. Apply Here
Reflecting on her own childhood, which was challenged with dysfunctional family dynamics, Cori states that she and her Little Sister, Tianna, are incredibly well matched, likely because they had similar childhoods. Despite initial nervousness, Cori and Tianna’s relationship has blossomed into an affectionate, compassionate, and fun-filled friendship. “We were both nervous at first. I took a photo of us on our first day together and you can tell from our body language that we were both very timid—the affection wasn’t there yet—but now we’re at the point where we can say we love each other and give bear hugs!” After more than two years of being matched, Cori can see the transformations in Tianna. “I’ve noticed that Tianna likes […]
We’re so lucky to have UPS as a major partner. They not only donate significant funds to our activities committee who organizes exciting events for our Littles and their Bigs, but they’ve also volunteered over 268 hours in the past three years. We talked with Cindy from UPS to hear what they like best about volunteering with Big Sisters! Q: What is UPS’ focus in community giving? In August 2017, UPS celebrated 110 years and the company has been a part of the Canadian community for over 40 years. As we continue to grow and evolve, so do the communities we live in and serve. The UPS Foundation’s current philanthropic approach focuses on four areas that represent the purpose of […]
As the holiday season approaches, we thought we’d share this throwback letter from one of our Little Sisters, Darci. Here’s what she has to say. “My mother introduced me to the idea of having a Big Sister when stresses in my life were getting to me. There was a time when we did have an acceptable amount of money and when I did have friends, but one day all that seemed to disappear and, as I look back now, there were a lot of events that led up to me needing a Big Sister. My parents split up when I was young and that caused me to feel even more fearful and unstable. I had already witnessed violence and a […]
We talk a lot about how mentoring impacts the mentee, but what you don’t hear as often is how our Big Sisters and families are impacted too. Here are three quotes we wanted to share from one of our matches who was matched for seven years. Sandy, Little Study Buddy Dominique’s Mom When my daughter had a psych assessment in grade four, I was informed of her learning disabilities. We were asked to leave the school (French Immersion) and find another school that would suit her needs. I was so upset, confused, and scared. It was a teacher at Dominique’s new school that suggested the Study Buddy program. How very grateful I am for that suggestion. Meeting Thea has been […]
We are less than a week away from #GivingTuesday, a day after CyberMonday and Black Friday where we open our hearts and rally together to help our favourite causes. Originally started in 2012, #GivingTuesday is also meant to act as the “beginning of the giving season”—a way to kick of the time of year where the holiday giving spirit is in full force! We here at Big Sisters of the BC Lower Mainland wanted to celebrate this upcoming Giving Tuesday by giving you an idea of just how much behind the scenes work goes on here to create the perfect Big & Little match. So we created this video! In […]
Did you know you can refer a Little Sister, Little Sibling, or Study Buddy to our programs? We match Lower Mainland female, transgender, and non-binary youth (ages 7-17) with a volunteer Big Sister, Big Sibling or Study Buddy in a one-to-one mentoring relationship. All Little Study Buddies must be: Ages 7 – 17 Live in the Lower Mainland Interested in being matched with a caring, adult mentor Able to meet the minimum time commitment of the Study Buddy program (1 hour/week for 6 months) In need of academic support Unable to access tutoring through other agencies due to family financial constraints (i.e. low income) Refer a youth to the Study Buddy program (1 hour/week for 6 months) by downloading and completing […]
First things first – THANK YOU. We had the most incredible time celebrating Mentorship and all the amazing people contributing to bettering the lives of our Littles, Bigs, and our communities all over the Lower Mainland. Here’s a little recap of how the night went: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver was alight with our big-hearted community. Guests had the opportunity to network with over 470 guests, including individuals from: the Peter & Joanne Brown Foundation, Windsor Plywood Foundation, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp., HNW Services, John and Dana Montalbano’s First Light Foundation, and so many more! A champagne reception, generously sponsored by Norton […]
We want to show you why #MentoringMatters to us with the launch of #MentoringMondays! Today, we launch something we are very excited about! For the next four weeks we will be sharing stories from our Big and Little Sisters. These stories best showcase all the different ways #MentoringMatters and all the facets that our programs can involve. These four stories show off what we do best, which is creating healthy, supportive, and life long relationships between Big and Little Sisters. To begin our series we would like to share three stories right off the bat! Three girls of different ages, and the women who have come into their lives support and help them thrive. We’d like to introduce you to: […]
When people think about mentoring, they think of it as benefitting girls, but the truth is that volunteers also benefit from mentoring. As a mentor, knowing that you have such a big influence on a young girl’s life gives you a strong sense of purpose; you gain meaning. Depending on your schedule and lifestyle, you can become involved with Big Sisters in a variety of ways! We know that our volunteers have schedules and responsibilities, and for that reason we have positions convenient for people with a wide variety of lifestyles. There are many ways to get involved and change a girl’s life. Have Fun & Change a Girl’s Life “In my 3 years as a Big, I felt honored […]