Parent testimonial

"I feel the program can still benefit my son once he is matched again. All experiences are an opportunity for growth and learning. I feel the program has great potential to make a real difference in my son's life"

"I am glad my son has the opportunity to have his mentor in his life. He has learned many things from him. It is a positive experience for him"

“His mentor has been able to teach him skills (like working with wood) that we would never be able to teach him”

“He likes him and thinks he is a good guy. They have fun together”

The mom reported that outside of family members the Big Brother is the only person the Little Brother will go outside the home with due to his anxiety. The Little Brother enjoys their time together. The Little Brother describes the Big as his friend. He says that "he is funny and we can talk about things"

“Linus adores his BB, and they love that he has a guy to hang out with. When they were together recently, they shot golf balls into the cornfield behind Sean’s house. Linus was happy that Sean is helping him with his stick skills, as he will be starting ball hockey soon. When asked to describe the match relationship in two words, the mom said - supportive and loving"

"Sean has shown such a consistent and meaningful commitment to spending time with Jivan. Today, he even went the extra mile and signed them both up for a 5K run/walk!
Sean was up early at 8am to pick up Jivan, who absolutely adores him. Jivan genuinely loves their time together and is always looking forward to their next meeting."
Thank you for making this happen with BBBS!

MENTEE TESTIMONIAL

One to One Program

"Having a mentor makes me feel like I'm not alone, like I'm at home

"My BS was very sweet and kind and she was there for me when we discussed my problems"

"I liked all the activities we did together-mini golf, football and going to the movies. I caught my first catfish when we went fishing!"

"We always have a good time together. She is easy to talk to and she understands me as a person. I appreciate everything she does for me!

"Going to the beach and being pulled on a boogie board. So many memories hard to choose. Always have something to look forward to. Nice to have someone to look up to"

" The advice he gives me is insightful. His advice has helped me to do things I would not have done in the past"

" A Little Brother, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, was asked what is the best thing about your Big Sisters (gross gender match) he said "Everything". Short answer, but when I told the Big Sister it brought a tear to her eyes. She was so pleased to feel like she was making a real connection/difference with him"

School Based Program

(Go Girls, Virtual Mentoring, In School Program, The Little Studio, Powerplay, Switch Gears)

- Go Girls Program

Mentor 1 : She loves to listen to what I have to say.

Mentor 2 : She listens and does not judge.

Mentor 3 : By how caring he is and she is good at dealing with stuff we talked about.

"How do you know your mentor cares about what you think?

Yes, it was very fun and helpful! I feel much more confident and happier!

Thanks so much for this. I look forward to Go Girls every week and always have so much fun! I feel more confident and less shy now.

Yes, it helped me get rid of my depression and I got my smile back and now I am a lot happier in life.

Yes, I did. It made me feel safe and it was so fun.

"Did you find the group helpful?

- Go Girls Program

I loved this group and I want it to keep going. It was the best thing that happened to my school. I am going to miss this.

I would like the group to continue because it helped me so much

- Go Girls Program

Mentor 1 : I like how we have conversations and do activities and we are all included/involved and have a a good time.

Mentor 2 : I feel comfortable in the Go Girls group and feel listened to.

Mentor 3 : I was nervous at the start of the group but we are able to talk and ask questions without being judged

- Go Girls Program

- Group program

" A male youth in a group program remarked to staff that this group has allowed him to make friends in the school he normally would not have been able to make. He discussed feeling connected to his peers, learning about other people and having healthy relationships. He also said he enjoyed all of the activities and the "food".

- In School Mentoring

"I like hanging out with her, we talked a lot and she helps me. She's really fun. I would describe her as my own big sister"

Mentor testimonial

Go Girls

" The relationship between us and our mentees is a very healthy one. We get along very well, making jokes, laughing together, if they have questions we answer, and they are comfortable answering questions for them when we want to learn about them more"

"The main topic this week was about the influence of social media on girls. The mentees were very open about their experiences and seemed eager to discuss how they perceive beauty, what they see on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and hot it impacts their self-esteem. There's a recurring theme of wanting to challenge unrealistic beauty standard and a strong desire for authenticity online. Many of the girls seem to resonate with the pressures of social media but also show a critical awareness of its downsides."

"Having the opportunity to not only mentor on a one-on-one basis but also through group facilitation provided me with a very well-rounded educational experience. Specifically, running the Go Girls group. This group allowed me to build a lot of much-needed confidence within my role and I feel as though it has had a lasting impact on both my future practice and as a person. The goals of the group and the Go Girls manual were very insightful and allowed me to have a lot of great conversations with my mentees both in the group and with my one-on-ones"

Mentor 1 : I like that the activities allow for some in-depth conversations but also allow the mentees to have fun and be silly together

Mentor 2 : Physical activities allow the group to get some of the jitters/nerves out and then get refocused

Mentor 3 : I think the group is doing an excellent job of working towards its goals. The mentees are excited and engaged in all topics. They are making meaningful connections between topics/weeks."

Mentor 1 : "The group grew together over the seven weeks we were together and i challenged them to talk to each other instead of a single exchange between mentor and mentees, which seemed to work well"

Mentor 2 : "I think this program allows the girls to showcase & respect all personalities in the group, while providing an opportunity to speak to the new challenges our youth currently face."

Mentor 3 : "Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the Go Girls Program. It's truly rewarding to be a positive influence in the lives of the young girls in our community."

Summer Camp

"I am thrilled to report on the success of the 2024 BBBS summer camp program. Your funding assisted in allowing us to keep the camp free of charge for all attendees therefore removing the financial stress of many parents/guardians that would typically not be able to send their child to camp. The summer camps serviced over 90 attendees over the course of 4 weeks. The campers assisted were primarily aged 10-12, with some campers requiring additional assistance due to physical and developmental disabilities"
- Nicolas

"Essentially, the warm, friendly atmosphere we provided at our summer camp allowed many kids such as the one described above, to step out of their shell and gain confidence in themselves. It allowed them to meet new people, make new friends and bond with their peers. Furthermore, our summer camp helped to foster and build healthy relationships among those who need it but may have been to shy or scared to achieve it by their lonesome."
-Hayley

" It was incredible the difference in our campers from the beginning of camp to the end; those who were shy, left with a new sense of confidence; those who were lonely, left with new friendships; those who needed a positive role model, left with the bond they had made with the camp leaders. It was truly amazing to see the happy, smiley faces campers had from the moment they were dropped off to when they were being picked up as it showed how much they were enjoying spending their days with us at camp"
-Hayley

"Being at Summer Camp provides kids/our mentees the opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and make wonderful memories by indulging in all the fun activities we plan. Before any of this can happen however, kids first need to feel comfortable in the space, to let their guard down around the campers and the camp leaders. This is exactly what I witnessed happening among our campers and I have one particular camper in mind."
-Hayley

"It was also good to see the level of trust that had been established between us leaders and the campers as they were willing and open to be vulnerable during our discussions on topics such as Masculinity/Femininity, Leadership, Self – expression, etcetera. I truly believe attendance at this camp benefitted every camper and made it a summer of laughs, friendships, happiness and fun!”
-Hayley

The Little Studio

“Some of these kids are incredibly talented artists and have created masterpieces that go way beyond the arts and crafts we do in The Little Studio. However, one of the reasons that keep our kids coming back, season after season, is the opportunity they get to freely express themselves, through art, in a non-judgemental environment surrounded by a close-knit community of friends."
- Ariela

"One of my personal goals for The Little Studio is that our kids can feel proud of their creations, not solely because of the end product of them, but rather, that they are proud of the process: to learn, to share and to feel joy in creating it.”
-Ariela

"One of the little artists in a session had mentioned that they often do a lot of art in school, but that it can be stressful at times and that they don’t enjoy it as much because they’re so focused on making sure it looks good enough for their teacher, their classmates, the classroom walls etc. One of their favourite hobbies at home is drawing and painting, but they mentioned that they’re often not motivated to do it because it quickly gets boring having to do it alone as an only child, and that they have no one to show-off their art to. This is why The Little Studio is so important to them."
-Ariela

"They use that hour every week to unwind, to take a break from the normal routine and do fun arts and crafts activities without any of those external or internal pressures of having to be perfect. They get the chance, and are encouraged to, express themselves in any way they like, while being able to share any of their thoughts, feelings, and stories to their friends."
-Ariela

Virtual Mentoring

"The mentor has been great support to the mentee and both the parent and mentee say that the big sister has been a great support. The talk weekly and sometimes text in between chats, the BS reached out to the LS with a care package because she knew she was having a hard time. The mom says its so great to hear her daughter laughing in the other room and feels the BS has done an awesome job of supporting her daughter and building her confidence."

"Both have said that having this BS has exceeded their expectations of what the impact a virtual match could have been. Direct quote from the mentee: ‘Big Sister is amazing and listens and brings things up to talk about, they always talk about something new and they laugh a lot."

One-to-One Mentoring

"One of my mentees, who's about 10 years old, had mentioned to me being anxious about goal setting and journaling. As we talked through starting small when it came to goal setting, she began brainstorming what she would want to be better at. We also discussed journaling, and we came up with the idea that I would write some prompts up, and she can answer them at her own pace. To my surprise, she did all of them and said that it helped her calm down a lot. It was a success as she was so hesitant to start, but she did it anyways"

"Keep up the great work! it has been an amazing experience with great communication, support and leadership within the organization. I will continue to recommend you to others who are seeking volunteer experience and wanting to make a difference in someone's life"

"My LB is a great kid. When we hung out together, it was rewarding to see a smile on his face

"Seeing him grow as a person. Significant changes in his confidence. It is a rewarding experience and I like him cope with his feelings and emotions. I like being a positive male in his life"

"Being a BS has brought me JOY. It has been very rewarding feeling. I felt like I helped make a difference in my LS life"

"The experience of being a Big Brother was amazing. It brought me joy in seeing the excitement my Little Brother had every time he knew I was coming to visit. From playing sports to simply hanging out in the local park and recreation center, we had many great memories that will last a lifetime. We are so extremely grateful for the opportunities such as getting tickets through BBBS and going to professional sports games, attending community events like bowling as well as the golf tournament fundraiser"

"A young teenage boy in Traditional One-to-One Mentoring who has suffered from anorexia and extreme social anxiety has made huge progress due to medical treatment and due to the patience and perseverance of his Big Brother over their 4 years match. They are now able to go and sit and chat and have a snack at Tim Horton's. The Big Brother says they are like two old friends shooting the breeze. He has allowed the Little Brother to move at his own pace and has seen great strides due to this. Eating in public is a regular occurrence for most but it is a huge milestone for this match."

"By the end of their 5 year match, Alice and Joy became like family, supporting one another through their special bond. Joy played a big part in encouraging mental health supports for the whole family - helping in the most difficult of times. Alice and Joy's match closed earlier this year, but they still meet to this day."

"I currently work with a family that is from a mother led single parent home, with 2 children. This family has faced many challenges throughout my years of being involved with them. The daughter struggles with anxiety and depression, she receives very little support from her family because of their own struggle"

1/3

"She has been wanting to start work but has been very nervous to do this. She has been matched to a Big Sister since 2012. During the time she has been matched, her BS and her have worked on building her self-confidence and helping her to strategize ways of coping with the issues that cause her anxiety. She recently started working part time, something she thought she would not be able to do because of her anxiety and that she wouldn't have the skills necessary to do the job"

2/3

"She has said to me on more than one occasion that she doesn't know where she would be without her Big Sister. Her Big Sister believes in her and gives her the confidence that she can do anything if she puts her mind to it. Her Big Sister has been great at saying to her it's alright to ask for help and it's alright to accept"

3/3

In School Mentoring

"When I first became an in-school mentor, one of the first things I wondered was, "Could I actually help make a difference in my mentees' lives? Will my mentoring have a positive impact on the youth I meet with?" These concerns quickly faded over the couple of months that I've been meeting with my mentees. Withing this time, I've witnessed my mentees being genuinely excited to meet with me, through their willingness to learn a new activity or skill, or to teach me a new activity or skill, to trust me with their most-guarded stories, to collaborate on strategies or solutions to obstacles they're facing, or even just to talk about important or fun things we did during the week. I've had teachers come to tell me that my mentees are beginning to be more engaged and motivated in class, employing problem-solving skills, using healthy coping strategies, and having mutual respect for those around them"
- Savanna

"One of my mentees was extremely quite and a bit rude too in our first meeting. I was told by the liaison that she is 'difficult to handle'. However, throughout our match, she grew fond of our time together, opened up significantly and became calm too. There were a few days when she was hyper or not in the mood for our sessions but eventually I am glad that she enjoyed. She insisted on continuing in this program and meeting me more as well. which made me emotional. I feel I connected well with her, our match was a success and she learnt about being patient and listening through our sessions "

"Talked about the coolest video games, about funny topics going on in the world and as well as his life at school and what's going on at school. As time flew throughout the semester with us, we found we have many things in common and just grew a very special connection as we looked forward to meeting with each other every week. In our last meeting, he said thank you for everything that you did for me and that's the moment that I made a small difference with this young man who is so funny and smart."

"My most successful match occurred with an 11 year old male youth. I learned prior to meeting the match that he suffered from poor self esteem and concurrently struggled to voice his own personal challenges. In the process of nine months together we were able to successfully highlight his strengths as a youth and promote a healthy optimism towards his future moving forward. Brick by brick, the youth built his own personal success story in successfully recognizing his own strengths and creating ambition for his own interests moving forward"

"I had a successful mentee and she was 10 years old. She was someone who gets very mad easily and can get violent if her classmates make her upset. She is a bright little girl and does not get bothered easily. Whenever she gets upset she is always looking forward to seeing me so we can talk about what happened during recess. Together we thought of ways to prevent her from getting mad easily and thinking of other ways to cope with her being stressed or upset. Everytime I get to see her we talked about how her day and week was to see if there would be anything to talk about. As each session went by, I heard so many good comments from the teachers to let me know that she is really improving and she is finding different ways to cope with her stress and her anger. Every week we discuss what helps her and what does not help her. This was one experience of a success in the relationship."

"While reflecting on success stories within my placement I am stuck on one mentee who grew tremendously in self-confidence and self-esteem. The mentee is in the 6th grade and was referred to BBBS in-school mentoring program due to having low self-esteem and a significant lack of social skills. The mentee warmed up to me very quickly and began showing tremendous strides in confidence each session. The mentee went from being quiet and not very talkative to engaging in uproarious laughter and friendly banter and competitive play within board games "

"Harper is 13 years old and deals with anxiety and isolation. she came to the program and was somewhat reluctant to take part, but slowly built trust and became more open in sharing about her life. Over the year together, Harper would wait for me in the office, or make sure if she was late to school to find me to spend time with her. We built a healthy and trusting relationship over the year together and it surprised me with how much she liked the program. Since our time together, harper successfully uses her support network, and will talk to me about her challenges."
- Maya

"As a mentor, seeing the positive impact on the lives of these young individual is immensely fulfilling. Whether it's witnessing academic achievements, personal breakthroughs, or the development of leadership skills, each success has reinforced the importance of mentorship in shaping children's future and social/personal relationships. The support provided by the program has been instrumental in creating a conductive environment for mentorship to flourish. The resources, training, and ongoing assistance from my supervisor Taylor has empowered me to be an effective guide, ensuring that I can offer the best possible support to my sweet mentees."

"Jack is 11 years old and has an issue controlling his temper. Sometimes when he doesn't get his way he may act out. He also likes to test the waters and see how far he can go when in a situation. From the first day I noticed he has a hard time with eye contact. After meeting with this mentee a few times he and I had an incident where he became upset, after a while he calmed down. We talked about what has escalated that moment and we came up with a solution on how to avoid the same or a similar thing happening. The school liaison has also spoke with me and mentioned to me that he did very well to last this long with me as most programs he does not stay in. He stated in our conversation that we would still like to meet me in this program. Since then we have got along very well, his eye contact with me had even improved after the incident significantly. It proves that you will have good and bad times, but you can't have the good times without the bad and sometimes it's extremely beneficial in a relationship ."

Testimonials

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Parent testimonial

MENTEE TESTIMONIAL

One to One Program

School Based Program

Mentor testimonial

Go Girls

Summer Camp

The Little Studio

Virtual Mentoring

One-to-One Mentoring

In School Mentoring