Rapport Issue 2008-2 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
Transcription
Rapport Issue 2008-2 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
CHAIR’S CIRCLE CIBC, Mastercard, RBC Foundation President’s Circle Best Buy Canada, BMO Financial Group, Cadillac Fairview, COGECO, Correctional Service Canada, Cisco Systems Canada, Federal Express Canada, Invesco Trimark, The Keg Spirit Foundation, The Muttart Foundation, National Crime Prevention Strategy, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, Westjet, Youth Justice Canada Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Issue Two , 2008 Innovation Issue BBBSC hosts first Leadership Symposium and Youth Summit Watch us Grow! Our Bigs Speak Big Brother Andrew and Big Sister Shannon tell their stories. In Bowl for Kids Sake, Government Relations and more... Share a Little Magic! www . bb bs alumni . ca DEVELOPMENT OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS ALUMNI HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY: 2 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Issue Two 2008 Innovation and Leadership ”More than 70 percent of the senior executives in a survey we recently conducted say that innovation will be at least one of the top three drivers of growth for their companies in the next three to five years.” -McKinsey Quarterly President’s Message Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada President & CEO Bruce MacDonald I n June, Big of senior managers and over a third of middle Brothers Big Sisters of Canada hosted managers (37%) and other staff (36%) do” its first ever national If this is the same in Canada (and I suspect Leadership Symposium. This it is), the information speaks to an interesting event brought together volunteer board benchmark when attempting to develop new members and senior staff to examine the future ideas and spark creativity. Bryn Meredith of of the organization’s mentoring services and Innovation Tools suggests a starting point how they are delivered at the local level. In “The first key principle required for innovation the context of the symposium, the evolution is not developing individual creativity of local organizations and their ability to alone, but creating a sustainable innovative thoughtfully examine current program offerings, environment. This is a leadership issue.” fundraising programs, governance models A common theme emerging from much of was highlighted with a discussion on how to the literature on leadership and innovation adapt to the future. With a Symposium theme relates to the change of mindset—consciously of ‘Keepers of the Flame’ delegates left the creating time, dedicating energy and event inspired to bring the mentoring message resources—to thinking about new ways of to more people across the country. Clearly, doing business. Leadership stems from the becoming a movement that willingly embraces ability to create a culture or environment new ideas and approaches will be critical for that incubates new ideas and attracts the Big Brothers Big Sisters as it examines its right kind of people to that environment. role as a service provider heading into the In a study commissioned by McKinsey, Barsh, 100th anniversary celebrations and beyond. Capozzie and Davidson, the authors discuss Embedded in this discussion is the idea of these critical elements. “There are no bestinnovation—how can innovative thinking be practice solutions to seed and cultivate fostered by volunteer and staff leadership alike? innovation. The structures and processes that A 2006 study conducted by nfpSynergy in many leaders reflexively use to encourage it the UK found that one in four (24%) charity are important, we find, but not sufficient. professionals think their organization is “too On the contrary, senior executives almost risk averse” and one in three (32%) think unanimously—94 percent—say that people and it “overly bureaucratic”. The same study corporate identified an interesting barrier to innovation culture are the most “Moreover, whilst almost two thirds (63%) of important chief executives feel “innovation is important Story: Big Couple.....................4 drivers of in [their] organization”; less than half (48%) innovation.” Bowl for Kids Sake....................4 IN THIS ISSUE continued on page 9... Profile: Invesco Trimark..............5 Feature: Youth Summit...............6 Profile: Westjet.........................7 Rapport issue 2008.2 Published by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and distributed free of charge to all members. Letters, story submissions (approx. 500 words), or subscription requests may be sent to: Rapport c/o Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada 3228 South Service Rd, Ste. 113E, Burlington, ON L7N 3H8 Tel: (905) 639-0461 Fax: (905) 639-0124 e-mail: [email protected] National Website: www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca National President & CEO: Bruce MacDonald Advocacy in Action!..................8 Story: Making a Difference . .......9 Program Innovations................ 10 3 ! e l p u B i g Co gency istrict A D d n a is Kingston be 18 th N he will ple” the gston, O u d in o n K C a a , m ig o B fr has had years old Brother e first “ was 10 n. John I are th a e omer, Big H h d m n joke e w g a c n re , d u in ne a yo by An e loves to ohn s l o J r t d a n h in a h it y , w C o hn y wife,r had. We have beenw up from a young rby polite and friendolyhn. Even though Jo e gro hJ is ve s. We have ev time wit our live seen him it. John g f e in in o v d a n t n s h h e e o e p b s want J year! W ys love ade the come. atch, we oung bo m ut has m y r b e u e years to e o f r e li ” h r t d o lt e r m u d u n o ic y e f n “ d for ma icially very dif and I an have off harlene eeing him ld s C u . o o t d c n d e u r a aro and w ok forw than 16 , and lo k e e w is older y er John ev still see M T his year Big Magic at the Bowling Lanes Brothers Big Sisters of Ingersoll, Tillsonburg & Area had the pleasure of hosting our 24th annual Bowl for Kids Sake event with a “60’s/70’s Hippie Flash-Back” theme at Ingersoll Lanes. They learned once again, that our community may not be large but it sure knows how to show the love in a big way! With over 24 teams participating in the “groovy” fun, an incredible $30,000 was raised for the children involved in their programs and services. For the second year, Michelle and David Eisen (photo) have encouraged their staff at the Ingersoll Home Centre to go above and beyond for our agency. Last year it was a hair “razing” experience for the guys on staff as the women beat them in pledges raised and got to shave the heads of the guys’ team. This year they threw out a challenge to Giant Tiger owners Bob and Pam Armstrong to try to top them for total pledges raised per staff member. Bob and Pam accepted that challenge and we all had fun watching their dueling mascots, (which happen to be a tiger and a hound), in the media coverage! There were entirely too many cat and dog jokes to mention here. The fun didn’t stop there either. At the event itself the hippie costumes worn by members of both teams were incredible! Dave and Michelle went so far as to provide each of their staff members with a custom embroidered tie-dyed shirt to go along with the imaginative wigs and other hippie gear appropriate for the theme. The two teams, (about 35 people in all), attracted so much attention upon their arrival at the Ingersoll Lanes for their bowling shift that teams from the preceding shift stayed just to watch them! In the end, experience won out and the Home Centre Hounds took top honors this year raising an incredible $6,700 amongst their staff members. This type of community spirit is very inspiring to all who had the pleasure of watching these two retail businesses over the weeks prior to the event. It is obvious that the Home Centre staff love the challenges set out by their employers and that Michelle and Dave have as much fun planning for the event as the staff love participating in it. We’re not sure if Giant Tiger realized what they were getting into at the time but if the laughter at the event was any indication, we think they may be ready to do battle again next year! We at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Area salute Dave and Michelle Eisen for being such a great role model for other like-minded businesses who want to help their community! We were totally amazed to find a Letter to the Editor in the local paper after Bowl for Kids Sake in which the Eisens thanked us for putting on the event and their staff for such great participation. Wow, they raise all those pledges and community awareness for the event and then thank us! Agency and other local partner logos will be in th is space Watch for the refre shed Bowl for Kids Sake materials for the next campaign! 4 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Issue Two 2008 The Eisens have not only created a little “magic” for the children involved in our programs, but for the staff who work for them and the businesses surrounding them. We can hardly wait to see what they have planned for our “25th Anniversary Silver Screen” edition next year! Invesco Trimark Helps Bowl For Kids Sake to Strike it Big! W New name, same great support! hether you’re in the private sector or the public, growth and innovation are important for the success of your business or non-profit organization. Invesco Trimark (formerly AIM Trimark Investments) is one of Canada’s largest investment management companies. Creating innovative funds and supporting advisors so they can help their clients build and protect wealth are necessary components to continue to grow business. Invesco Trimark has been supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) agencies since 2002 and has been the official national sponsor for Big Brothers Big Sisters’ signature event and fundraising campaign Bowl For Kids Sake, since the fall of 2004. In 2004, Bowl For Kids Sake grossed approximately $5,041,218, in 2007 it grossed $6,670,768. This is remarkable growth for an event that began in 1973 with some agencies and then spread across the country. Many events don’t last this long and many don’t continue to grow. These funds stay in local communities, to support the Big Brothers Big Sisters programs that in turn support children, youth and their families. Based on the outcomes of fund development research that was done for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) it became apparent that BBBSC should focus on a signature fundraising event nationally. Bowl For Kids Sake was the perfect event to put energy and resources behind. It offers Canadian communities a fun way to support the kids in their communities and is a great way for Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies to showcase the cause to the public. Invesco Trimark’s support has re-energized Bowl For Kids Sake and has allowed BBBSC to incorporate innovative fundraising strategies and promotional ideas like our Strike it Big campaign. Many Big Brother Big Sister agencies are now using online donating which offers participants the opportunity to fund raise efficiently and globally making it easy for donors to donate. Ultimately, helping Big Brothers Big Sisters raise more funds for their services and to inform more people about Big Brothers Big Sisters. Employees from Invesco Trimark also participate in Bowl For Kids Sake in various ways and mostly by putting together teams and raising funds. Andrea Soares a Human Resources Business Partner at Invesco Trimark has participated in Bowl For Kids Sake. She says, “I had a great time at the event. It offers team building amongst co-workers and the competition between teams remains friendly and focused on supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters. You get to know not only your department co-workers better, but employees in other departments, which is not always easy to do. Employees can bring their family members so it’s an activity they can do together. It feels good to support a good cause and have fun while doing it.” The many ways Invesco Trimark supports Bowl For Kids Sake has been fundamental in the overall growth and new campaign ideas we have seen from Big Brother Big Sister agencies. Invesco Trimark is helping Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids Sake to Strike it Big! 5 Youth Leadership Summit On July 3rd, 18 young people from across the country met for the first Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Leadership Summit at the Holiday Inn in Markham, Ontario D uring the four day conference—which ran alongside Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada’s Leadership Symposium—students were actively involved with team building exercises, leadership training workshops, night time socials as well as a unique opportunity to meet with senior Big Brothers Big Sisters delegates at our Leadership Symposium. In workshops, students participated in a variety of activities and exercises focused on building strong leadership skills that can be applied to a variety of initiatives. Key leadership skills that students were coached in include public speaking, active listening, recognizing leadership styles, identifying one’s passion and confronting stereotypes. The youth participants also spent a large amount of time developing their own personal story and many of them shared these stories throughout the summit. In the training sessions, the participants adopted the theme “Be the Change” so that they could embody the true meaning of the “Me to We” philosophy by helping those in need around them. Special guest speakers also joined the youth throughout the Summit such as representatives from Veteran Affairs who spoke about “Izzy Dolls” (crochet dolls for children in countries with U.N. peacekeepers) and the importance of creating a legacy. The youth also met Jacob Hoggard from the band, Hedley, who shared his experience in the music industry and how having an older mentor shaped him in a very positive way. Most importantly however, students were able to share their own experiences which helped to instill a sense of solidarity and inspiration in each other. This was articulated best by Jessica Iris who wrote “I feel like after hearing the other youth speak about how they want change, I have a purpose and meaning in being involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters.” The sessions spent at the Institute for Learning with senior Big Brothers Big Sisters representatives were a valuable opportunity for students to voice their opinion about the program and share their 6 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Issue Two 2008 ”The BBBS youth summit has shown me that we all have a responsibility as global citizens. It has also strengthened my idea of the importance of having a positive mentor. The people I met and their selfless actions do more than all the money in the world.” - Lawrence, Youth Summit Participant WESTJET PROVIDES “GIFT OF FLIGHT” TO BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CANADA WestJet provided a gift of $20,000 to support our first ever Youth Summit program. Without this gift, simply, the Youth Summit would not have been remotely possible. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and WestJet also renewed and increased its philanthropic partnership for 2008—providing donated flights to help us advance our strategic goals. positive experiences about having a Big Brother or Big Sister. The senior delegates saw this opportunity as a key learning experience where they were able to develop actions plans on a variety of initiatives such as volunteer recruitment, using technology to communicate with Littles, incorporating Littles in the planning of group activities and taking steps to improve the teen mentorship program. Overall, the Youth Leadership Summit was a huge success and students walked away with a sense of belonging to something special. By enhancing their communication and leadership skills, the participants have embodied the role of young leaders and will continue to work towards long-lasting sustainable change in their own lives and the lives of those around them. The airline’s community investment program, WestJet Cares for Kids, has donated 285 flights to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada to provide support to local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies, fundraising incentives and to provide flights for youth participating in a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. “The contributions from WestJet will have a profound impact on our ability to provide more Canadian children with the best quality mentoring programs in this country,” said Bruce MacDonald, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. “We are so grateful and proud to have WestJet as a vital corporate supporter.” “WestJet is honoured to partner with Canada’s leader in mentoring youth, Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President Culture and Communications. “The spirit of giving and volunteering is embedded in WestJet’s caring culture. Partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada will give WestJetters across the country the opportunity to make a life-long difference in children’s lives.” THANKS WESTJET! 7 Advocacy in Action Government of Canada Supports Big Brothers Big Sisters T he Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, announced funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, as part of the Government’s partnership approach with not-for-profit organizations to help give at-risk children the chance for a brighter future. families, children and youth,” said Minister Solberg. “We’re supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada as it provides valuable services and programs to even more children and youth throughout the country. When Canadians have the opportunity to succeed, their entire community and all of Canada benefits.” Through the Social Development The Government of Canada Partnerships Program, the supports programs that encourage Government supports community positive changes in the lives not-for-profit organizations of children. Big Brothers Big that benefit children, families Sisters of Canada will receive and communities across Canada. $600,000 over three years to By working with organizations match more children and youth such as Big Brothers Big Sisters with volunteer mentors to Big Brother Darren, his Little Brother Laaren, of Canada, the Government create meaningful relationships. BBBSC Chair Karen Fonseth, Minister Solberg, of Canada is better able to The organization currently Little Brother David and his Big Brother deliver appropriate supports provides one-to-one mentoring Bill pose together at the BBBSC Leadership for Canadians, helping them Symposium Friday where the Minister programs to close to 26,000 announced the HRSD support. fully participate in society. at-risk children and youth in more than 1000 communities The Government recognizes across Canada. The relationships developed the important social and economic role that the not through these programs produce positive changes for-profit sector plays in strengthening the nation. in the lives of these children and youth. Community not-for-profit organizations employ 2 million people, involve 12 million volunteers and “The Government of Canada is committed to contribute $135 billion to the economy. providing support and services that help Canadian Funding for Ontario In-School Mentoring Growth B ig Brothers Big Sisters of Canada has received $1.5 million from the Ontario Ministry of Education to give 3,000 students access to mentors in school. An additional 3,000 students who are struggling or at risk of dropping out will now have access to adult role models in their schools. A $1.5-million government investment will help Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada provide these students with in-school mentors. “We know that students who have caring adults in their life 8 are better engaged and achieve better results,” said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne. “When we share a little magic with our youth, the impact lasts a lifetime,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada President and CEO Bruce MacDonald. For more than 90 years, the Big Brothers Big Sisters program has made a difference in the lives of young people by providing a friend where one is needed. In Ontario, there are more than 13,000 youth being served in over 400 communities through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Issue Two 2008 Research has shown that a connection to a caring adult is an essential part of student engagement. The target for Ontario’s graduation rate is 85 per cent. In 2006-07, the rate was 75 per cent up from 68 per cent in 2003-04. Improving outcomes for all students is part of the government’s Student Success Strategy and Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to be contributing toward this goal. Innovation and Growth........ President’s Message continued from page 2 Their observations continue with a framework for innovation transformation “Our experience convinces us that a disciplined focus on three peoplemanagement fundamentals may produce the building blocks of an innovative organization. A first step is to formally integrate innovation into the strategicmanagement agenda of senior leaders to an extent that few companies have done so far. In this way, innovation can be not only encouraged but also managed, tracked, and measured as a core element in a company’s growth aspirations. Second, executives can make better use of existing (and often untapped) talent for innovation, without implementing disruptive change programs, by creating the conditions that allow dynamic innovation networks to emerge and flourish. Finally, they can take explicit steps to foster an innovation culture based on trust among employees. In such a culture, people understand that their ideas are valued, trust that it is safe to express those ideas, and oversee risk collectively, together with their managers. Such an environment can be more effective than monetary incentives in sustaining innovation.” In the context of the voluntary sector, the three elements outlined by Barsh, Capozzi and Davidson translate nicely. To address the issue of ‘formal integration’ ensuring that innovation is discussed by Boards of Directors and senior staff is crucial to sending a message that ongoing assessment and openness to new ideas is valued and desired. The study’s second component was the concept of unleashing untapped talent. The Youth Leadership Summit, that was operated in conjunction with the National Leadership Symposium, illustrated how connecting with youth that have experienced the organizations mentoring programs can serve as a powerful source of new ideas. Listening to deluge of ideas from current and former Little Sisters and Little Brothers brings H.G. Rickover’s thoughts on innovation to mind: “ All new ideas begin in a non-conforming mind that questions some tenet of the conventional wisdom.” Finally, the notion of ‘trust among employees’ should be extended to include volunteer leadership. Creating an atmosphere that embraces the concept of creative destruction and renewal will lead to a healthier organization. The McKinsey study notes that “Respondents to our survey of 600 executives and managers indicated that trust and engagement were the mind-sets most closely correlated with a strong performance on innovation.” Combining a culture of innovation with reaching out to those with great ideas will enable Big Brothers Big Sisters to remain relevant to the communities it serves. Inspired, visionary and professional leadership, both volunteer and staff, will be essential to bring both of these elements together. To fulfill the promise of the Leadership Symposium theme—Keepers of the Flame— and create a nationwide movement of passionate believers in the success of mentoring, the organization must continue on its journey to inspire new possibilities. As Paul Slone, in ‘The Leader’s Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills’ notes “Everyone has the spark of creativity in them. It is the job of the leader to inspire and release that spark”. B m Winnipeg, M ence her grow r e f f i D a me I have seen ti g is th n i In k s. Ma . She loves ost three year out the world Ashley for alm fro tter, Big Sister by Shannon Lu ab her. tched with eager to learn have been ma8-year old to a young lady who isa kid, trying those new things with I aced unity to be ies. We write from a baby-f ve the opport full of memor lo k I oo d pb an ra gs sc in a d trying new th d have create in the pictures then we glue ke pictures an d ta e an w , ne ng do hi et ve ncerts, plays, t we’ do som we’ve done—co up to and wha Each time we gs en in th be e ve th e’ l w and on! at al out what the list goes on n looking back — fu ts h a paragraph ab en uc ev m so ng ti ’s or the pages. It swimming, sp en though it and decorate s in the park, e job. Now, ev ic th cn r pi fo s, up ie as ok w co wasn’t sure I skating, baking ade a Big Sister I g in m I know I’ve m . co ld be or of w t e gh th r ou fo th t up y When I firs n’t give Ashle effort, I would d an pared to the e m m ti co s g take ’s nothin it t bu fe li r he a difference in d on mine. ha s e’ impact sh 9 Program Innovations Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg’s Empowering Our began in response Little Sisters (EOLS) program to the suicide of an 11-year-old Aboriginal youth in October 2005. The founder of the EOLS program sent an email to all her contacts in response to this death, asking community members to come together to discuss ways to assist young girls in their community. Approximately 80 women answered the email and began to discuss a plan of action. They developed an eight-person steering committee to continue this process and further investigate what the community needed as well as potential partnerships. After speaking with families and agencies in the community, the steering committee saw a definite need for a mentorship program for young Aboriginal girls, with Aboriginal women serving as positive role models. In late October 2005, the EOLS steering committee met with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg senior staff to discuss a potential partnership. With assistance from Big Brothers Big Sisters in organizing the financial and legal infrastructure, EOLS incorporated in April 2006 as a non-profit corporation. This allowed the organization to retain its Aboriginal identity and become a distinct entity with the legal authority to enter into a formal partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. As a result, the steering committee dissolved and a three-member board was developed. The founder of the EOLS program was invited to sit on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors to support, advise, and help promote the program to the community. Big Brothers Big Sisters and EOLS signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize the relationship. They secured funding from the government and various organizations. The Big Brothers Big Sisters and EOLS Boards hired a program coordinator for EOLS in January 2006. The responsibilities of the program coordinator included: • identifying further partnerships; recruiting, screening, and interviewing mentors and youth; • providing training to the mentors; arranging and monitoring the matches; and organizing events for the matches. 10 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Issue Two 2008 The program coordinator attended specialized training, and was then prepared for the first match for this program which started in May 2006. The girls in the program must be Aboriginal, between 7 and 15 years old, want to be involved in the EOLS program, and reside in Winnipeg. Matches spend about two or three hours a week together and participate in a variety of activities. The EOLS program provides various Aboriginal cultural events for the matches and the little sisters’ families to participate: such as sweats, sharing circles, crafts (e.g., dream catcher and drum making), feasts, storytelling, and elder teachings. Other activities that the matches are invited to participate in include Tim Horton’s Camp, Dreams Take Flight, concerts, movies, hockey games, the ballet, and others. Funding is also available for special interests such as music lessons, sports activities, or the arts. EOLS staff use various methods to recruit girls for the program, including: • posters in community centres and schools • presentations at schools and other organizations • referrals from guidance counsellors at schools • word of mouth. To recruit mentors, EOLS staff use the following approaches: • media campaigns including news stories on local television and radio • posters and pamphlets • presentations to various groups • email networking. Ongoing evaluation led to program changes in 2008 aimed at improving the recruitment and outcomes for the program. • EOLS is now a predominately sitebased group mentoring program. • Group events are held twice a month; one event is a traditional EOLS cultural activity and the other a BBBS regular match event. The traditional cultural activities are open to mentors, little sisters, parents/guardians, and siblings. The regular match events only to mentors and little sisters. • All mentors begin with site-based group mentoring. Several agencies are exploring ways to reach new communities and mentor more children with innovative programs—without mission drift. • For three months, the mentors are matched with a little sister and responsible for taking their little sisters to the events. After three months, the mentors have the opportunity to switch little sisters or remain with the same little sister. Once the mentors have successfully completed six months of group volunteering, the opportunity for a oneto-one community-based match will open, but both the mentor and little sister must agree to the one-to-one visits. Mentors must have attended at least half of the monthly events to be considered for a one-to-one community-based match. Program staff report that this change was the result of parents and sibling wishing to attend the events, past successes of the group cultural events, and the tendency for mentors to make commitments and then change their minds. There are several advantages to this change: • Volunteers can begin their mentoring role sooner by eliminating the need for match selection and pre-introduction. • Mentors and little sisters can meet and get to know each other better before taking on a more intense commitment. • Group events provide structure to the meetings, which nurture new relationships. • Site-based group events eliminate some of the transportation issues that arise. • Little sisters will meet different role models at the group events, with each role model bringing a unique perspective and different life experiences. The EOLS program coordinator is assisted by casework support staff in the administration of the program. The casework support staff conduct the intakes and focus on getting applications out to potential mentors and little sisters. Once applications are received, the casework support staff start a file for the applicant, collect references, and pass the files to the program coordinator for interviews. BBBS Calgary’s Recreation Mentoring program was developed to provide young people with the benefits of participating in sport and recreation, while also benefiting from a one-to-one or group mentoring experience with a volunteer mentor. The program consists of mentors participating in sports and recreation activities with a young person who shares the same interests. A mentor and mentee get to have a great time, while building a relationship in an active and fun environment. Recreation Mentoring is beneficial to both the mentor and the mentee. The program provides access to recreation activities and facilities at NO COST for the duration of the mentoring match. Volunteer mentors are screened by Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and Area and matched one-to-one with a young person or a group of four young people who share similar interests. Each mentor and mentee match are assigned to a Big Brothers and Big Sisters Mentoring Coordinator for training and ongoing support and guidance throughout the program match. Recreation Mentors are kind, caring people from all walks of life who enjoy participating in sports and recreation activities. They spend 1–4 hours a week with a youth. Current locations are at CODA’s Canada Olympic Park and the YMCA Calgary. Additional administrative support to the program coordinator enables the coordinator to have more time for events, for developing relationships with mentors and little sisters, and for recruiting volunteers. 11 Thank You to Our Partners and Friends Chair’s Circle Best Buy Canada BMO Financial Group Cadillac Fairview COGECO Correctional Service Canada President’s Circle Cisco Systems Canada Federal Express Canada Invesco Trimark The Keg Spirit Foundation The Muttart Foundation Leader’s Circle American Eagle Outfitters Foundation Arby’s Avon Canada Canada Remembers Universal Studios Home Entertainment Burlington Electricity Services Inc. Canadian Greetings F.K. Morrow Foundation Fisher & Ludlow In Tandem Canada National Crime Prevention Strategy The Ontario Trillium Foundation WestJet Youth Justice Canada Champion’s Circle Certified General Accountants of Ontario Entertainment One Nexen Vintage Hotels The Printing House Builder’s Circle J.U.I. Social Committee J.P. Bickell Foundation Living Lighting Ontario Insurance Adjusters Assoc. PartSource Print Three Temple Scott Associates The Co-operators Group Winners wwwork! Xerox Canada In-Kind Donors Best Buy Canada Bowling Proprietors Assoc. of Canada Cadillac Fairview Cisco Systems Canada COGECO Engine Communication and Events JAN Kelley Marketing Leader Manufacturing Mandarin Restaurant Shaw Communications Universal Studios Home Entertainment Vintage Hotels WestJet Not an Alumni Member yet? Join online at www.bbbsalumni.ca or fill in this form and send it to: Big Brothers Big Sisters Alumni Rekindle the Magic! 113E-3228 SOUTH SERVICE RD, BURLINGTON, ON L7N 3H8 or fax (905) 639-0124 NAME: ADDRESS: City: Prov: Phone: E-Mail: Postal: Big Brother Big Sister Agency: (the name of the agency you are/were affiliated with) q I am CURRENTLY or q I was IN THE PAST involved as a : q Big q Little q Parent q Staff qBoard qIn-School Mentor qOther 12 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Issue Two 2008