News & Stories

BGCBigs Earns Key Acknowledgement from the City of Edmonton

Sep 16, 2022

Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area (BGCBigs) Earns Key Acknowledgement from the City of Edmonton

To celebrate, BGCBigs is launching a campaign to recruit more than 1,000 volunteers in the next year

Edmonton – September 16, 2022 – Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area (BGCBigs) is celebrating Big Brothers Big Sisters Month throughout September. Further, earlier this month, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi issued an official proclamation declaring September as Big Brothers Big Sisters Month in the City of Edmonton. This proclamation comes just ahead of Big Brothers Big Sisters Day, which is celebrated across the country on September 18, 2022.

To celebrate, BGCBigs is launching a new campaign, called #LittleBigMoments, which serves to build awareness about the organization throughout Edmonton, with a goal of recruiting 1,000 new volunteers to the organization in the next year.

Says Liz O’Neill, Executive Director of BGCBigs Edmonton, “Volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister or mentoring in classrooms and other programs is an enriching experience. The effects of the pandemic have increased the needs of our organization, and we are encouraging Edmontonians to consider dedicating some of their time to our work. The idea behind #LittleBigMoments is to share the stories that help positively shape our lives. Volunteerism in our organization is a series of little big moments that create huge outcomes and opportunities.”

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and BGCBigs Executive Director Liz O’Neill celebrate Big Brothers Big Sisters month.

 

“We are grateful to the City of Edmonton for acknowledging the important work we are doing in the community,” continues O’Neill. “We want prospective volunteers to know they can make a big difference in someone’s life, no matter who they are.”

“The BGCBigs program provides youth with opportunities to receive mentorship, foster meaningful relationships and gain valuable life skills — this is how we build an Edmonton for all of us. I am appreciative of the hard work that BGCBigs engages in to create safe and inclusive spaces, while promoting volunteerism and empathy for all. I am happy to proclaim September 2022 as Big Brothers Big Sisters Month in the City of Edmonton and am in full support of the #LittleBigMoments campaign,” says Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

BGCBigs is looking to recruit volunteers for Edmonton and surrounding areas, including St. Albert, Strathcona County, Leduc, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Lac La Biche. The BGCBigs programs currently needing volunteers are Big Brothers, Big Sisters, In-School Mentors, Club Volunteers, Tutoring Volunteers and Mentors to support youth living in care. To learn more about the campaign, visit bgcbigs.ca.

 

About BGCBigs

Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area (BGCBigs) is a community-supported organization providing safe supportive spaces and positive mentoring relationships where young people can experience new opportunities and develop confidence and skills for life. BGCBigs Mentoring and After-School programs seek to support vulnerable children and youth challenged by the impacts of poverty. BGCBigs also works in partnership with other community organizations to develop and deliver programs geared to specific populations, such as the immigrant and refugee community, the Indigenous community and other vulnerable groups. Visit bgcbigs.ca or find BGCBigs on social media @bgcbigs.

 

Media Contact

Paula Worthington on behalf of BGCBigs

Worthington PR & Story

paula@worthingtonpr.com (403) 585-2429