When Rafael was just 7 years old, his family moved from the Philippines to Canada. They landed in Edmonton and Rafael started Grade 2 in September at McKee Elementary only knowing a few words of English. He struggled to keep up in class, and his reading and writing skills were understandably well below his grade level. He didn’t have any friends; kids in his class would make fun of him because he couldn’t understand them, and often he would sit … Continue reading
Happy September! It’s been a great summer but we’re excited for an amazing fall season with lots going on. AND – it’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Month! We are proud to celebrate and showcase the power and impact of mentoring. This special national proclamation provides us an opportunity to raise awareness about BBBS programming and the important role mentoring can play in lives of youth and the lifelong impact of BBBS mentoring programs on these youth as they grow into … Continue reading
Below is a letter from the Curriculum Coordinator at Edith Rogers School where, thanks to the Stollery Charitable Foundation, we were able to host a football program. The first year of the Touchdown Club football league was a great success! This program aimed to provide kids in Junior High the Mill Woods community with a chance to play tackle football in a safe, welcoming, developmental environment. Thanks to the overwhelming financial support from the Stollery Charitable Foundation and the support … Continue reading
It was 2007 when Gi Eun brought her two daughters, Crystal and Julia, from Korea to Canada on student visas. Crystal, now 14, explains that the transition was really difficult for her whole family because they simply didn’t know what to expect. It took them a few years to settle into Canadian life and in 2012, Gi Eun learned about Big Brothers Big Sisters. “I signed my girls up for a mentor because I wanted them to learn about Canadian … Continue reading
Shiloh admits that when she was 10 years old she didn’t get along very well with other kids at school. “I needed someone to talk to,” she says. Her mom heard about the mentoring programs at Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters (BGCBigs) and Shiloh agreed to try it out. “It’s risky because you’re putting yourself out there. But it turned out to be worth it.” Shiloh was matched to Danielle, a caring volunteer with a myriad of … Continue reading
