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
This story was written by the City of Edmonton. Giving back to the community is something Fadhl, a Transit Peace Officer with Edmonton Transit Service, takes to heart. Born in Syria, he has been living in Canada for 18 years and in our city for just over one year. He remembers what it was like to be the “new kid on the block” and have to get used to a new culture. Almost two decades ago, his family fled the … Continue reading
In a small town in northern Alberta, kids are experiencing the value of mentoring. Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Lac La Biche, a satellite office of BGCBigs, has been working to better the lives of children and youth for many years. According to Kristen Shewchuck-White, the local program facilitator, the community of just over 2500 people is tight knit and there’s a lot of buy-in for mentoring programs. In fact, this past March marked the community’s 13th annual Bowl … Continue reading
Dear Volunteers, Happy National Volunteer Week! We would like to thank each and every one of you for the difference you make in the lives of thousands of children across this community. At Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters (BGCBigs) we so often talk about how mentoring and after-school programs can change a child’s life, and you are the people who make that possible. You help open a door to a brighter future for us all. You are … Continue reading
It is officially spring! Even though you’d rather be outside, make the best of our in-between weather and use this time to organize your closet. Bring some sunshine into your home, and check out these five ways you can have fun while de-cluttering. 1) Invite a Friend Over Make a night of your closet mess! Invite friends over, grab snacks and make fun signs that say keep or donate, so that they can help you make decisions when you just can’t let go. Take it … Continue reading
