About US
Positively changing the Greater Victoria Area since 1912
SERVING CANADA’S COMMUNITIES
This year alone Big Brothers Big Sisters impacted over 40,000 youth in over 1,100 communities across Canada.
REPUTABLE AND ACCOUNTABLE
Providing life changing mentoring experiences since 1912, Big Brothers Big Sisters was named One of Financial Post’s Top 25 Charities in 2016.
IMPROVING SOCIETY
Every $1 invested in our programming returns between $18-$23 to society through taxes, higher incomes, volunteerism, and charitable donations.
VISION
All young people realize their full potential.
VALUES
We Welcome: We acknowledge and honour the diversity of people, cultures, traditions and experiences and recognize the right of all individuals to respect, dignity, fairness, caring, equality, and self-esteem.
We Learn: We strive for the highest standards of service and continuously improve our knowledge and best-practices to better support children, youth and volunteers.
We Share: We believe in the power of collectively working towards common goals that benefit our community and the lives of young people in Canada.
We Respond: We commit to developing programs which are relevant and leverage the power of volunteerism and mentoring in our communities
MISSION
ISSUE
Many children and youth in Canada struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives.
IMPACT
Facing prolonged adversity creates toxic stress in the brain that can negatively impact development.
SOLUTION
With the support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced or even avoided, and youth can reach their full potential.
Our Solution
Many children and youth in Canada struggle with societal barriers and face adversities like
- detrimental living conditions
- family violence
- risk factors for mental health
- school issues and identity challenges
These circumstances have nothing to do with the value of who they are or who they can become, but because of these situations, children and youth risk not having the opportunity to live up to their full potential.
Even worse is the possibility of continuing cycles of poverty and crime or developing mental health issues.
This comes at a cost to the young person, and to society.
With the guidance and support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced or even avoided, and youth are reminded they can be anything they dream of being.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is a Federation comprised of 108 member agencies servicing more than 1,100 communities across the country.
Together we mobilize over 21,300 volunteers who in turn mentor 41,700+ children and young people. That works out to nearly:
2.2 million volunteer hours each year
Each Big Brother Big Sister agency provides direct service to children in their community by matching volunteers and youths in quality mentoring relationships.
We are experts at screening volunteers and matching them with a mentee having similar interests.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada provides support to each member agency to assist them in with their work with parents, mentees, and volunteers.
From our staff training workshops to our leading Child Safety Program, everyone at Big Brothers Big Sisters works diligently to ensure we have superior quality mentoring programs in all parts of the country.