VISION
All Young People Realize Their Full Potential.
MISSION
We enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of all young people.
STRUCTURE
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is a Federation comprised of 91 member agencies, servicing more than 1,100 communities across the country.
ISSUE
Many children and youth in Guelph struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives.
IMPACT
When youth face prolonged adversity, toxic stress is created in the brain, which can negatively impact their development.
SOLUTION
With the support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced or even avoided, and youth can reach their full potential.
Positively changing Guelph
We would like to acknowledge that our service catchment area falls within the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinabek, Attiwanderon, Mississauga Nation, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations. We also recognize the contributions that other Metis and Indigenous people have made across Turtle Island. For thousands of years, Indigenous people inhabited and cared for this land, and continue to do so today.
We acknowledge the oppression and violence that Indigenous peoples have endured, and the inequalities that many continue to experience today. We acknowledge that this land is traditional in its original occupation and use by Indigenous peoples; ancestral, in how it is passed down generationally; and unceded, in that this land was not given up by Indigenous people, but rather taken from them.
It is our collective responsibility to hold ourselves accountable and commit to taking action to eliminate systemic racism. We are committed to learning and unlearning, reconciliation, and actively decolonizing our work. We have the privilege and collective responsibility to make change, strengthen our community, and learn from one another.
Anishnabeg Outreach is an incorporated non-profit organization that provides Indigenous people with access to culturally appropriate services and strives to support individuals with direction and assistance to overcome barriers. They encourage individual exploration of avenues that will lead to self-sufficiency and success.
Our Solution
Many children and youth in Guelph struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives 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 91 member agencies, servicing more than 1,100 communities across the country. Together, we mobilize over 15,900 volunteers who mentor 26,400 children and young people, which works out to over 1.2-million volunteer hours each year.
In Guelph, we are supported by more than 300 volunteers who mentor 600+ children and young people.
Over 21,000 volunteer hours each year
We provide direct service to children by matching volunteers and youths in quality mentoring relationships. Our agency staff members are experts at screening volunteers and matching them with a mentee having similar interests.
The national organization provides services and programs to our member agencies to assist them with their work with parents, mentees, and volunteers. Ranging from staff training workshops to our leading Child Safety Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada works diligently to ensure we have superior quality programming in all parts of the country.
SERVING GUELPH AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph impacts the lives of more than 600 youth in Guelph and the communities of Aberfoyle, Ariss, Eramosa, Morriston, Puslinch, and Rockwood.
REPUTABLE AND ACCOUNTABLE
Providing life changing mentoring experiences in Guelph since 1968, Big Brothers Big Sisters is consistently recognized as one of Financial Post’s Top 25 Charities each year.
IMPROVING SOCIETY
Every $1 invested in our programming returns between $18-$23 to society through taxes, higher incomes, volunteerism, and charitable donations.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph believes not only in the value and importance of supporting children and families in the community, but also in supporting our staff via our organizational commitment to paying more than the prescribed Living Wage for our community, Dufferin Waterloo Guelph-Wellington (view current rates). A living wage is the hourly wage a worker needs to earn to cover their basic expenses and participate in their community.
Since 2018, BBBSG has been a certified member of the Ontario Living Wage Network, a network of employers, employees, non-profits, researchers, and proponents of decent work standards for all Ontario workers. Learn more at www.ontariolivingwage.ca.
