All month long, Big Brothers Big Sisters in Lloydminster is recognizing mentors in the community. Mentorship month is a national initiative celebrated by The Alberta Mentoring Partnership and Big Brothers and Sisters of Canada.
Director of Service Delivery Jacqueline Weed says all January they’re not only recognizing the impact mentors have, but are recruiting as well.
“Being matched with a mentor shapes those lives. Those kids are the future in our community, those are the ones that will be leading us and taking care of us as we get older,and just being able to influence and help them make positive choices improves our community and our futures for ourselves, as well as for those children.”
The association has four mentorship programs including the Match Program and In School mentoring. Weed says the program gives kids guidance, but the mentors also get to be a kid again.
“They almost become like family members to each other. Matches can last until the kids are eighteen,so for some of them it’s a life long friendship that they form with their mentor. Some of the kids have gone to the mentors wedding, some of the kids are uncles and aunts to their children.”
There are 40 current Big Brothers and Big Sisters matches and 32 kids on the waiting list.Weed adds that anyone looking to register to become a mentor can contact the association at (306) 825-5757.