In This Section: Program Options | What To Expect
Thank you for your interest in our Community based mentoring programs!
Due to the popularity of our Community Base program, we are currently only accepting new referrals for our Big Sisters program for female identifying young people between the ages of 6-13 years. If you think your child is eligible, please fill out our eligibility form. Once you have submitted the form, you will receive an email with next steps.
While all other general intake remains closed, referrals for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and Big Sibling mentoring programs continue to be accepted through our Family Resource Network partners or for youth and families connected to Children and Family Services.
We are continuing our efforts to recruit more volunteers and we have several opportunities to engage children in additional/alternative programs at sites across the city. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please feel free to reach out to Haley Weeks at Haley.Weeks@bgcbigs.ca or call 780-264-7143 — we’d love to hear from you!
Kids Are the Future
It’s so important for kids to have tools and supports they need to be successful. We know that sometimes parents and caregivers of all kinds can’t do it all by themselves and it’s important that you know we are here to help. Your concern for your child’s well being is demonstrated when you reach out to others.
Big Brothers Big Sisters serves children and youth between the ages of 6 and 24. Regardless of their circumstances and background, we have a program to meet their needs and help them grow into thriving young people. We do that by providing a variety of mentoring and after school programs. Ultimately, we want to provide kids with the healthy relationships and enriching experiences they need to understand their full potential and go out there and grab it.
Program Options
PRISM is a mentoring program designed specifically for the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Edmonton and Area.
The PRISM program matches children and youth who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ with an adult mentor who also identifies as 2SLGBTQ+ for a 1:1 mentoring relationship. Through regular outings, the match will foster a supportive, empowering, and fun friendship!
Community Big Brothers Big Sisters Program
Commonly known as Big Brothers Big Sisters, this program is where the volunteer mentor and mentee spend time together by participating in a variety of activities, such as riding bikes, reading, cooking, going to the park, eating ice cream. Matches will spend time together in their community at convenient times that work for them, typically in the evenings and on weekends
Mentees: Children and youth between the ages of 6-24.
Volunteer Mentors: Adults 18+
In School Mentoring Program
*Note: This program is currently not running, please check back at a later date.
The In-School Mentoring program is where volunteer mentors visit with their mentee, at their school, during school hours, and spend time doing homework, reading, playing games and talking. This program takes place at select schools in St Albert. Click here to see a map of schools that offer this program.
Mentees: Children and youth aged 6-17.
Volunteer mentors: Teens 16+ and Adults 18+
PRISM Program
PRISM is a mentoring program designed specifically for the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Edmonton and Area.
The PRISM program matches children and youth who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ with an adult mentor who also identifies as 2SLGBTQ+ for a 1:1 mentoring relationship. Through regular outings, the match will foster a supportive, empowering, and fun friendship!
Ages Served: Children and youth between ages 6 and 24.
Enrollment Process
1. Application Form
Community-Based Mentoring: At this time we are only accepting new general referrals for our Big Sisters program. Please fill out our eligibility form to receive next steps to apply for your child. We are also accepting referrals from our partners within Family Resource Networks or youth and families with involvement with Children and Family Services. Family Resource Network partners can submit referrals to their BGCBigs contact and any additional referrals can be submitted to Haley Weeks at Haley.Weeks@bgcbigs.ca or call 780-264-7143.
In-School Mentoring: Complete the application form by clicking the “Enroll a child” button below. You can see the list of qualifying schools in the application.
2. Consents, Interview and Training
Once we receive your application, we’ll contact you to ensure that we have all the pieces needed for our program. Depending on the program this could include signing consent forms, completing an interview to get to know you and your child, and completing a training to prepare you and your child for the program.
3. Matching
This is when we find your child a volunteer mentor who will be a good fit.