News

Canadian kids and teens are digitally savvy when it comes to social media and the internet—after all, they are digital natives. Unfortunately, many kids and teens do not yet understand the scope of their privacy and the potential risks associated with having an “open” profile online. In an effort to show kids and teens how to better protect themselves online and to understand privacy concerns, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has created this graphic novel, Social Smarts: Privacy, the Internet and You. The short 12-page novel follows a brother (Dave) and sister (Amy) who learn about the privacy risks related to social networking, phone passwords and online gaming. We are also given insight from Amy’s phone who […]

With just a few sleeps until the big day, here are five last minute fundraising ideas to help you Nama’Slay at Big Yoga for Big Sisters North Vancouver! These little tips can make a big difference! 1 – Share Your Story. Sure, you love yoga! But why else are you participating? Share why helping young girls reach their full potential matters to you. Find stats on how Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland helps transform girls lives here and sample social media posts here. 2 – Dolla Dolla Bills Y’all! Take Your Pledge Form Everywhere You Go. If you run into someone you know, tell people how excited you are for this Saturday’s event and let them know every dollar […]

Just one week until Big Yoga for Big Sisters in North Vancouver- how will you create your day? On July 8th Heywood Park will be buzzing with positive energy as solo yogis and teams of varying sizes get ready to shake their asanas for a good time and a good cause. The full yogathon offers six classes in six different styles. Each class is only 45 minutes, perfect for both beginners and experienced yogis to explore and enjoy, with the extra freedom and flow of practicing outside. Ease into Big Yoga for Big Sisters North Vancouver with Katie Keating of Studio 202’s, Slow Flow. The morning also features an Intro to Moksha Yoga with Hannah Johnson and a Power Yoga […]

Did you know that your next event can support our mentoring programs? Our friend Alex Chisholm from Merchant Advance Capital recently hosted a casino fundraiser for Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. She raised over $2,000 with the help of her friends and colleagues. Thank you Alex for taking the time to support Big Sisters. Your donation is helping to improve the lives of young girls. “When my partner and I first decided to host a casino night, we had envisioned a couple close friends, a bottle of whiskey and a rainy Vancouver night. As our little get-together seemed to pick up traction from our poker enthusiast friends, the premise behind the event grew as well. What a wonderful opportunity […]

We can’t do the important work we do without our amazing volunteers. That’s why, every year, we choose three Big Heart Award winners. At this year’s annual Spring Lunch fundraiser, two winners took home the Big Heart Awards. These awards recognize volunteers and businesses or foundations that make outstanding contributions of time, energy and financial support to Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. The 2017 recipients were Carmen S. Thériault for Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer and Amir and Yasmin Virani Family Foundation for Outstanding Contribution by a Business or Foundation. Carmen Thériault is a senior partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. She has been actively involved in the community for a number of years. Her many activities involve being a […]

Did you know that about 1 in 7 young people in BC—or 14%—will experience a mental illness at some point? Many mental illnesses—between 50% and about 70%—show up before the age of 18, so they can have a huge impact on a child’s development. Mental illnesses can affect how well kids do in school and how they form relationships with other kids and adults. Caring adults provide young people with a sense of belonging, acceptance, empowerment and connection- factors that are known to foster mental health and emotional well-being. While there are many ways to go about treatment for mental illness, one thing remains: everyone needs support which can include family, friends, counselors or mentors. Our research has found that […]

Located on Vancouver’s waterfront with a gorgeous mountain backdrop, the Level II Ocean Foyer will host the 2017 Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland Spring Lunch this March. With maximized natural light and local BC wood productsfrom sustainably-managed forests used throughout the facility, this is set to be a beautiful event made for a great cause. To join us in celebration of mentorship, Dr. Shimi Kang will be our keynote speaker. Shimi believes in the powerful role and impact of mentorship on the lives of young girls. In fact, she “prescribes” Big Sisters. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” A good mentor breaks you out of […]

In a world where 50% of girls wish they were someone else, mentoring matters. That’s where Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland comes in. Research shows that mentoring has a powerful impact on the lives of young girls. We know that 96 percent of adults who had a mentor as a child say they are happy and 92 percent feel confident. On March 8th we’re celebrating International Women’s Day by sharing what makes us feel strong and bold. You can join in too. Share your own personal story or use one of the social media post templates below! Download our social media graphics too. Let’s change these statistics. Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn It’s #InternationalWomensDay on March 8. Can you #BeBoldForChange? […]