Celebrating the Future of Mentorship at Soirée 2026
Our community came together for an unforgettable evening celebrating the power of mentorship and helping create more life-changing connections for young people across the Lower Mainland.
Soirée 2026, presented by Scotiabank, brought our community together at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver to celebrate the future of mentorship — and the incredible impact we can create when we come together.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors, partners, volunteers, and guests, the evening raised over $720,000 and counting to support life-changing mentoring relationships for youth in our community.
The evening opened with a Land Welcome from Kailani Baker, Squamish Nation and former Little Sister, grounding the celebration in community and connection.
We were honoured to welcome Her Honour The Honourable Wendy Cocchia, 31st Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and former Big Sisters Luminary, who shared remarks on the lasting impact mentorship can have in the lives of young people.
Stephen Gaskin, Senior Vice President, BC & Yukon Region at Scotiabank, also shared remarks about the importance of mentorship and Scotiabank’s continued commitment to supporting young people and stronger communities.
Celebrating 19 Years of Partnership with Scotiabank
For 19 years, Scotiabank has stood alongside Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland in helping young people build confidence, connection, and brighter futures through mentorship.
As the Presenting Sponsor of Soirée 2026, Scotiabank continued this long-standing commitment to our mission and the young people we serve. We’re deeply grateful for their continued partnership and belief in the power of mentorship.
The Lasting Impact of Mentorship
One of the most powerful moments of the evening came from Nisha, who shared her own mentorship journey and the difference having someone in her corner has made in her life.
Nisha first became involved with Big Sisters through the Study Buddy program in 2014. Her journey is a powerful example of how mentorship can provide encouragement, connection, and opportunities that continue to have an impact long after a program ends.
Today, Nisha is pursuing her goals for the future, including her dream of becoming a school psychologist. She also hopes to one day become a Big Sister herself — carrying forward the support and encouragement she received to another young person.
Her resilience, strength, and determination were an inspiring reminder of why mentorship matters and the lasting difference one meaningful connection can make.
Video sponsored by: Aris Mining
Creating More Life-Changing Connections
At Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, we know that mentorship can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.
Through one-to-one programs including Big Sisters and Study Buddy, group mentoring programs such as Go Girls! and My Voice, My Power, and post-secondary programs such as Pumped for Post-Secondary and the Bright Futures Education Fund, young people are given the relationships, resources, and encouragement they need to build confidence, strengthen their sense of belonging, and pursue their goals.
The generosity shown at Soirée 2026 will help us continue creating these connections and reach even more young people in the years ahead.
A Night to Remember
From the reception and dinner program to the excitement of the live auction and Fund-A-Need, the room was filled with generosity and a shared belief in the power of mentorship. The celebration continued at the after-party with Side One, bringing guests together to close out an incredible evening of connection, community, and impact.
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Soirée 2026, presented by Scotiabank, and helped make the evening such a success.
We are deeply grateful to our Presenting Sponsor, Scotiabank, and to all of our sponsors, donors, volunteers, Board of Directors, event partners, guests, and the entire Big Sisters community. A special thank-you to our Soirée Chair, Julia M. Dmytryshyn Hibbard, for her incredible leadership and support in bringing the evening together. We’re also grateful to Fred Lee, who brought his energy and enthusiasm to the room and helped inspire our community to give generously in support of more life-changing mentoring relationships.
Together, we raised over $720,000 and counting to help create more life-changing mentoring relationships for youth across the Lower Mainland.
Our community’s support helps ensure more young people have someone in their corner — empowering them to build confidence, pursue their goals, and reach their full potential.
You can donate here or reach out to Julia Shibazaki, Manager of Events and Philanthropy, at jshibazaki@bigsisters.bc.ca to learn more about how you can support Big Sisters.
