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  • About Us
    • Governance
    • Our Community
  • What We Do
    • Our Programs
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  • Get Involved
    • Mentoring resources
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate
  • News & Events
  • Contact Us
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WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY

Our passionate team is committed to improving the lives of children within our community through facilitating new relationships that engage, inspire and ultimately lead to a brighter future. At Big Brother Big Sisters, our mission is simple; to ignite the power and potential of young people.

OUR VISION

To help young people realize their full potential.

OUR MISSION

Enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people.

OUR SOLUTION

Many children and youth struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives creating toxic stress that can negatively impact development. With the support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced or even avoided.

OUR HISTORY

Our roots run deep in St Catharines, our agency has been working tirelessly since 1937 to offer support, guidance and nurturing to the children within our community.

1937


Big Brothers was founded in St. Catharines by Judge Stanbury.
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1983


Big Sisters was incorporated and launched in St. Catharines.
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2001


Big Brothers and Sisters of Canada, Big Sisters of Canada, and Big Sisters Association of Ontario merge to become Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

2012


BBBS St. Catharines celebrated its 75th Anniversary.
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2016


National proclaims September as Big Brothers Big Sisters Month.
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2018


Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln joined forces with Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines, Thorold & District to become Big Brothers Big Sisters of North & West Niagara!

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of North and West Niagara,
428 Niagara Street, St. Catharines, ON, L2M 4W3

905-646-3230
Charitable Business # 13048 5907 RR 0001

© 2021 Big Brothers Big Sisters of North and West Niagara.
All Rights Reserved.

2016

The organization has seen great gains over the years and a massive increase in youth served. Between 2008 and 2015, the numbers of children who have been matched has more than doubled, from 645 to 1,200. And, there are over 200 children on the waitlist for the organization’s five programs.

The men and women who help Mentor these children, whether through the traditional Big Brother Big Sister one to one match or the School-based and group programs,  are the key to the organization’s success.  Our case workers are responsible for making sure each and every match gets the support they need. The result, youth that grow into successful contributing adults that provide a return of $18-$23 for every $1 invested.

They generously donate  their time, talent and resources to make the community a better place for the children and youth we serve.

2012

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of North and West Niagara we’ve been impacting the lives of children for over 84 years.

And we’re just getting started.

The organization celebrated its 75th Anniversary May 28, 2012.

Much has changed over the years, including the move to bring together Big Brothers Big Sisters under one agency , a new building and an expanded number of programs to meet the changing needs of families and young people…through it all the mission has remained the same as when Stanbury and Jones started it all…empowering youth through Mentorship.

1983

In 1983 the United Way approached the organization and asked if they would open a Big Sisters program to assist girls, who were also in need of the program. On May 27, 1983 Big Sisters was incorporated and launched in St. Catharines.  Long serving Board Director and former Big Brother, Robert Miller supervised the incorporation of the Big Sisters program and the organization was renamed Big Brothers Big Sisters St. Catharines-Thorold & District. Ten girls were matched in that year.

1937

OUR HISTORY

In 1904, Ernest Coulter started a movement that would grow to affect millions of lives around the world- child and youth mentoring.  He encouraged his friends to get involved by helping young boys and young men in father-absent homes.  Before long, the Big Brother movement was born.

Fast forward nine years to a growing delinquency rate in Toronto and the need for an innovative solution. Several businessmen became aware of what was happening in America to combat the same problem and after seeing the positive effect the program had for our neighbors to the south, Big Brothers came to Canada.

OUR HISTORY IN ST. CATHARINES

Big Brothers was founded in St. Catharines on May 28, 1937.

It all started when Judge Stanbury wanted to provide a way to guide youth and promote leadership among boys in the community of St. Catharines.  On May 19th, 1937 and Stanbury and Ellis Jones teamed up to found the Big Brothers Association in St. Catharines, ultimately serving 24 boys in the opening year.  While the organization dispersed during the Second World War and reorganized in 1957, the momentum continued over the next 10 years with 14 more matches in 1964 and up to 114 in 1970 and a wait list of 34 boys now waiting to have a Big Brother in their lives.