(Squamish and Whistler only): This is a friendship-based program that matches adult female volunteers with girls between the ages of 7 and 12. Big Sisters commit to spending two to four hours a week with their Little Sisters and make a minimum one-year commitment. Big Sisters provide friendship, guidance, encouragement and support for their Little Sisters. Activities could include swimming, hiking, baking, arts and crafts or just hanging out.

FAQs

Is My Daughter Eligible?

Any girl between the ages of 7 and 12 without any severe physical, emotional or behavioral problems will be considered. To make the relationship work, your daughter must be interested in having a Big Sister and you must be willing to co-operate with the agency and its guidelines.

Please note that the age restriction applies to when a child is initially matched. Once the match is established, it can potentially last into the child’s teenage years.

What Happens Next?

In trying to match Big Sisters and Little Sisters and their families, we gather as much information as possible about everyone’s current living situation and about what kind of match they are seeking. At some point, you will be asked to fill out an application form, submit a professional reference for your child, sign a waiver of liability, attend an Information Night, arrange for a home visit and attend meetings as required.

How long will it take to get a Big Sister for my daughter?

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver seeks to make the match a positive experience for everyone. Consideration and care must be given to finding the right Big Sister for your daughter. It can take some months to find someone with common interests and the right personality.

Will my child be safe with her Big Sister?

We take every precaution we can to ensure your child’s safety. We carefully screen all volunteers. They must provide four references (professional, employer, family and friend), and go through a criminal records check. They go through a lengthy interview process by our qualified staff and undergo training.

The agency has strict guidelines about responsible Big Sister behavior. Participation in our Safety Awareness Program is required of you, your child and all volunteers. We provide an information package for mothers and volunteers. Our mentoring coordinators are available to help you with any concerns in this area.

What happens after a match has been made?

We provide ongoing support and monitoring of the match. Regular phone contact with all parties is an expectation of the program as are regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the progress of the match. Our mentoring coordinators are available to deal with any questions or concerns you may have.

We also provide agency-sponsored events so that Big and Little Sisters can meet each other and share in the magic of mentoring.