SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 – VANCOUVER, B.C. – In the past year, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV) has supported 1,074 children. However, those programs are at risk due to a drop in funding. That’s why BBGV is asking the community for direct support this Big Brothers Big Sisters Month as the charity’s primary funding model takes a major hit, putting pressure on its ability to keep pace with growing family demand for youth mentorship programs in the Lower Mainland.

For more than 35 years, the non-profit has reliably counted on clothing donations as its largest source of revenue, a model that has allowed the organization to serve Greater Vancouver’s children largely independent of government funding. That model is now under strain due to a major shift in demand within the secondhand goods market affecting their major partners.

“This funding model has worked for decades, and it still works today. However, the economics have changed, and we need our community to help close the gap to continue serving thousands of boys, girls, and gender diverse youth where we live,” Valerie Lambert, Executive Director of BBGV, said.

This shift interrupts years of momentum and sustained program growth for the organization. In their 2026 fiscal year, BBGV served more than 1,000 children for the first time since 2019, a year where the charity served 1,211 youth. That success was then quickly followed by a sharp drop to a low of 768 children served during the pandemic.

Today, that growth and ability to serve more families in the province’s fastest growing region is at risk.

“Donations and volunteers are what enable every child in our community the chance to be empowered through mentorship. These positive relationships change lives. They connect caring adults with children who can benefit from a consistent positive role model and friend. The impact of our programs can last a lifetime – and often does,” Lambert said.

Community members can support families and youth directly by becoming a monthly donor at as little as $5 per month or with a one-time gift at bigbrothersvancouver.com/donate or connect directly with the organization at donations@bbgvf.com.

Big Brothers is a charity whose mission is to empower children and youth to reach their full potential through impactful mentoring relationships in collaboration with local communities. The organization offers six free youth mentorship programs for children, youth, and volunteers of all gender identities and backgrounds, and serves families across Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, the North Shore, Delta and White Rock.

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Media Contact
Norman Galimski, Marketing & Communications Manager
ngalimski@bbgvf.com | 604-657-8572
Contact Norman for media backgrounder or to organize interviews with the Executive Director, Director of Programs, Big Brother/Little Brother matches, or other contacts.

Download the full media release with backgrounder.

April 1, 2026: SURREY, B.C. – Four years after Surrey children stopped being accepted into a community youth mentorship program due to an acute shortage of volunteers, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV) says just 13 more volunteers are needed so the organization can reopen its doors to families in the city.

The organization has reduced its wait pool from nearly 40 children, but to meet the remaining need, BBGV is hosting two in-person volunteer info sessions in Surrey at the Strawberry Hill Library on Apr. 14 at 6:00 PM and Newton Library on Apr. 23 at 4:30 PM for those looking to learn how to make an impact.

Additionally, the charity will host weekly online volunteer info sessions every Thursday at noon throughout April. All info sessions are open to the public with no commitment required.

“2026 marks four years since the Big Brothers Community program closed to new families in Surrey but, this year, the story is not about closure, it’s about progress,” Rose Higgins, Director of Programs and Operations at BBGV, said.

In April 2022, the organization was forced to pause Surrey intake for its signature Big Brothers Community program as its wait pool surged to 38 children due to a volunteer shortage. This resulted in a waitlist of more than 100 families unable to enrol their children while enrolled youth had to wait more than two years on average to meet their mentor.

“Over the past four years, we’ve worked hard to rebuild volunteer momentum and eliminate our waitlist in the city. Now, we’re seeing the results. With 13 more volunteers in Surrey, we could open up so many opportunities for children and families who have been waiting so long to meet their Big Brother,” Navkiran Brar, BBGV Community Program Manager, said.

The impact of mentorship programs goes far beyond weekly hang outs. In fact, 91% of youth in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs report a stronger sense of belonging with family and peers. Academically, mentored youth show a 28% increase in achieving A grades at school with 73% of alumni mentees saying their mentors introduced them to interesting careers. In the long-term, mentored youth earn an average of $200,000 more over their lifetimes than non-mentored peers.

Ultimately, mentees are far more likely to volunteer as adults and continue the cycle of mentorship.

While volunteer demand remains high in Surrey, it does not stop there. Across the organization’s service region, 106 youth are currently waiting to meet their mentor throughout Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Delta, White Rock, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, the City of North Vancouver, and the North Shore.

In 2025, the organization served 959 children through its programs, up 13 per cent from 2024.

The charity’s vision is to empower children and youth to reach their full potential through mentorship by matching caring adults with children who could benefit from an additional positive adult presence in their life.

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Media contact:
Norman Galimski – Marketing & Communications Manager and BBGV volunteer
Email: ngalimski@bbgvf.com | Phone: 604 657 8572

Surrey In-person Volunteer Info Sessions – April 2026
April 14, 6 p.m. – Click to sign up for the Strawberry Hill Library info session in Surrey
April 23, 4:30 p.m. – Click to sign up for the Newton Library info session in Surrey

Online info sessions every Thursday (Apr. 2 – Apr. 30) at 12pm
Sign up for free online at bigbrothersvancouver.com/volunteer-info-session/

General volunteer inquiries
Email volunteer@bbgvf.com or visit bigbrothersvancouver.com/inquire

SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 – For the first time, families now wait more than two years on averaged to be matched with a volunteer Big Brother in Richmond, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver announced on Sept. 4.

This turning point, shared at the start of Big Brothers Big Sisters Month, underscores the growing demand for youth mentorship across communities and the challenges of finding mentors fueled by the ongoing volunteer shortage.

“Due to the continuing volunteer shortage, we’ve already had to close family intake in Surrey for the Big Brothers Community Program three years ago and if the demand for mentors continues to rise and volunteers don’t step in to fill the need, the program in those communities is at risk of following the same path,” Rose Higgins, Programs and Operations Director, said.

This month, the organization is asking community members to learn more about how to become a volunteer mentor by attending one of their free in-person or online volunteer info sessions. Those interested in learning about volunteering can sign up on the organization’s Eventbrite page, by emailing volunteer@bbgvf.com or calling 604-657-8572 for more information.

Online volunteer info sessions will be held on Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, Sept. 18 and Sept. 25.

In-person volunteer info sessions will be held:

• On Sept. 9, in Surrey, at the Surrey City Centre Library from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• On Sept. 16, in Richmond, at Richmond Caring Place Society from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• On Sept. 23 in Burnaby, at Burnaby Public Library Metrotown branch from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The volunteer demand for male-identifying mentors, specifically, is at an all-time high for the organization as the Big Brothers Community Program pairs children and youth with male-identifying and gender diverse volunteers.

The non-profit is inclusive of serving and welcoming trans, gender diverse, non-binary, female and male mentors, mentees and families.

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver is a charity whose mission is to empower youth to reach their full potential though impactful mentoring relationships. The organized served 959 children in 2024 to 2025.

Currently, there are more than 100 children waiting to be matched with a Big Brother in the Community Mentoring program throughout the non-profit’s service region of Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, the North Shore, Delta and White Rock.

Media contact:
Norman Galimski, Marketing & Communications Manager
ngalimski@bbgvf.com, | 604 657 8572

April 2, 2025: SURREY, B.C. – April marks three years since Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV) last accepted a new family in Surrey for their Big Brothers Community Mentoring Program.

In response, the non-profit is doubling-down its efforts to find Surrey volunteers by hosting additional virtual volunteer info sessions each week of April and two in-person opportunities to learn more at their Surrey Office and the Surrey Libraries Newton Branch.

“Three years is a long time to wait to meet your Big Brother,” Navkiran Brar, community program manager at BBGV, said. “It’s especially heartbreaking to see when families ultimately don’t find one for their child due to long wait times or by even ageing out of our program altogether.”

There are currently 24 children in the Surrey Community Program wait pool looking to be matched with a Big Brother and 74 families on the waitlist yet to enter the volunteer-matching process.

The charity first announced the intake closure in January 2023 after it became evident that the effect of the national volunteer shortage, in the wake of the pandemic, was not a short-term challenge.

The organization says it would need to recruit approximately 75 new volunteers in Surrey to consider reopening their family intake and begin to reoffer the program to the fastest-growing community in the province.

While the closure remains in effect, there has been some positive momentum toward finding Surrey volunteers this year. With four Surrey children matched in 2025 so far, the organization has been able to start serving children on their waitlist of families hoping to enroll a child in their program.

“We’ve seen a steady increase of Surrey volunteer applications across all of our programs this year, but since we’ve seen an uptick for our Big Brothers Community Program it has allowed us to move some families from our waitlist into our active wait pool to match children with a Big Brother volunteer,” Rose Higgins, director of programs and operations at BBGV, said.

For those looking to get involved in Surrey, or across Greater Vancouver, you can learn more about how to get involved online, by emailing volunteer@bbgvf.com or calling 604-657-8572.

While Surrey is in critical need of volunteers, the demand from families to enroll a child in the Big Brothers Community Program continues to rise drastically in Richmond and Coquitlam, pushing the organization’s capacity to serve all of them if more volunteers don’t sign up soon.

In 2024, the organization served 835 children through their mentorship programs, nearly 100 more than they did in 2023. The organization is still recovering from the pandemic-induced volunteer exodus and subsequent on-going shortage. Pre-pandemic, the non-profit served more than 1,200 children per year.

The vision of BBGV is to empower children and youth to reach their full potential though mentorship by matching caring adults with children who could benefit from an additional positive adult presence in their life.

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In-person Surrey volunteer info sessions:

• Location: Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, Surrey Office in Newton|
  Date: April 15 at 5:30pm – 6:30pm
  Address: 7380 King George Blvd #102, Surrey, BC V3W 5A5
  Registration link
• Location: Surrey Libraries – Newton Branch
  Date: April 29 at 6-7pm
  Address: 13795 70 Avenue Surrey, BC V3W 0E1
  Registration link

Online Volunteer Info Sessions

• April 3 – Registration link
• April 10 – Registration link
• April 17 – Registration link
• April 24 – Registration link

For interview requests, backgrounder or more information, email ngalimski@bbgvf.com.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024: GREATER VANCOVER, B.C. – Landmarks across Greater Vancouver will glow teal to illuminate Big Brothers Big Sisters Day on Sept. 18 and highlight the need for volunteer mentors in the region.

So far this month, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV) has reached seven of 30 volunteer applications toward their goal, for the Big Brothers Community Program, during their new recruitment initiative: 30 Men in 30 Days.

Iconic structures lighting up in support include Science World, BC Place and the Pacific Coliseum. Municipal buildings such as Vancouver City Hall, Burrard Street Bridge, Surrey Civic Plaza and city halls in Burnaby, the City of North Vancouver, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody will also shine in recognition of youth mentorship.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters Day is a chance for us celebrate the amazing mentoring our volunteer ‘Bigs’ do throughout our communities. Mentoring relationships help ignite the potential of children and youth, which creates a ripple effect of positive and vibrant communities,” Rose Higgins, Director of Programs and Operations at BBGV, said.

Throughout September, the organization is seeking 30 new mentors throughout Grater Vancouver with an emphasis on Surrey, which has had their Community Mentoring Program intake closed since April 2022.

“This day is also a time to recognize the need from families for our mentorship programs. Today, there are 30 children in our Surrey Big Brothers Mentoring Program waitpool still waiting to be matched with a Big Brother volunteer mentor. Surrey wait times for ‘Littles’ are currently more than two-and-a-half years due to the challenges of finding volunteers to commit to our one-year program,” Higgins said.

Currently, there are more than 100 children waiting to be matched with a Big Brother in the Community Mentoring Program throughout the non-profit’s service region of Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, the North Shore, Delta and White Rock.

“While there is still a ways to go toward our goal of 30 Men in 30 Days, we can see the waves our campaign is making. We’ve seen our community really engage in this campaign and tap into their networks resulting in an increase in volunteer inquires and new networks being reached. We’re hoping to carry the momentum all the way to the end of this year and continue to bring in eager volunteers looking to make a meaningful impact where they live,” Norman Galimski, Marketing, Communications and Recruitment Officer at BBGV, said.

BBGV is a charity whose mission is to empower children and youth to reach their full potential though impactful mentoring relationships in collaboration with local communities and offers six different free youth mentorship programs for children and volunteers of all gender identities and backgrounds.

For those interested in volunteering and becoming a mentor, visit Big Brothers online to learn more: bigbrothersvancouver.com/volunteer/inquire.

Media contact:

Norman Galimski – BBGV Marketing, Communications and Recruitment Officer – ngalimski@bbgvf.com

SURREY, B.C. – January is Mentoring Month, but Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV) has stopped accepting new children in Surrey for their community mentoring program because of a shortage of volunteers, the organization announced on Jan. 17.

“Surrey has the largest wait pool in the agency, with 30 kids waiting for a Big Brother. The wait pool is so large that adding more kids to it is currently on hold. Essentially there are families on a waitlist to get into the wait pool for matching! The current average wait time to get a Big Brother for Surrey wait pool “Littles” is two years, which is almost double the amount of time from other cities” Navkiran Brar, manager of family engagement, said.

The term wait pool is used by BBGV to describe Little Brothers approved for the program and waiting to be matched.

BBGV is a registered charity whose mission is to empower children and youth to reach their full potential though impactful mentoring relationships. The charity aims to serve more than 1,000 youth through free programs in Surrey, Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, the North Shore, Delta and White Rock.

“It’s unfortunate. We’ve had to stop accepting new families who’d like to be paired with a Big Brother in Surrey because of the lack of volunteers applying. This is the most urgent need for mentors I’ve seen in my five years with the organization,” Mandy Wong, manager of development and marketing at BBGV, said.

In Surrey, the charity has an immediate need for at least 38 volunteers to meet the current demand throughout their free programs.

Right now, there are hundreds of youth waiting for their mentor and friend. If you’ve ever considered volunteering as a mentor, now is the time.

As one BBGV volunteer and current Big Brother, Hari, recently explained:

“[Volunteering] is a lot less scary than you think it is and it’s a lot more fun than you think it will be and you’ll end up learning a whole lot more about yourself … There’s a lot in it for you that you’ll end up finding and you’ll be surprised with what comes out at the end of it.”

Other cities in Greater Vancouver with a high need for volunteers are Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Vancouver and North Vancouver.

The organization’s mentoring programs pair volunteers with children and youth between the ages of seven and 17-years-old who share common interests. Volunteers spend one or more hours per week with their matches doing fun activities.

BBGV has six programs you can get involved in; the Big Brother Community Program, In-School Mentoring, Game On!, Mentoring With Math, Roots and Teen Mentoring.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver please visit https://www.bigbrothersvancouver.com or reach us at volunteer@bbgvf.com.

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV) was awarded $25,000 to support youth leadership programs as a recipient of the 2022 Ted Rogers Community Grant, Rogers Communication announced on Nov. 3.

“We’re thrilled to receive this funding. With this grant, we can directly fund even more youth mentorship programming and take one step closer to reaching our goal of matching over 1,000 children and youth with mentors in our local communities throughout Greater Vancouver,” Mandy Wong, manager of development and marketing at BBGV, said.

BBGV’s mission is to empower young people to reach their full potential through impactful mentoring relationships in collaboration with local communities in Surrey, White Rock, Delta, Richmond, New Westminster, the Tri-Cities, Burnaby, the North Shore and Vancouver.

The registered charity is part of more than 70 others across Canada to receive funds for youth programming. Ted Rogers Community Grants are awarded yearly to registered charitable organizations or non-profits in Canada that provide programming to youth ages 15 to 29 in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, health and sport.

“We are proud to partner with local organizations to help young Canadians reach their full potential,” Tony Staffieri, president and CEO, Rogers Communications, said. “Our youth are the future, and we need to do everything we can to give them the best start in life.”

Since 2017, Rogers has awarded hundreds of Ted Rogers Community Grants for programs that support equity-deserving youth. This year, recipient organizations will help over 50,000 youth in 250 communities across the country.

Rogers invests $5 million annually to create educational opportunities for Canadian youth through Community Grants and Ted Rogers Scholarships.  It has also contributed more than $10 million over the past decade to create access to youth sports programming through Jays Care Foundation.

For a full list of recipients across Canada, please visit here.