Burnaby sits at the geographic center of Metro Vancouver, bordered by Vancouver, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and Surrey. That central position makes it one of the most accessible places in the region to volunteer, with the Expo and Millennium Lines running through the city and connecting volunteers from virtually anywhere in the Lower Mainland.
Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver runs six mentoring programs across Burnaby, pairing volunteers with youth aged 7-17 in formats that work alongside a regular schedule. Structured programs like Game On!, In-School Mentoring, and Mentoring with Math run at schools and rec centers on set weekly times. The Big Brothers Community Mentoring program is one-on-one, giving you and your mentee the freedom to build a relationship through activities you choose together, with support and monthly ideas from Big Brothers throughout. Mentoring Coordinators manage the matching process from start to finish and stay in regular contact during your volunteer commitment.
We welcome volunteers, families, and youth of all gender identities and expressions, including transgender and gender-diverse community members. Program availability rotates across Burnaby's neighborhoods seasonally, and our team can confirm what's currently running when you apply.
Big Brothers Community Mentoring Program:
The Big Brothers mentoring program provides supportive one-to-one mentoring relationships to children and youth in our local communities. A Mentor is a role model that a Mentee can talk to, learn from, and share experiences with. Through regular weekly outings, a relationship builds on trust, common interests and fun!
The Mentor/Mentee match is monitored and supported by our experienced caseworkers, and the Parent/Guardian, to ensure positive and meaningful relationships. This is a one-year commitment, meeting weekly for 2-4 hours in your local community. The result is an impactful experience for both the Mentor and the Mentee.
In-School Mentoring:
The In-School Mentoring Program provides supportive one-to-one mentoring relationships to children and youth during their school day. The Big Buddies in this program are adult role models that a Mentee can talk to, learn from and share experiences with.
This program runs for the duration of the school year, meeting weekly for one hour during the school day. Matches spend time together on school grounds doing non-academic activities such as playing sports, games, creating art or just hanging out at the playground. Our matches are paired for the duration of the academic school-year.
Game On!:
The Game On! program is a group mentoring program that provides mentees with information and support to make informed choices about a range of healthy lifestyle practices. Through fun physical activities and active play, complemented with balanced eating support and snacks, participants are engaged in life skills, communication, and social-emotional health discussions to encourage a life-long healthy lifestyle.
Game On! is offered throughout the year at schools and community centres throughout Greater Vancouver. Groups meet once weekly, during weekdays, for 90 minutes. This program is led in-person by a mentor for a group of mentees over 8-10 weeks.
Mentoring with Math:
This program is designed to strengthen the impact of tutoring by adding in the element of mentorship. Learning from a Mentor as a positive role model and friend encourages self-esteem and confidence-building for the Mentees as they work through math problems together.
Mentoring with Math aims to support families who are not otherwise able to financially pursue academic support opportunities outside of school. To ensure all families have access to support, please refrain from applying if your child is able to access paid academic support elsewhere. Snacks, math workbooks, and other supplies are provided.
Mentors meet with Littles once-a-week for 90 minutes in-person (throughout Greater Vancouver) or 60 minutes virtually, over 8-10 weeks, and work on numeracy, complete activities, and play games.
Teen Mentoring:
The Teen Mentoring program is an opportunity for secondary school students to build leadership skills and gain experience working with children, by becoming a Mentor to an elementary school student mentee.
The Youth Leadership component of this program empowers the Teen Mentors to be leaders and engages the youth in skill-building workshops, group facilitation, and public speaking opportunities, and community events.
The Teen Mentoring program requires a one-hour weekly commitment, after-school, as well as consistent participation in Youth Leadership, throughout the school year.
Roots Mentoring:
Roots Mentoring amplifies and celebrates Indigenous cultures while learning from the experiences and teachings of Indigenous Community Leaders and honoured guests. We welcome Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to take part in fostering an environment of curiosity and dialogue to learn from one another and from our honoured guests.
The Roots Program is inspired and informed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At BBGV we continue to build a foundation on which strong and collaborative relationships can grow between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, mentors, staff, and community partners.
Volunteer FAQs for Burnaby
Burnaby is large. Will my program be close to where I live or work?
Programs run across different parts of Burnaby throughout the year, and locations shift seasonally. When you apply, your Mentoring Coordinator will work to match you with a program that's practical for your part of the city. Burnaby's SkyTrain access along both the Expo and Millennium Lines makes most areas reachable without a car.
What are my options if I can only commit to a few months?
Game On! and Mentoring with Math both run over 8-10 weeks at a set location with structured activities. Both are a solid entry point into mentoring without requiring a year-long commitment upfront.
How does the Big Brothers Community Mentoring program work?
You're matched one-on-one with a young person and meet in the community for 2-4 hours per week over a one-year commitment. You and your mentee decide what to do together. Big Brothers provides monthly suggestions for free and low-cost activities across Burnaby and the broader Metro Vancouver area, so finding things to do is straightforward regardless of budget.
What does the application process involve?
You'll submit an application, complete an interview with a Mentoring Coordinator, attend mandatory training, and pass a criminal record and reference check. Once that's done, matching typically takes 4-6 weeks, with timelines varying by program and current availability in Burnaby.
Do I need previous experience working with youth?
No. Training from our Mentoring Coordinators covers everything before you're matched. The goal is to make sure you feel prepared and confident going in, not to screen out people who haven't done this before.
Can I volunteer in Burnaby if I work in Vancouver or another nearby city?
Yes. Many Burnaby volunteers commute from Vancouver, New Westminster, or Coquitlam. For structured programs, you'd be traveling to a fixed Burnaby location once a week. For the Big Brothers Community Mentoring program, you have more flexibility in where you and your mentee spend time.