2018 is celebrating an impressive milestone for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colchester.
It marks 40 years of wonderful memories for our agency and we are excited to celebrate our anniversary with the community.
As we celebrate this achievement, we look back on how much Big Brothers Big Sisters has grown as an agency, and as a community contributor for Colchester. Here is a bit of history on how Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colchester got started.
In 1977, a group of concerned citizens were becoming increasingly aware that more and more children in Colchester were in need of positive adult guidance and role modelling. A survey was conducted and the results determined that there were more than 500 children in the county who could greatly benefit from the services a Big Brothers Big Sisters agency could provide.
The results of this survey prompted a steering committee to be formed, which included many Kiwanians. Realizing there would be a need for financial support, they asked their club for assistance. The members of the Kiwanis Club of Truro agreed to help and a number of fundraising projects were organized.
With the assistance and guidance of Big Brothers Canada and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dartmouth/Halifax, the steering committee evolved into a board of directors with Ed Newell becoming the board’s first president.
In 1978, we affiliated with Big Brothers of Canada and were incorporated under the Nova Scotia Societies Act. A year later an executive director was hired and the agency began its journey of making a difference in the lives of children.
With the incredible support of this community, over the past 40 years Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colchester has been able to serve thousands of children and youth in this community. We have witnessed the powerful impact mentoring has on not only the life of children and youth but the adults involved as well. We started out with our core “Bigs and Littles” program and have now grown to include in-school mentoring, peer mentoring, group mentoring and other programs such as Kids N Kops.
As we celebrate our 40th anniversary we reflect back on all of the triumphs, challenges, successes and failures we’ve had as an agency, and it makes us excited to think about what the next 40 years will look like.
As part of our celebration we are planning several fun activities and events this year for our Bigs and Littles, as well as all community members who have been a part of the growth and success of BBBS Colchester. Stay tuned as we announce what’s happening!
From all of us here at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colchester, thank you to our community volunteers, partners and champions who make Colchester a great place to live, work and play.
-ANNA RUTHERFORD
