Who We Are - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa

Who We Are

OTTAWA’S LONGEST-STANDING CHILDREN’S CHARITIES

Since 1970, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa has been creating strong relationships between Mentors & Mentees. We’re incredibly proud of how we’ve been able to grow to offer a variety of programs for all children. By changing the course of young lives, we know that we can change the course of a community’s future. Mentors in our programs are role models that teach by example. The importance of giving and giving back, education, respect for family, peers, and the community are all taught through these life-changing friendships. The transformation of a child into a confident, concerned, and motivated young person is truly something amazing. Our staff and volunteers take incredible pride in not only the role they play, but in how these children step into their own. As a national organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is the country’s leading child and youth mentoring charity. For one hundred years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has used mentoring programs to make a positive difference in the lives of our nation’s youth. Life-changing relationships enable and empower children and youth to reach their potential as individuals and citizens.

OUR VISION AND MISSION
All Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa programs and initiatives strive to further our goals for the children and youth of our city.

OUR MISSION
To enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people.

OUR VISION
To enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

Where we are:

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional, unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.
Acknowledging territory is only the beginning of cultivating meaningful and reciprocal relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.
There is a lot of work to be done for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. BBBSO is committed to ongoing learning and work to action changes.

Who we are:

Our name

We recognize the importance of language, and the impact of inclusivity and identity erasure. We acknowledge how our organizational name re-enforces the gender binary and fails to honor Trans, non-binary and gender diverse identities. We welcome Mentors and Mentees who are 2SLGBTQ+

Our Commitment

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa, our commitment to diversity is our promise to each other, and the communities we serve as a proud member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada family. We strive to reach out to and welcome every child, mentor, volunteer, and staff person so that we can support, strengthen, benefit from, and contribute to the richness and complexity that is Canada. We are committed to being an inclusive group where differences are valued and respected in everything that we do. By always staying true to these principles, we enrich ourselves and the lives of those we are dedicated to serving.