The room was full of smiles before the program even began.
At our annual Celebrate Breakfast, donors, alumni, mentors, board members, and friends of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa came together for a morning that felt less like an event and more like a reunion. There were handshakes, hugs, and plenty of reconnecting with colleagues and friends — a powerful reminder that at the heart of our work is community.
Hosted once again by the wonderful team at Chop Steakhouse, long-time supporters of BBBSO, the breakfast created space to reflect on what mentorship makes possible, and why lasting, consistent relationships matter so deeply in the lives of young people.
Our host, Sam Laprade, anchored the morning with warmth and thoughtfulness. Through a meaningful land acknowledgement and her reflections on the importance of connection, Sam reminded us that mentorship is about showing up, listening, and creating space for young people to grow into their potential. She spoke beautifully about how relationships — when built with care and intention — can shape confidence, belonging, and lifelong outcomes.
One of the most powerful moments of the morning came from Pam, who shared her personal journey with BBBSO. From becoming a mentor in her twenties, to working as a part-time content creator with the organization, and now returning as a mentor through our in-school program, Pam’s story reflected what long-term engagement truly looks like. Her experience highlighted something we see every day: mentorship is not just impactful for young people — it changes mentors too.
Susan Ingram, Executive Director of BBBSO, shared reflections on an incredible year of impact. In 2025, BBBSO supported 936 young people across our programs — each one matched with caring mentors and trusted adults who believe in their potential. Susan emphasized that this impact is only possible because of the generosity, commitment, and belief of our supporters in the room and across the community.
She also looked ahead, sharing how continued support will allow BBBSO to grow, reach more young people, and strengthen mentorship opportunities in 2026 and beyond. Susan proudly shared, “At BBBSO, relationships come first. Not just with youth. But with each other. We lead with empathy. We centre trust. We believe strong internal relationships create strong external impact.”
The message was clear: this community is not only celebrating past impact, but actively building the future.
Adding a special touch to the morning, guests were invited to take home Valentine-themed cards from BBBSO — a small gesture of appreciation and a reminder to share the love, reconnect with their circles, and spread the message of mentorship even further.
The Celebrate Breakfast wasn’t about fundraising. It was about belonging. About gratitude. About recognizing that behind every match, every success story, and every young person served, there is a network of people who choose to show up.
To our donors, alumni, mentors, board members, and partners: thank you for being part of this community. Because of you, young people in Ottawa are not navigating their futures alone — they are supported, encouraged, and connected for life.
