2022 – 2023 Donors
Thank you CIF for your continued support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Battlefords!!
The Community Initiatives Fund contributes to the quality of life of Saskatchewan’s residents by providing grants for programs supporting healthy growth and development of children and youth, individual and community wellbeing, and nonprofit and community leadership.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatchewan agencies received $195,000 from Conexus Credit Union in 2022 to support life-changing mentoring relationships over the next three years in 17 locations, including the Battlefords.
“At Conexus, we believe leadership is rooted in developing other leaders. Mentorship is a key part of that and something we’re actively promoting not only with Conexus employees, but also through our community partnerships like Big Brothers Big Sisters that offer meaningful opportunities for education, work skills programs, and literacy” said Nicole Westerlund VP, Member and Community Engagement.
“We know that everyone is capable of being a leader and our communities are stronger for it, and that’s why we’re proud to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters as they help develop life-changing mentoring relationship that invest in the future leaders of Saskatchewan.”
Programming Partners
Thanks to funding from the Access Communications Children’s Fund we have been able to continue to expand the Youth Engagement Initiative opportunities and celebrate goals, interests, and ideas that youth in our community have, while ensuring that they are connected to a support system of adult allies and resources.
Opportunities that are able to happen because of this grant include:
- Monthly group activities and programs for matches, waiting youth, and their families
- Funds for matches to utilize for a special project/goal or connection tool that they would like to use during outings
- Annual Matchiversary celebrations for their friendships
- Monthly youth voice share/conversation circles and engagement activities with the Youth Voice Project to listen to and provide spaces and places for open exchange on the youth experience in the community
- Youth specified trainings, resources, and speakers accessed and brought to the community
- Engagement rewards and incentives for youth achieving goals that are meaningful to them
- Ability for youth to obtain their non-driver’s license photo ID
The Innovation CU Indigenous Arts Partnership Project is a community wide youth programming opportunity to learn more about the art, culture, language and history of our Indigenous friends and neighbours. A team of supportive adult allies provide mentorship, guidance, and reflection while teachings are delivered by local instructors, Knowledge Keepers, and Elders. This project is made possible through Innovation Credit Union.
Youth have had the opportunity to learn:
- Beading
- Hand Drums
- Dream Catchers
- Ribbon Skirts and Shirts
- Tipi Teachings and Rising
Thank you to the generous support of the Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant Program! Because of this program we have been able to offer youth in our programs opportunities like:
- NationsWEST Field House and Co-op Aquatic Centre Passes
- Outings, Activities, and Adventures at Blue Mountain (including horseback riding!)
- Golfing outings at the North Battleford Golf and Country Club and Rustic 9
- Bowling outings at Gutters Bowling and Game Centre
- Outings at Table Mountain
- Group events for youth, connected families, and mentors at various places in the Battlefords
- Outings at Battlefords Provincial Park
Community Engagement and Programming Support Partners
Pandemic Support Partners
The on-going support for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Battlefords focusing on youth engagement, support, and mental health programming was supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) and Community Foundations of Canada.
We were able to provide match re-connection opportunities, activity kits, safety supplies, tablets, and staff support throughout the summer thanks to their generous grant!
Our friends at LB Distillery provided our office and programming with a case of hand sanitizer so that we are able to reconnect and provide our programs in a safe way.
THANK YOU!!