This year, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland celebrates 65 years of service — a milestone that offers both a moment to reflect and a call to reimagine how we show up for the next generation.
At a time when families are facing rising costs of living, businesses are navigating talent shortages and communities are feeling the long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health and belonging, one thing remains clear: Human connection matters. Mentorship, at its core, is one of the most powerful forms of connection we have. And right now, more than ever, young people are reaching out for it.
At Big Sisters, our waitlists continue to grow, and the urgency to find dedicated volunteer mentors has never been greater. Meeting this demand requires focused, co-ordinated action — and a shared commitment from across our community.
We’re hearing the same concern across sectors. Young people, especially girls and gender-diverse youth, are encountering complex and compounding barriers, including disrupted learning, social isolation, anxiety, and limited access to trusted guidance and opportunity.
In response, we’re launching a campaign dedicated to expanding access to mentorship, including through building B.C.’s first dedicated mentorship hub.
Why mentorship? Because it works. Youth with mentors are more likely to graduate high school, experience improved mental health, avoid risky behaviours, and pursue meaningful post-secondary and career opportunities. These are deeply personal outcomes — but they also add up to stronger communities and a more-resilient, future-ready workforce.
That’s why mentorship isn’t just a social good. It’s a strategic investment, and it’s workforce development.
As employers look to attract and develop talent, build inclusive workplace cultures and contribute meaningfully to their communities, mentorship offers a long-term solution rooted in human capital and care.
At the end of the day, mentorship is about people. From entrepreneurs and educators to frontline workers and executives, many point to a mentor — someone who believed in them — as the reason they’re where they are today. Someone who showed up, listened and reminded them of their potential, even when they couldn’t yet see it. That kind of presence can change a life. And that life can change the world around it.
As we mark 65 years of mentorship, we invite the business community to step forward—because your leadership matters.
When someone shows up for a young person, it doesn’t just make a difference.
It changes everything.
Chantelle Krish is the CEO of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.
