MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The past year of fiscal 2022 has seen a substantial return to the normalcy we were so badly missing, especially in the latter half. We served over 750 children and youth, a definite reduction from our normal 1,100 but a step on the road to the return of normal operations. Schools opened once again to our programming and we were able to run many of our programs on an in-person basis, although virtual programming continued in some cases. A number of families closed community matches this year for a variety of reasons and we are working hard to rebuild our case numbers. We know that children and youth suffered enormous stress during the pandemic and we are working hard to reach out to families who could benefit from a trusted mentor in their lives.

We are also cognizant of the impact of the pandemic on academic achievement and have increased our Mentoring with Math program to respond to that.

Toward this end, we are embarking on an urgent call for volunteers to assist us across all of our programs. Whether a volunteer has a few hours per week or a few weeks per year, we have exciting and engaging opportunities and would greatly value the commitment.

The year also saw the appointment of one of our long-time staff to the position of Director, Programs and Operations. Working closely with other staff with many years of experience at Big Brothers, the program team has been reorganized to focus on the needs of our current and prospective families and to provide the types of programming that will bring the most value to our communities. We have also welcomed a number of new staff in recent months and they bring a host of new skills and talents which will greatly enhance our team.

One of the great pleasures of the past few months has been the return of our time-honoured events that had to be postponed during the pandemic. Our staff came together with many families and volunteers for our annual Big Night of Stars. We celebrated the matches and paid particular tribute to one of our longest-serving directors, Jim Timms. Jim was one of the founding members of Big Brothers and he was instrumental in setting up the funding model in partnership with Value Village that has served us so well over so many years. To Jim and to our other committed directors, I can only say a heartfelt thanks for all you do to support our organization.

To our donors, you have stepped up to support our organization even in these challenging times. It was wonderful to host our full-program golf tournament again recently with the generous sponsorship of B2Gold. We have also benefitted greatly from the growth of our individual giving program and the support of many foundations. We are all deeply indebted to each of you for your steadfast support.

And to our staff, it is such a pleasure to attend events and hear stories from our network about your caring, your skill and your commitment to our organization. Whether you are directly supporting families and volunteers or engaging with our funders and Renew Crew donors or keeping Big Brothers financially solid, I am so proud to count each one of you as a valued colleague. We have come through a very tough time, invigorated and ready for the next challenges. I cannot wait to see what we accomplish next.

Thank you.

Valerie Lambert, CPA, CA, ICD.D