Convention 2026 – Information For Delegates

9:00 AM – 9:05 AM

INDIGENOUS PRAYER AND WELCOME

International AB

Plenary | All staff

Led by Asha Frost, best-selling author of ‘You are the Medicine’, Indigenous healer, oracle deck creator, mentor and mama.

9:05 AM – 9:25 AM

National Convention Kickoff

International AB

Opening Remarks | All staff

Jill Zelmanovits, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

Welcome to National Convention!

9:25 AM – 10:04 AM

Coming Into Focus: A Future Built on Mentorship

International AB

Keynote | All staff

A Keynote address from Ginneh Baugh, Chief Impact Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Join Ginneh Baugh, Chief Impact Officer at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, for a conversation on the power of OUR collective vision to ensure every young person, no matter their country code or background, has the opportunity to experience the power of mentorship.

10:05 AM – 10:55 AM

THE ROAD AHEAD: 2027 FEDERATION STRATEGIC PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN

International AB

Plenary | All staff

Presented by Nina Shukla, National Vice President, Strategy, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and Kaitlyn Parks National Data Analyst, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

In this plenary, we will walk through where we are in the Federation’s strategic planning process and what we have learned so far. We will share key findings from across the Federation, including insights from agency focus groups, national data, and external research. We will also discuss the six key areas shaping this work and begin connecting our current reality to the future we want to build together. This session sets the foundation for the visioning work ahead, ensuring everyone is aligned on what we know before we begin defining where we are going.

Supporting Documents

Presentation

10:59 – 11:00AM

BIG RECOGNITION | Big Impact

The BIG Impact – BBBS of North Simcoe

11:20 AM – 12:20 PM

Governance: Board-ED Relations

New York

Breakout | Leadership staff

Facilitated by Benjamin Miller, Policy Advisory & Lawyer, Ontario Nonprofit Network.

The session starts off by introducing key principles in corporate and employment law that send the boundaries of board power and how it gets delegated, then the bulk of the session is spent going through 4 case studies (3 of which were litigated one was not) with an eye towards what systems of practices could have prevented the issue and what could have been done once the problem emerged. The goal is to sharpen participants’ judgment when faced with these issues (which often happen slowly over a long period) because there is likely neither the willingness nor the ability to seek legal counsel until the situation is an acute problem.

Feedback

11:20 AM – 12:20 PM

SHAPING STRATEGY: INSIGHTS & FEEDBACK

Paris

Breakout | Service Delivery staff

Facilitated by Rickesh Lakhani, Radiance Advisory and Nina Shukla, National Vice President, Strategy, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada .

Building on the plenary, this session is an opportunity for participants to actively shape the future of the Federation. You are now grounded in what we have learned, including our strengths, challenges, and opportunities. In these breakout groups, you will shift from understanding today to defining what success looks like in the future. Each group will respond to the guiding question: It’s 2035, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Federation is thriving. What is true about us?

Working across the six key areas, you will develop “We will” statements that describe what the Federation must look like to truly thrive. The focus is on what we will be, not how we get there. These ideas will directly inform the strategic priorities of the next Federation plan. Participants will work in assigned groups and will be encouraged to push their thinking, be ambitious, and focus on what must be true for BBBS to best support youth across the country.

Supporting Documents

Feedback

1:09 – 1:10 PM

BIG RECOGNITION | BIG Community Builders

BGC Bigs Edmonton

A.J. Keller
BGC Bigs Edmonton

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

SHAPING STRATEGY: INSIGHTS & FEEDBACK

New York

Breakout | Leadership staff

Facilitated by Rickesh Lakhani, Radiance Advisory and Nina Shukla, National Vice President, Strategy, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

Building on the plenary, this session is an opportunity for participants to actively shape the future of the Federation. You are now grounded in what we have learned, including our strengths, challenges, and opportunities. In these breakout groups, you will shift from understanding today to defining what success looks like in the future. Each group will respond to the guiding question: It’s 2035, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Federation is thriving. What is true about us?

Working across the six key areas, you will develop “We will” statements that describe what the Federation must look like to truly thrive. The focus is on what we will be, not how we get there. These ideas will directly inform the strategic priorities of the next Federation plan. Participants will work in assigned groups and will be encouraged to push their thinking, be ambitious, and focus on what must be true for BBBS to best support youth across the country.

Supporting Documents

Feedback

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT TRENDS AND EFFECTIVE VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

Paris

Breakout | Service Delivery staff

Facilitated by Kasandra James, Director, Programs & Organizational Systems, Volunteer Toronto.

Volunteerism keeps changing – and today’s volunteer engagement challenges point to uncharted territories. Understanding the current trends in volunteer interest, engagement, and motivation can help you make better decisions when recruiting new volunteers. We’ll look at nation-wide and regional data that explores how different demographics interact with volunteering and how to reach out to the volunteer-seekers in your community. We’ll explore practical recruitments tips that align with shifting volunteer priorities, while also diving into the approaches that will work best when capturing volunteer attention.

Feedback

2:35 PM – 3:05 PM

Youth Program Innovation

International AB

Plenary | All staff

Facilitated by Sharif Mahdy, CEO, Students Commission of Canada and Florence Bergeron, COO, Students Commission of Canada.

This session explores what it takes to support young people not just to succeed, but to truly thrive. Grounded in research and practice, participants will be introduced to the key conditions that foster youth thriving—competence, autonomy, relatedness, and engagement (CARE). We will unpack how these elements show up in mentoring relationships and how mentors can intentionally create environments that strengthen each one.

Building on this foundation, the session will also explore the qualities of effective adult allies and the role mentors play in shifting from a “teaching” mindset to one rooted in partnership, trust, and empowerment. Through practical tools, reflection prompts, and concrete examples, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to support the youth they work with in ways that are responsive, strengths-based, and impactful.

Presentation

3:05 PM – 4:00 PM

BBBS Program Innovation

New York

Breakout | Leadership staff

Presented by Margie Grant Walsh, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County, Kim Megyesi, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatoon and Area Inc., Katie Lowes, Director of Service Delivery and Partnerships, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel | York, and Alison Heath, Manager of Programs and Operations, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Durham and Northumberland.

Through short presentations and a facilitated discussion, speakers will share not only what they built, but how the work happened—including the intentional choices, partnerships, and lessons learned along the way. Participants will leave with practical insights and tangible ideas they can apply in their own communities.

Feedback

3:05 PM – 4:00 PM

BIG STEPS TO SUCCESS: KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

International AB

Breakout | Service Delivery staff

Facilitated by Big Steps to Success agencies
and Marika Mennaman, National Manager, Network Projects & Partnerships Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

Big Steps to Success is a national mentoring initiative designed to support young people involved in the child welfare system. Over the past five years, agencies across the country have worked together, and in partnership with child welfare and community organizations to adapt and strengthen mentoring approaches to better meet the needs of youth in care.

This session will highlight key learnings from the initiative, including what it takes to build strong partnerships, support meaningful mentoring relationships, and adapt programs in real-world contexts. Participants will hear directly from agencies about what worked, what was challenging, and how this learning is shaping the future of mentoring.

Resources

Feedback

4:05 PM – 4:20 PM

Day 1 Wrap Up

International AB

Plenary | All staff

Jill Zelmanovits, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

NATIONAL CONVENTION 2026 GROUP PHOTO!
Jill will be inviting all delegates to come on and around the stage for our official group photo. Bring your best smiles—we’re capturing the moment together!

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

CELEBRATION OF MENTORING DINNER

International AB

EAT. CONNECT. CELEBRATE.
Join us for an evening dedicated to the power and impact of mentoring. The Celebration of Mentoring brings our network together to share great food, meaningful conversations, and collective pride in the life-changing work happening across our agencies.
This special gathering is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate the dedication of those who make mentoring possible — and to recognize the valued sponsors and partners whose support strengthens our mission nationwide.

Music by DJ Lewy V and comedy by Faith with the Jokes

7:03 – 7:09 PM

BIG RECOGNITION | BIG INNOVATORS

Kelly Leach – BBBS of Nfld
Integrated Youth Services (IYS) – BBBS Pictou County

Kelly Leach
BBBS of Eastern Newfoundland

Integrated Youth Services (IYS)
BBBS Pictou County

8:41 – 8:45 PM

BIG RECOGNITION | BIG MATCH

BBBS of Calgary
BBBS of Regina

BBBS of Calgary

BBBS of Regina

9:00 AM – 9:05 AM

WELCOME TO DAY 2

International AB

Plenary | All staff

Jill Zelmanovits, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

Welcome to day two!

9:10 AM – 10:00 AM

MENTORING: THE DEVELOPMENTAL POWER OF CONNECTION

International AB

Keynote | All staff

Dr. Jean Clinton, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University

Explore the science behind connection and its powerful impact on development. Drawing on current brain research, Dr. Clinton will highlight how caring relationships shape healthy development and why connection is foundational to helping young people thrive. She will also illustrate how our Theory of Change aligns strongly with what science tells us about the importance of relationships in supporting positive outcomes for youth. This engaging and accessible presentation will deepen understanding of why relationship-centered approaches are essential and why connection should remain at the heart of services designed to support young people today.

10:00 – 10:01 AM

BIG RECOGNITION | BIG Champion

Jessica Atwell
BBBS of Annapolis Valley

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM

FROM BARRIERS TO BRIDGES: RESEARCH INSIGHTS FROM CANADA’S MENTORING LANDSCAPE

International AB

Plenary | All staff

Presented by Veronique Church-Duplessis, Senior Director, Research and Impact, Mentor Canada and Tracy Luca-Huger, Executive Director, Mentor Canada.

Access to mentorship in Canada remains uneven. This keynote draws on Mentor Canada’s national studies to examine mentee and mentor experiences, barriers to participation, and benefits for both. Attendees will explore equitable access, mentor motivations, and evidence-based strategies to design inclusive programs that strengthen recruitment, retention, and lasting impact.

11:10 AM – 12:10 AM

REBUILDING COLLECTIVE WELLBEING IN A STRETCHED NONPROFIT SECTOR

International AB

Plenary | All staff

Presented by Laine Bourassa, Principal Consultant, Taylor Newberry Consulting and Katelyn Mitri, Senior Research & Evaluation Consultant, Taylor Newberry Consulting.

Burnout is no longer an individual issue, it is a shared condition across the nonprofit and social service sector. Agency leaders are acutely aware that staff exhaustion, turnover, and moral distress are widespread, yet the solutions most often proposed ask individuals and teams to adapt, cope, and self-regulate within systems shaped by underfunding, austerity, and increasing demand.

Drawing on sector experience and real-world examples, this session will explore how creating spaces for people working on similar challenges to connect, share, and problem-solve together can reduce isolation, build resilience, and foster shared momentum – even when structural constraints remain. While community will not solve everything, being able to reach out, exchange strategies, and feel supported matters deeply when resources are tight and pressures keep mounting. This keynote aims to normalize the reality leaders are facing and offer a hopeful, grounded reframing: when things feel stuck, at least we don’t have to face them alone.

1:14 – 1:15 PM

BIG RECOGNITION | BIG INNOVATORS

BBBS of Barrie

BBBS of Barrie

1:15 PM – 1:55 PM

A practical path: Building sustainable fundraising capacity at your agency

International AB

Spotlight Speaker | All staff

Presented by Larissa Stoddart, CFRE, CEO, Growth & Co.

Key takeaways from this session include:

1. Successful revenue generation requires fundraising strategies across multiple revenue lines, beyond events.
2. A clear understanding of current fundraising operations at your agency is required before outlining an integrated fundraising plan.
3. An integrated fundraising plan can streamline role descriptions for agency staff and reduce duplicated efforts, building alignment with service delivery and administrative roles.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Gliding through Grants with the Theory of Change

New York

Breakout | Leadership staff

Facilitated by Stachen Frederick, President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto and Cherie Ann Pereira, Director of Evaluation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto.

Learn how to navigate grant writing using a Theory of Change. This session covers key proposal sections, aligning with funder priorities, and using data to tell your story. Gain practical tips on guidelines, budgeting, evaluation, and fundraising trends, plus tools to prepare strong, efficient grant applications for your organization.

Feedback

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Fundraising is a Team Sport: Demystifying Fundraising for Non-Fundraisers

Paris

Breakout | Service Delivery staff

Facilitated by Danisha Bhaloo-Shivji, CFRE, Manager of Engagement and Affinity Groups United Way of Calgary and Area, National Board Member Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and Former Manager of Fund Development BGC Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton

Fundraising isn’t just the responsibility of development staff—it’s a shared effort across an organization. This session breaks down common misconceptions about fundraising and empowers non-fundraising team members to play a meaningful role in advancing their mission. Participants will gain practical insights, approachable strategies, and the confidence to contribute to relationship-building, storytelling, and donor engagement in ways that feel authentic and achievable.

Feedback

3:15 PM – 3:35 PM

Bold for Sustainability: Leading Big Ideas When “Too Big” Is the First Reaction

International AB

Big Talk | All staff

Presented by Chantelle Krish, CEO, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.

This session will be followed by a question + answer.

3:35 PM – 3:45

Convention 2026 Closing Remarks

International AB

Closing remarks | All staff

Jill Zelmanovits, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.