I began with the organization as a service delivery staff, which really allowed me to grow and develop my connection to the agency and the families we work with.

Every time I made a new match or got to sit and reflect on a full year with an existing match, I felt like I was having a positive impact.

I transitioned to the Executive Director role a few years later, which allowed me to become immersed in not only the BBBS community, but my community. The work I do know allows me to feel that we are making positive steps forward, not only with one youth but on an ever-larger scale.

My most memorable moment – how can someone pick just one! It was when the Little from the first match I ever made, who hardly said more than two words during his interview process, ran up to me and gave me his school photo at a group event a year later. Her parents had also brought a homemade pie to thank me for finding a Big for their child – that gesture really touched me to the core.

[The training] reminded me to continuously put in the work to ensure our practices here at the agency are inclusive and celebrate diversity!

The training really solidified the idea that we all have our own unique identity, our own way of describing ourselves. It reminded me to continuously put in the work to ensure our practices here at the agency are inclusive and celebrate diversity!

It has really made me examine and reflect on my own identity and how define myself- which parts of my own history and cultural heritage do I want to know more about? Which parts of myself do I want to explore?

Thanks to Canadian Heritage for supporting the Paying It Forward project!