Big Brothers Big Sisters of Innisfail (BBBSI) “sparkled” on Nov. 14 during its gala evening celebrating a year of successful mentorship.
Sparkle MC Mark Kemball led the crowd of more than 200 agency supporters and community members at the Innisfail legion through the agency's annual Sparkle event, an evening of fundraising, celebration and special speakers that included Randi Boulton, Cody Davis and Jenna McKechnie.
Didsbury's Cody Davis spoke on the important role of mentorship he experienced during his recovery from an automobile accident, which left him paralyzed.
“I was given a zero to five per cent chance of ever walking again,” said Davis, who was given seven pints of blood during his spine surgery in 2009. “I came from a close-knit family who supported me during my ongoing recovery and California-based Project Walk guided me to the point where I now walk with the help of crutches.”
Davis added his road to recovery started when he told doctors he would walk. He worked tirelessly to visualize himself moving and hired a personal trainer to push his limits so he could walk again.
“I chose to walk, and work to get closer every day to being independent,” said Davis. “For organizations like Big Brothers to succeed they need mentors to step up to the plate and volunteer. During my early recovery, I needed people to step up and volunteer and they did. Now it's my turn.”
Randi Boulton, local recording artist, entertained the audience with popular songs and original compositions, often encouraging group singalongs such as Under the Boardwalk.
Spruce View resident Jenna McKechnie spoke about her experience with her big sister, Sally, whom she was paired with in 1999 when she was in Grade 1 as the first match in the school.
“Wednesdays became my favourite day of the week,” said McKechnie. “We would play board games, and she became someone I depended on, someone I could trust.”
The current University of Alberta student noted she came from a traditional family, but with her mother attending school herself, she didn't always get what she may have needed.
“As a student now I understand what my mother went through and cannot imagine how she raised us, studied, and did well,” added McKechnie. “I have volunteered in Edmonton and mentored two young girls on Wednesdays and it is an amazing experience for me. I can only hope the girls grow and learn what I did as a mentor-mentee match.”
More than 100 silent auction items ringed the room on tables, ranging from Disney's Frozen movie prints to Red Deer Rebels hockey tickets and massages from local companies. Funds raised from the auction go directly to the BBBSI program.
“Under the guidance of Tim Howard, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Innisfail's profile has increased, and brought awareness of the importance of mentoring youth in our communities,” said Bud Sargent, chairperson of the BBBSI board. “As we expand to Olds and Sundre in the next year, and beyond in 2017, his leadership will be invaluable to the success of the program.”
Sargent added the local organization sits fourth in Canada among mentoring groups with a 4.9 per cent youth engagement reach, yet its goal is to hit 10 per cent with more volunteers and a wider area of service.
“We are poised to sparkle with success,” he added.
Information on the BBBSI program can be found by calling 403-227-6766 or online at www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/innisfail.
