play badminton and paint on canvas.
These days the Wilsons and the Camerons enjoy a close, comfortable relationship. Heidi says Wilson often brings his wife and young son along to dinner, and admits they’ve all become honourary members of her family. Greg and his wife have gotten to know Heidi quite well and provide a supportive network he wouldn’t otherwise have had.
“The more people involved in any child’s life the better,” says Heidi.
The teen who seems wise beyond his years says he hopes to open the minds of parents in Medicine Hat to the “obvious.”
“I would think it a very smart thing to do for your kid, if they don’t have a mentor or role model,” Dylan says. “Lots of my friends don’t have someone to talk to like I do — I wish they did.”
A five-year study conducted by the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has revealed 'littles' are three times less likely to suffer peer pressure related anxiety, and two times less likely to develop negative behaviour such as bullying or fighting. Big Brothers Big Sisters Medicine Hat and District has played an integral role in building more than 4,200 relationships over its 40-year history, like that MacKenzie Wood and Natalie Crook share.
Giggly 10-year-old MacKenzie was positively impacted by the program. She says her “big” is “totally awesome” and can’t wait to see her every week.
“I liked Natalie right away,” MacKenzie says. “We both love crafting and we make a lot of different things. We both love yogurt so we usually go get some. We love to have sleepovers — it makes me feel special. Sometimes she even picks me up from school and we stay out until 7 p.m. and have fun together.”
MacKenzie says she can’t wait for Crook to get married next year because she was asked to be a junior bridesmaid. The organization limits the number of sleepovers bigs and littles can have and MacKenzie says she wants to see that rule changed.
Crook, “Mac’s big sister” and president
of the BBBS Medicine Hat and District board of directors, is just as enthralled with the animated young girl whom she’s grown attached to over the last four years.
She admits she knew little about children at the time but says she didn’t have to — her job wasn’t to parent MacKenzie but to be her friend, a soft shoulder and a confidant. Now that MacKenzie has grown up a bit Crook says the pair enjoy doing more mature things and share a close friendship.
“She really does think of me as part of her family and the time we spend together has become very special to us both,” Crook says.
The oldest of her own siblings, Crook says she had always wished someone older had the time to invest in her. She was just 22 when she decided to make that investment in someone else and started volunteering with the BBBS. It was then that she realized how easy it is to make a difference in the community.
Tanya Wood says she knew providing a role model in her daughter’s life was important when MacKenzie was five, her second child was two and she was expecting triplets.
“I wanted her to have someone who was interested in only her,” Tanya says. “I knew she had me to lean on but she needed to have someone else."
Although the friendship was strained in the beginning, Natalie and MacKenzie have grown much closer over time. They bake cakes, make crafts, watch movies, discuss wedding details, laugh with each other and talk until their mouths are dry — exactly what you would expect from the best of friends.
Wilson and Crook are prime examples of the bonds built within the community by the BBBS. Both agree volunteering to be a big sister or brother is a rewarding experience and say more young adults should get involved with the program. Males are desperately needed to mentor boys and Wilson urges men in the area to give volunteering a second thought.
“You don’t have to spend money to make a difference in the life of a kid — all you need to do is be a positive influence in their life,” says Wilson. ■
OUR COMMUNITIES ■ OUR REGION ■ OUR PEOPLE | 67
Big, little, small or tall Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Medicine Hat
and District matches them all. 2013 marks the non-profit organization's centennial year in Canada and its 40th anniversary in Medicine Hat. Thousands of lives have been impacted by the matches it has made, many of which have grown into life-long friendships.
BBBS executive director Hugh English says many people don’t understand how easy it is to become a positive force in the life of a growing child.
"Bigs and littles are gender-based matches. We do background and vulnerable searches on all of our volunteers, provide them with child and safety training and then match those volunteers with little brothers or sisters who have similar interests. There is no specific skill set required and everyone, whether they are 21 or 64, has something they can bring to the table.”
BBBS Medicine Hat and District has grown over the years to provide traditional matches as well as in-school mentorship opportunities. English is currently working to develop a peer-to-peer program.
“We are going to be partnering high school students with elementary school students,” says English. “It will help develop leadership qualities in the teens who will provide support to the youth — help them overcome fears and build self-confidence.”
Further information on the organization and its mandate visit www.
bbbsmedhat.ca or call 403-527-6640.
www.mhc.ab.ca
41136487•03/26/13
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