February 24, 2020

Edmonton Youth to Connect With Business Community at City Hall Speed Mentoring Night Kick-Off Event

Monday, February 24, 2020 –  Edmonton youth and the business community are joining forces to ignite Canada’s mentoring movement.  This speed mentoring event, which kicks off a national tour on Thursday, February 27 at Edmonton City Hall, will connect volunteers from diverse industries and career pathways with youth ages 18-24. 

Participant mentors are recruited through corporate event partners, while youth mentees are connected through local non-profit organizations and programs.  The events are focused on youth development and career development by expanding networks, enhancing employment skills, increasing access to job opportunities, and strengthening communities through mentoring relationships.

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson shares, "Mentoring relationships – both formal and informal – are critical for youth on their path to setting and achieving their academic, career and life goals.  All Canadian youth, especially those disconnected from education, employment and/or training, should have access to people that support them on their journey.”

“Canadian Mentoring Partnership is thrilled to work alongside one of our founding partners, the Alberta Mentoring Partnership, and the private sector in Edmonton to fuel opportunities for youth to make new connections and build their social capital,” adds Stacey Dakin, Managing Director, Canadian Mentoring Partnership.  “Through the Power of Mentoring campaign across Canada, we hope to mobilize more Canadians to engage in diverse mentoring opportunities aligned to their availability, interests and geography.”

Event Details

When
Thursday, February 27 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Where
Edmonton City Hall - City Room,
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7

Who

  • 50 youth ages 18-24 
  • 50 employee volunteers from companies including Starbucks and RBC
  • Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters Edmonton & Area
  • Africa Centre
  • Green Room, Islamic Family Services 
  • Sihle Sizwe Vinyard Organization
  • Hope & Care Canada Association
  • RBC
  • Starbucks

What

  • 3 rounds of career mentoring (speed networking)
  • Skill-building (networking, communications, personal branding)

For more information on the Power of Mentoring Campaign, check out www.powerofmentoring.ca

Be sure to follow and engage with us on social media @MentoringCanada  #PowerofMentoring

Contact

Michael Janz, Partner Engagement Manager
Alberta Mentoring Partnership
780-288-9866 direct 
Michael.Janz@albertamentors.ca​

Backgrounder: Youth Mentoring in Alberta

According to Statistics Canada, unemployment for young men aged 15-24 is at levels not seen since 1983. Now more than ever, caring adults are needed as mentors for children and youth, especially for our young men. Formal and informal mentoring relationships support young people in learning practical job skills that meet the demands of the labour market and help them succeed and build prosperity for all Albertans.

Across Alberta, volunteers are needed to help address the more than 3000 children and youth currently waiting to be matched with mentors. Based on recent data (2019) collected from a sample of Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across Canada, there are twice as many female mentors relative to male mentors across school-based, community-based and site-based programming. Within an Edmonton organization, there is a waitlist of 930 with boys seeking male mentors making up two-thirds of the list.​

The need for mentors is significant, spanning all areas of the province. For example, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area currently has 316 children and youth waiting for mentors; Youth HQ of Red Deer has 72 youth waiting; and Ponoka reported 20 youth waiting.

Quality youth mentoring programs are proven to:

  • Help young people obtain an education that will equip them intellectually, socially, and with job-ready skills for life
  • Reduce youth involvement with the justice system, reduce recidivism and promote resilience
  • Support safe and caring schools that protect against discrimination and bullying
  • Provide numerous other benefits to both mentors and youth, such as greater job and life satisfaction, increased confidence, and hope for the future.

All Albertans are being called on to volunteer for as little as one hour a week in a formal mentoring program. Albertans can visit www.albertamentors.ca to find a mentoring opportunity in their community from over 170 different mentoring programs organized by schools and community agencies.

AMP