Community & Government Services
The community and government services sector provides the community with services that meet a broad range of needs. The delivery of services aims to promote physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Groups in the community that are marginalized or disadvantaged are supported by government and non-government providers of community services. Non-government services are delivered by commercial and not-for-profit organizations.
Getting Started
Big Brothers Big Sisters of The Georgian Triangle (BBBSGT) has been serving children and youth with volunteer based mentoring programs in Collingwood and the surrounding region since 1969. BBBSGT is there for young people who need an extra someone in their life to listen, share time and just be there – a friend that they can count on so to speak.
They have grown from a purely volunteer based organization with a working operational Board of Directors, to a thriving children’s charity with a staff team of more than 5 employees and nearly 100 volunteers. BBBSGT currently serves over 270 children and youth with a wide variety of programs across the region.
Why Collingwood?
Collingwood is the hub and home office of our organization. It is not only the geographical center of the Georgian Triangle region but also the center of the region’s community spirit. Hundreds of local Collingwood businesses and service clubs support the organization with time and resources, and as a result, are integral part of the success in helping local youth.
As a registered charity that receives no consistent ongoing government funding, they rely on the generosity and goodwill of the community to maintain their services. A good example of this is their annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake event , which engages nearly 1,000 participants, 200+ businesses and 5,000+ individual local donors. The event is in its 38th year and still going strong. Additionally, the new Once In A Blue Moon summer outdoor gala at Georgian Hills Vineyards has also been a huge success in supporting and sustaining programs.
Looking to the Future
Says Jarvis Strong, Executive Director , “Our vision is that ‘Every child who needs a mentor, has a mentor’. Our hope and plan for the future is that this statement becomes the reality. We are currently investing in initiatives to secure our sustainability as well as to grow our services in Collingwood and the other four communities of our service area.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters Georgian Triangle are proud to be the leading children’s mentoring service in Collingwood and the surrounding region. “We would like to thank all of our ‘Big’ volunteers for starting something special in the lives of thousands of ‘Littles’ over the years,’ says Jarvis in closing.
Visit www.bbbsgt.ca