Big Brothers Big Sisters In-School Mentoring Program marks 25 years with PALS

For 25 years, the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) In-School Mentoring Program has been making a difference in the lives of children in Saint John, N.B., one mentorship at a time.

The program was one of the first initiatives of PALS (Partners Assisting Local Schools) when PALS was founded by James K. Irving and the Anglophone South School District 25 years ago. Working with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the program pairs volunteer mentors with children in local schools who may not have access to as many opportunities as other kids.

As part of the program, J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) provides employees one hour of their work week to volunteer as mentors. Since the program started, hundreds of students have benefited from having a consistent role model to spend time with them weekly.

"Sometimes the most powerful gift we can offer a young person is simply to show up – week after week – with care, encouragement, and belief in who they are becoming," said Laurie Collins, Executive Director of BBBS Saint John.

"Through BBBS mentoring programs and the support of a dedicated mentor, that steady presence opens doors, nurtures confidence and expands a child’s sense of what’s possible. When a young person is met with that kind of consistent support, their world doesn’t just open for a moment; it transforms for life."

For Ray Wilen and Blaize Hynes, what started as a mentorship relationship 23 years ago has blossomed into an ongoing friendship.

Ray, a senior application specialist with JDI IT, learned firsthand the difference a mentor can make when he was mentored by someone in high school. It was something he’d always wanted to take on himself to give back, so when his daughter was grown up, he decided to become a mentor through PALS.

That’s how, in 2002, he met Blaize, an elementary school student at Prince Charles School in Saint John. The pair were matched because of their shared interest in computers and technology.

Each week, Ray would meet Blaize at the school, playing ball hockey in the gymnasium or spending time in the computer lab. As Blaize grew older, the connection continued. When Ray remarried, Blaize was at the wedding, eventually becoming close friends with Ray’s stepchildren as he attended other family events. Today the two keep in touch and Blaize still goes to family barbecues.

“I got a lifelong friend out of it,” Blaize said.

After graduating high school, Blaize moved out to Saskatchewan for work before eventually returning to Saint John to work as a tool technician. Two years ago, Blaize went to college to continue his education and become an industrial mechanic. He is now working towards completing his apprenticeship.

“For me, the most rewarding part was watching him grow and to have opportunities that he’s taken hold of,” Ray said, adding that Blaize is now a role model for his grandchildren. “He never shied away from trying things out.”

For Blaize, now a father himself, he still values Ray’s mentorship.

“Ray’s been a great source of stability in my life. He was someone I could look up to,” he said. “Having a positive role model like that through the PALS program was quite a fortunate experience for me. It showed me that if you work hard and you work towards something, you can achieve quite a lot in life.”

Victoria McCaig, a communications specialist with the Pulp & Paper Division is earlier in her journey as a mentor. Now into her third year volunteering, Victoria has mentored a local elementary school student from Prince Charles School. The hour spent with her mentee is her favourite part of her week. And it’s clear the time spent together is important to her mentee too.

“Every week that I arrive at the school, her head is poking out of her classroom, waiting for me, then she rushes down the hallway to meet me,” Victoria said, adding she also treasures all the artwork her mentee gives her.

Victoria said she saw mentoring as a way to be involved in her community early on in her career. When she was a student, Victoria was heavily involved in school and extracurriculars. It’s something she hopes to inspire in her mentee.

The two spend time playing games, colouring, “or even just chatting about what she’s up to at school.”

“I just hope I give her a safe space and room to grow within herself in these development years,” Victoria said.

“This small act of quality time can be such a big part of somebody’s life.”