BBBS Holds Annual Banquet

On October 25^th, at the Best Western Hotel, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cornwall held their annual banquet, celebrating another year of serving the children and youth in our area. Big Brothers began in 1973; in 1984 they opened their program to girls and became BBBS.

Each year, milestones are celebrated and this year was no exception. Six Bigs celebrated 5 years of volunteering with the agency: Krista Cummings, Stephen Douris, Mary McQuillan, Gowri Pathmaalingam, Debra Seguin and Melissa Tambeau. Three others celebrated exceptional achievements, Earle Depass with 20 years of service, D’Arcy Grant with 30 years, and Edith Sturgeon with an incredible 40 years of volunteering and the longest serving Big in Canada. As the first Big Sister in Cornwall, many of her Edith’s Littles were there to help her celebrate this amazing milestone. We need more like her! 

Big Sister of the Year went to Melissa Tambeau and Honour St. Denis-Henophy was Little Sister of the Year. Sylvain Girard was Big Brother of the Year, while Konner Cholette, who unfortunately was not present, was Little Brother of the Year. The Volunteer of the Year went to Edith Sturgeon, and Big Business of the Year was awarded to Central Healing Counselling Inc and one of the main sponsors of many BBBS events.

Pierre-Luc Byham, the Executive Director for BBBS Cornwall, waited until the very end of the evening, while teasing us throughout the evening about a ‘very big announcement’ to come; he did not disappoint.

Both Mr. Ed Lumley and Maureen O’Neil, Chair and Executive Director respectively of the Joyce Family Foundation, although unable to attend, made an incredible donation to BBBS of $250,000. The money will be managed by the Ottawa Community Foundation, in trust, and revenues generated from investing it will be distributed as scholarships to any Little in the program who wants to continue post-secondary education. The original amount will not be touched so that this program will last in perpetuity.

Congratulations to all who take part in this wonderful organization every day, and a special thanks for all the work by the staff at BBBS who made this banquet possible and who work so hard at keeping the hopes and dreams of our children alive … and helping make their dreams come true.

 All pictures courtesy of Poirier Photography