Big Brothers Big Sisters Halifax short on male mentors for kids

Big Brothers Big Sisters in Halifax has found itself in short supply of male volunteers. 

In an ideal world, every boy who needs a Big Brother would get one in about three months. But a list of about 105 young people in Halifax, most of them boys, will wait an average of a year and a half to be matched up.

There's simply too many boys and not enough men to mentor them.

"It's an immediate challenge and something we need to deal with," said Halifax executive director Carol Goddard.  "Boys wait eight times longer to be matched than girls do."

The national organization tries to match young people with older role models who can be a positive influence on their lives. Currently, over 42,000 children are matched with volunteers in Canada.

The reason for this shortfall in Nova Scotia isn't totally clear. 

'You get so much out of it'

Brendan Jaggard knows the value of having a big brother. His dad isn't around, and his mom signed him up for Big Brother Big Sisters, hoping to find a male mentor for her son. 

He was matched with Vern Lowe when he was eight. They've seen each other once a week ever since. Sometimes they go fishing, sometimes they go bowling. 

Lowe helped Jaggard, now 16, boost his confidence, fix a speech impediment and eventually get a job as a hockey rink timekeeper. 

"I went from having no father figure guidance, to having this amazing person who helped guide my life in the direction that I want. If Vern hadn't have been there for me, I would have been this quiet kid, not really interacting with others," Jaggard said.

Lowe is retired. Becoming a big brother made a big difference in his life, too, he says. 

"We go hiking, I get out a lot more, now I'm always active. As a volunteer, you only have to commit one or two hours a week and you get so much out of it."

Understanding the problem

"I think it's just men not knowing what it's all about. I think maybe not understanding there's a need and that they're needed," said Goddard.

Jaggard adds a different explanation. 

"They might feel like it's a position more targeted at women," Jaggard said. 

For Lowe, it's a matter of getting "the word out that there are kids in this system that need help." 

Big Brother Big Sister's 40th annual Bowl For Kids Sake fundraiser is next weekend

Goddard hopes that event will help get the word out to those on the fence about joining up.