L-R BBBS Childcare Coordinator, Seth Logan, BBBS Board member, Dana Walls, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation, Michelle Stilwell, BBBS Executive Director, Tim Bennett       photo courtesy BBBS of PG

Prince George, BC – Staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prince George were pleasantly surprised to have the opportunity to meet with BC’s Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation this past week.

Executive Director, Tim Bennett, says the local not-for-profit organization was given a ‘heads up’ on Monday that Minister Michelle Stilwell hoped to meet with them during her visit to Prince George on Thursday.  Stilwell was in the city to meet with groups and individuals finding innovative ways to generate revenue to sustain and grow non-profits.

Bennett says he feels Prince George non-profits are excelling in this area – Big Brothers Big Sisters has developed two such social enterprises that garnered the minister’s interest.  “Our Community Shuttle Program and Child Care Programs allow us to put more of our resources into growing our mentoring programming,” says Bennett.

“The success of our social enterprises is part of the reason we were able to serve a record number of kids in 2014 and (are) projecting additional growth in 2015.”

For her part, Stilwell says, “It was inspiring to see the innovative work that Big Brothers Big sisters are doing to support children, families, and their community.”