Making mentoring magic one child at a time

Winnipeg woman says volunteering helped her choose a career

Volunteers
By: AV Kitching Posted: 6:00 AM CDT Monday, Aug. 31, 2026

When Bree-Ann Jubinville first met the eight-year-old she was going to mentor, she had no idea how much the child would go on to alter the course of her life.

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When Bree-Ann Jubinville first met the eight-year-old she was going to mentor, she had no idea how much the child would go on to alter the course of her life.

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When Bree-Ann Jubinville first met the eight-year-old she was going to mentor, she had no idea how much the child would go on to alter the course of her life.

Jubinville was interested in pursuing a career in social work but wasn’t entirely sure which field of practice to specialize in. Being the boy’s mentor clarified her purpose.

“I went to school in social work because I worked with him for four years and I learned from him throughout the whole time. He impacted me career-wise, guided me in the direction I am going today,” she says.

ROBERT LEE / FREE PRESS
Bree-Ann Jubinville first heard about mentorship agency Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg after an acquaintance suggested she would be a good fit as a mentor.

The Elmwood resident had first heard about mentorship agency Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg after an acquaintance suggested she would be a good fit as a mentor.

She went through a stringent interview and screening process — agency staff check references and conduct criminal record and child abuse record checks — two training sessions and had to answer a questionnaire about her interests, likes and dislikes to ensure agency staff could match her with a mentee with similar interests.

“We do a pretty in-depth interview. We talk about relationship styles, experience, interests, run a few scenarios just to assess what your background and experience is with kiddos, typically aged between seven to 15, because we want to make sure it’s set up for success for everybody,” explains Kirsten Dent, director of service delivery at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg.

When a match has been made, staff arrange for a pre-introductory session where the mentor is introduced to their mentee’s caregiver.

“It’s so that a caregiver can meet the volunteer before we bring the kiddo into the mix. So pre-intro and then we do an intro when we introduce the kiddo,” Dent continues.

Matches are generally set up for a one-year commitment but mentors are welcome to stay on with their mentee for as long as they are able and if the child in question requires it.

Volunteer opportunities

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to wfp.to/volunteers or call 204-477-5180.

Community Financial, in partnership with Canada Revenue Agency, operates a free Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) tax clinics for individuals and families with low to modest incomes. Tax preparer and mail preparer roles are available for the 2027 tax season (late February through April). Training will be provided for all positions. Learn more and apply online at http://wfp.to/iRE or email annaj@communityfinancialmb.ca to register for a virtual orientation session on Sept. 10 (12-1 p.m.) or Sept. 14 (1-2 p.m.).

The annual CIBC Run for the Cure is back and is seeking volunteers to join its Winnipeg team and help support Canadians impacted by breast cancer. Applicants can sign up by visiting http://wfp.to/iRf and filtering the city to Winnipeg and the event to CIBC Run for the Cure to find volunteer roles by the Sept.30 closing date.

The Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) is currently seeking individuals interested in joining its board of directors. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of youth soccer, guiding the future to ensure that WYSA continues to provide accessible, inclusive, and high-quality soccer programming for players, coaches, referees, and families across Winnipeg. If interested, please submit your resume by email to governance@wpgsoccer.com no later than Sept. 8.

Help shape a brighter future for the blind and partially sighted community. By offering your expertise to the CNIB Manitoba strategic leadership board, you will drive meaningful advocacy, expand local philanthropy and guide marketing initiatives. Volunteers will monitor financial health while using strong leadership and teamwork to reach organizational goals. Contact executive director Garry Nenson by email at garry.nenson@cnib.ca with a brief resumé. Deadline is Sept. 8.

Culture Days Manitoba is looking for volunteers for Nuit Blanche, working with attendees, artists and arts organizations during the evening celebration of art. One Saturday night each fall (Sat., Sept. 26) thousands of art enthusiasts, cultural animators and citizens of Winnipeg gather downtown to celebrate and explore contemporary art. You must be free on this day in the evening after 5:30 p.m. Event runs until midnight. Shifts will only be four hours. Learn more at: http://wfp.to/iRs, apply at http://wfp.to/iRK. Deadline is Sept. 20.

Herizons is seeking a social media presenter volunteer to help create and manage content across its digital platforms. Based in Winnipeg, this one-year volunteer role offers mentorship from Joanne Roberts and the chance to develop strong stories, adapt ideas for short-form platforms, and create thoughtful social content. Candidates should have an interest in feminist journalism, strong writing skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively, with occasional in-person meetings required. Apply by email: info@herizons.ca. Deadline is Sept. 15.

The National Black Canadians Summit is seeking volunteers to help deliver a welcoming and successful three-day conference. Volunteers may assist with registration, wayfinding, technical support, event setup, and social media, and should be friendly, organized, adaptable, and strong communicators. Apply online at http://wfp.to/iRb. Deadline is Sept. 8.

The Red River Zone of the Canadian Ski Patrol provides first aid services in southern Manitoba at the ski hills of Springhill, Holiday Mountain and Falcon Ridge and cross country at Windsor Park Nordic Centre. They provide first aid services for a variety of events that extend over the summer months. Advanced first aid training is provided, flexible schedule, ski/snowboard/nordic experience is preferred but not required. To learn more, check out the patrol’s open house at Sport Manitoba (145 Pacific Ave., Winnipeg) Sept. 10, 6:30-9 p.m. or reach out online through skipatrol.ca.

The volunteer committee for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is seeking a volunteer to act as treasurer and bookkeeper to assist in managing the committee’s financial operations. Accounting or bookkeeping experience is required, and non-profit experience would be an asset. Candidates would be required to attend monthly meetings and executive meetings. Interested candidates are asked to apply to: Communications: mccullochp@shaw.ca or the president, Arlene Skull at arleneskull@gmail.com. Deadline is Sept. 8.

The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Apply at wfp.to/0pE, volunteer@redcross.ca or 1-844-818-2155.

Jubinville was a stable and consistent presence in her mentee’s life for four years. The mentorship only came to a close because he was moving to another city.

The pair met weekly at first and as the relationship progressed would go out once or twice a month. They would often go out on walks, exploring different parks in the city or watch a film in the theatre using free passes provided by the agency.

She became a stable and consistent presence in his life, someone he began to trust. The duo had fun together, too. He reminded her of the joy of fun, of being “goofy.”

“He became someone who was so important to me. Being a mentor to someone means the world. We really took time to build and get to a place where we could talk openly to each other and it’s not only that, we also got to have fun at the same time,” she says.

“Even though he may not be in my life anymore he was a huge part of my life. And I still hold on to those memories. I still think about him all the time,” she said.

There was a moment two years into her mentorship when Jubinville was driving her mentee home after an outing. The radio was playing softly in the background, she recalls. Then a song came on, and all of a sudden, the quiet kid in the car with her began singing along.

“He loved this song, it was Paris by The Chainsmokers, and I remember thinking, ‘Well, I’m going to sing too.’ That’s not something I would even do but it was absolutely what I wanted to do, I wanted to sing along with him and just the whole ride home we were both singing together,” she says. “It shows the level of comfortability you can get with a match.”

They had also become close enough for her to invite the child to have dinner with her family — Jubinville first checked with her case manager that it was safe to do so.

“I really did consider him part of the family, I think it’s very dependent on your relationship with the youth. It’s not the norm, but he wanted to meet my family and I talked about it with my case manager to make sure it was safe to do so,” she explains.

“Walking into this I didn’t know what to expect. When I first started I thought there’s no way I am going to build a connection that big with this person and in the end I was like ‘wow,’ I can’t believe this … this person is now one of the most important people to me.”

It was hard when the mentorship came to a close, she says, but the experience was so fulfilling that both her and her fiancé are planning to volunteer together, as a couple.

“It doesn’t feel like volunteering … it just feels like you’re hanging out. with family or you’re hanging out with a friend. It’s fun, but also it’s just so important. I would recommend Big Brother and Sister to anyone.”

To learn more about becoming a mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg visit winnipeg.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.

If you know a special volunteer, please contact AV.Kitching@freepress.mb.ca

AV Kitching
Reporter

AV Kitching is an arts and life writer at the Free Press. She has been a journalist for more than two decades and has worked across three continents writing about people, travel, food, and fashion. Read more about AV.

Every piece of reporting AV produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

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AV Kitching
Reporter