Leah Courrier – Contributor

Big Buddies is in full swing with tons of fundraising events to kick off this winter semester. The Sleds for Smiles’ second annual fundraiser took place on Jan. 30, where brave, cheerful students endured the cold weather to support Big Buddies. There were glow sticks and tons of laughs! Following the first successful fundraiser of the new year, the second one quickly followed. 

This past Winterfest, execs and Bigs kindly collected their cans to donate for our second can drive of the year. The drive was supported by not only the Big Buddies community but also friends, family, the lacrosse team and the hockey team at the 2026 2v2 Winterfest hockey faceoff, where collection bins were placed. There was a huge turnout, and it’s safe to say it was a great weekend to plan this can drive. But don’t worry, Gaiters, the fundraisers do not stop there! The wellness event Sweat for Big Buddies, is coming up in March, where you can ‘sweat it out’ during Yoga, Zumba and HIIT classes. The event is located at the Sportsplex, and it is only $5 per person. We’ll also be hosting our St. Patrick’s Day can drive, third drives a charm! Lastly, stay tuned for Big Buddies as we finish off the year with a clothing drive in April, just in time for your end-of-semester clean out. 

Image courtesy of Leah Courrier

The dedicated executive team of 11 Bishop’s students collaborates all year long to plan student-run fundraisers so we can plan eight safe and fun events for the kids. Some examples of the awesome events we host are themed parties i.e., a Glow Party, Valentine’s Day Bash, Winter Wonderland and many more. We also make an effort to plan field trips for the kids, and this year we have two: O-volt and a Sherbrooke Phoenix game. Big Buddies has been active for over 20 years, building tradition and lasting connections within the Bishop’s community. “We don’t focus much on academics at the events; it is a lot more about the bond and having a good time and creating that relationship… a lot of fun experiences that kids might not have had previously,” said Big Buddies Co-Lead Katherine Figueriredo. 

Big Buddies is more than a club; it is recognized as a mentorship program that is dedicated to fostering a sense of involvement between Bishop’s University students and children in the surrounding Eastern Townships. Big Buddies is always looking for new students to join and be a part of our team. Stay tuned on our Instagram page @bigbuddies_bu to hear more about openings for the 2026-2027 school year and to support our upcoming fundraisers!