September is Big Brothers Big Sisters month, and on September 18 they had an official ribbon cutting event to promote it.

Dignitaries including Mayor Grant Creasey, and present MLA Ron Orr came by to use a pair of comically large scissors to cut the purple ribbon.

In support of the month, businesses’ all over the city have covered their spaces in purple decorations.

There are currently 40 youth that are currently waiting to be matched with adults in Lacombe and area. There are over 4 thousand youths waiting to be paired up across the country.

According to BBBS girls tend to get matched up quicker than boys, due to more Women volunteering than Men.

Mayor Creasey says he challenges the men in the area to step out of their comfort zone and help mentor a child.

“I throw down the challenge to area men to step up to the plate to give some of your time and energy and develop a relationship with a youth and provide that mentorship that means so much to them.”

BBBS says that youth who have been mentored through the programming are 17% more likely to be gainfully employed as adults and they earn 13% more on average in those jobs, resulting in $315,000 of increased earnings over their career.

MLA Ron Orr agrees that mentoring is important; he said having someone while he was growing up giving him advice saved his life.

“For me that one intense week of mentoring I really think saved my life at least at that time and it doesn’t take a forever commitment, when the opportunity is there, when the need is there, mentor somebody.”

Officials say it only takes an hour a week to help change a child’s life.