Best Buddies Canada

🎉 Sign up to win! The first team to register 10 walkers for the Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Kingston will receive a gift basket from our friends at Farm Boy!🧑‍🌾

Register today: https://bestbuddiescanada.akaraisin.com/ui/FriendshipWalk

Farm Boy

We are thrilled to introduce Best Buddies Canada’s inaugural Friendship Walk in Kingston, Ontario!🎉👟

Join the Best Buddies Walk to raise awareness for inclusion, friendship, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Every dollar raised goes towards making the world a more inclusive, accepting place!💗

Register today and fundraise to receive awesome incentives!🏆🎁

https://bestbuddiescanada.akaraisin.com/ui/FriendshipWalk

See you at the walk!😎

📍Lake Ontario Park, Kingston ON
📅 Sunday, September 29th

Congratulations to buddy Farrah Sattaur for winning the 2023/2024 James Raymond Cowling Foundation Scholarship!🎉🏆

Farrah is active in the self advocacy groups at Surrey Place Center, Canadian Mental Health Association, and Community Living Ontario. She is also a family leader volunteer at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. She loves spending time with friends and family, going for long walks, doing crossword puzzles, and reading.❣️

Way to go, Farrah!🌟

Hey Best Buddies!🤩

We’re playing Zoom Bingo on Wednesday, July 17 at 1:00pm EDT. Sign up at the link in our bio!✍🏼

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBQU12Q0sOnS8InSK5ZwufZIwE4GHx-gALkc3kyDdsScFOlA/viewform

Special shoutout to one of our amazing supporters, Principal Lucie Kletke from Richview Collegiate Institute!🎉

Over the past 14 years, Principal Kletke has been instrumental in supporting the joint Best Buddies chapter at Richview Collegiate Institute and Central Etobicoke High School. She has been a continuous presence of support and advocacy for Best Buddies.❣️

The entire chapter - including buddies, peer buddies, student executive members, educational assistants, and staff advisors Ms. Bourgeois and Mr. Nicholson - would like to thank Mrs. Kletke for her dedication and heart. Happy retirement!🤗🌟

Congratulations to peer buddy Chloe Wong for winning the 2023/2024 James Raymond Cowling Foundation Scholarship!🎉🏆

Chloe is an incoming Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences student at McMaster University. She has been involved in Best Buddies for 4 years and loves helping others in her community. She is passionate about baking and running her own small business and she loves spending time with friends and family.❣️

Way to go, Chloe!🌟

Huge thanks to the Sifton Family Foundation for supporting Best Buddies’ friendship program!❣️

Spotlight on Best Buddies — Sifton Family Foundation The Best Buddies Friendship Program aims to foster inclusivity and friendship for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). This in-school program pairs students with an IDD with a peer without a disability, forming meaningful, long-lasting one-to-one friendships. Throug

Brought together by the Best Buddies program, Jessica Rotolo and Lauren Abela formed a lifelong friendship and discovered a passion for advocacy and leadership. Now they volunteer as Best Buddies International Ambassadors and inspire others to get involved with the program. Learn more about their journey with Best Buddies in our latest Story Spotlight!✨

https://bestbuddies.ca/best-buddies-story-spotlight-jessica-rotolo-and-lauren-abela/

This , Best Buddies Canada celebrates the achievements, contributions, and rights of individuals with disabilities!💛

Students James O’Donohue and Cy Fletcher were paired in a one-to-one friendship through Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School’s Best Buddies program. They’ve developed a true connection and helped to create a more inclusive school community. Learn more about their lifelong friendship in our latest Story Spotlight!✨

https://bestbuddies.ca/best-buddies-story-spotlight-james-odonohue-and-cy-fletcher/

The Halton Catholic District School Board recently had their Life Skills Prom!🌟💜

Thank you to St. Francis Xavier (Milton) for hosting and a huge thanks to all attending schools for celebrating friendship and inclusion!🫶🏻

Hear how Jacey Kellar, one of our incredible teachers, witnesses the Best Buddies program fostering friendship and inclusion at her school.💛

Share your own experience with Best Buddies and inspire others to create more inclusive communities!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXegN3n8RF77ViFj5SwSW_KV1N-lbmOYAvm_F-fHaSsZ3Tlg/viewform

Special shoutout to one of our amazing Best Buddies chapters, Hants East Rural High School located in Nova Scotia!🌟

During their first year as a chapter, they’ve done a great job spreading inclusion and friendship in their school community.🧡 They recently celebrated the end of the school year with an ice cream party! 🎉🍦

Students Romir Robinson and Minaxi Sharma were paired in a one-to-one friendship through Brampton Centennial Secondary School’s Best Buddies program. They’ve developed a true connection and helped to create a more inclusive school community. Learn more about their lifelong friendship in our latest Story Spotlight!✨

https://bestbuddies.ca/best-buddies-story-spotlight-romir-robinson-and-minaxi-sharma/

Saturday, June 1st marked the 15th Annual Thrill of Ascot. The event raised $470,000 in support of Best Buddies Canada! 🎉🧡

We are truly grateful for all of the support from our sponsors, who helped make the event such a success. Thank you!

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Help a Buddy donors…because everyone deserves a friend!

Thrill of Ascot

It was a tropical paradise last week at the York Region Best Buddies Prom!🌺

Huge thanks to all attending schools for celebrating friendship, inclusion, and fun in the sun!🏝️

Hey Best Buddies!👋🏻 Join us on Friday June 28th at 7pm EDT on Zoom to make some delicious red and white treats perfect for Canada Day!🇨🇦

We’re making mini caprese skewers and mini no-bake strawberry cheesecakes!🍰

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIvAYhXRaqtECZF4ULBFVVNi-AvpvdB-P5sZSW5bo2wo9T9A/viewform
We hope to see you there!🎆

We recently celebrated the 15th Annual Thrill of Ascot!🎉 Thank you to everyone who came out to support the event. With your help, we raised $470,000 to promote inclusion and friendship in schools across Canada!❣️

We recognized Kevin and Jenna, a buddy pair attending Hants East Rural High School in Nova Scotia, with our Spirit of Friendship Award.🏆 Their genuine connection and support for one another are truly inspiring!🌟💖

We are grateful to Hydro One for their support of our program. Their contribution allows us to reach new schools in Ontario and promote our message of inclusion.

Hydro One

It’s and Best Buddies Canada is proud to celebrate friendship, acceptance, and diversity!🎉Together, we can foster inclusive spaces where everyone can shine.💗

Hey Best Buddies! Get your popcorn and your pj’s ready because we’re hosting a Zoom Movie Night🍿 You voted to watch The Greatest Showman - great choice!🎪

It’s happening on Wednesday, June 12th at 6:30pm EDT on Zoom. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmEUDxfhPejM4ToRlRHyj3Fg51Vg9_ODAnfiyDqHdTypi-uw/viewform

We hope to see you there!🎩

This , Best Buddies Canada celebrates the power of inclusion and the importance of accessibility for all. Join us in breaking down barriers and fostering meaningful connections for individuals with disabilities - one friendship at a time!❣️

Brenda Hopper has been a Best Buddies Canada Staff Advisor for nearly 30 years and was one of the first teachers in Canada to establish a Best Buddies high school chapter. In recognition of her dedication to fostering friendship and inclusion, she was honoured with Best Buddies Canada’s 2023-2024 Volunteer Award. Learn more about Brenda’s journey with Best Buddies in our latest Story Spotlight!✨

https://bestbuddies.ca/best-buddies-story-spotlight-brenda-hopper/

In honour of Best Buddies Month 2024, we recognize Father James Whelihan School for their outstanding contribution and commitment to the Best Buddies Canada friendship program. We appreciate all you do to create an inclusive community! 🎉

Thank you!🧡

Announcing Best Buddies Canada’s Trivia Night!🎉 Join us on Zoom Wednesday, May 22nd from 7-8pm EST to test your pop culture knowledge and socialize with other Best Buddies members!

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScixoP3b8G_ZwsrU_GEWDJvIHuYJgpG2Q7Uz4Lt2z2N2CCo-w/viewform

We hope to see you there!🤩

In honour of Best Buddies Month 2024, we recognize Toronto Metropolitan University for their outstanding contribution and commitment to the Best Buddies Canada friendship program. We appreciate all you do to create an inclusive community! 🎉

Thank you!💜

Brought together by the Best Buddies program, Naomi and Chantel have shared a true friendship for over fifteen years. They’ve cheered each other on in each phase of life; Naomi was even Chantel’s Maid of Honour! Learn more about their lifelong friendship in our latest Story Spotlight!✨

https://bestbuddies.ca/best-buddies-story-spotlight-naomi-epp/

We are grateful to the Solcz Family Foundation for their continued support of our program. Their contribution allows us to reach new schools in Windsor and promote our message of inclusion.

Best friends since high school, Kaitlin and Gloria are among many other buddy pairs who have been impacted by the Best Buddies friendship program. Learn more about their true friendship in our latest Story Spotlight!✨

https://bestbuddies.ca/best-buddies-story-spotlight-kaitlin-and-gloria/

We are grateful to the Winnipeg Foundation for their support of our program. Their contribution allows us to reach new schools in Winnipeg and promote our message of inclusion.

The Winnipeg Foundation