AS MUCH AS WE ARE HERE TO HELP THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO HELP THE MENTORS THROUGHOUT THE MENTORING EXPERIENCE.
Foundations of Mentoring
Trauma- & Violence-Informed
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Child Development
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Child Safety Practices
Learning Focus
Understanding the role of a Mentor, building trust, and creating positive relationships.
Resources
Reflection Questions
- What does being a “positive role model” mean to you in your role as a mentor?
- How can you build trust with your mentee over time?
- What boundaries are important to maintain in a mentoring relationship?
- How can you encourage your mentee’s independence and confidence?
- What strengths do you bring to your mentoring role?
- How can you adapt your approach to meet your mentee’s needs?
- What challenges might arise in mentoring, and how would you respond?
Learning Focus
Recognizing how trauma and stress can affect youth’s behavior, learning, and relationships.
Resources
Reflection Questions
- What is trauma, and how can it impact a young person’s behavior?
- Why are safety and trust essential in mentoring relationships?
- How can you respond with empathy when a mentee is upset or withdrawn?
- What are some signs that a youth may be experiencing stress or trauma?
- How can you avoid re-traumatizing a mentee?
- When should you seek support from program staff?
- What community resources could help a mentee in crisis?
- What does a healthy relationship look like?
- What are warning signs of unhealthy relationships?
- How can you talk about consent in an age-appropriate way?
- What should you do if a mentee shares safety concerns?
- How can you model respectful behaviour?
- What local support exists for youth in unsafe situations?
- Why is confidentiality and reporting important?
Learning Focus
Understanding power, privilege, bias, and how to create respectful and inclusive mentoring relationships.
Resources
Committing to Reconciliation
Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta – Free Online Course)
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Resources
Vicarious Trauma – An Indigenous Perspective
Anti-Oppressive Practice & Cultural Humility
MENTOR – Racial Equity & Inclusion Resources
Black Youth Mentoring Resources
Mentor Canada – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Learning
Ontario Mentoring Coalition – Diversity & Inclusion Resources
Challenges & Risks Facing Immigrant Youth
Mentoring Immigrant and Refugee Youth
Exercises for Emotion Regulation
Settlement.org – Newcomer Youth Supports
Supporting Neurodivergent Youth
Mentor Canada – Inclusive Mentoring for Persons with Disabilities
Inclusive Education Canada – Disability Awareness Resources
Autism Canada – Youth & Family Resources
Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth
BCACDI – 2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusion Resources
LGBTQ Health – Building Competence Modules
13 Rainbow Craft Activities to Help Kids Celebrate Pride
Working more effectively with LGBTQ+ Youth Today
How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender – National Geographic
Reflection Questions
Committing to Reconciliation
- Why are land acknowledgements important?
- What did you learn about Indigenous communities?
- How does history affect present-day experiences?
- How can mentors show respect for Indigenous cultures?
- How can you continue learning about reconciliation?
Anti-Oppressive Practice & Cultural Humility
- What does cultural humility mean in mentoring?
- How might your background influence your perspective?
- What are implicit biases, and how can they affect relationships?
- How can you listen without making assumptions?
- What does being an ally look like in everyday mentoring?
- How can you challenge stereotypes respectfully?
- How can you continue learning about cultures different from your own?
Supporting Black, Racialized, & Newcomer Youth
- What barriers might racialized or newcomer youth face?
- How can discrimination impact confidence and belonging?
- How can you validate your mentee’s lived experiences?
- What does it mean to be culturally responsive?
- How can you involve families respectfully when appropriate?
- How can you support language or cultural adjustment challenges?
- What community supports are available to newcomer youth?
Supporting Neurodivergent Youth
- What does neurodiversity mean?
- How can you adapt activities for different abilities?
- Why is flexibility important in mentoring?
- How can you support sensory or communication needs?
- What assumptions should you avoid making?
- How can you promote your mentee’s strengths?
- When should you ask for guidance from staff?
Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth
- Why is it important to respect names and pronouns?
- How can you show that you are a safe and supportive adult?
- What challenges might 2SLGBTQIA+ youth face?
- How would you respond if a mentee shares about their identity?
- What language helps promote inclusion?
Learning Focus
Understanding how children and youth grow socially, emotionally, and cognitively, and how Mentors support healthy development.
Resources
Reflection Questions
- What developmental stage is your Mentee in?
- How might their age influence communication?
- How can you encourage growth without placing pressure on your Mentee?
- What does positive youth development look like?
- How can you celebrate small successes?
Learning Focus
Mentors don’t need to be counsellors, but they should recognize when youth need extra support.
Resources
Earn Your Be There Certificate – Jack.org
The Power of Mentoring for Prevention
Bullying – Kids, Teens, Parents & Educators
Hand on Heart – A Powerful Way to Calm Anxiety for Children, Teens, and Adults
2 Min Mindful Mediation Video for Young Children
Mindfulness video for older children
Different Mentoring Styles – What’s Yours?
Ending a Match – Saying Goodbye
How to Have an Open Conversation with Young People
Reflection Questions
- What signs may indicate a youth is struggling?
- How can you listen without trying to “fix” the problem?
- When should concerns be shared with BBBSPY staff?
- How can you support resilience?
Learning Focus
Encouraging continuous growth and lifelong learning.
Resources
Reflection Questions
- What have you learned so far as a mentor?
- What skills would you like to improve?
- How do you respond to feedback?
- What learning resources interest you most?
- How will you continue developing as a mentor?
Please take a moment to reflect on your learning:
- One insight I gained from this training:
- One action I will take in my mentoring:
- One area I want to learn more about: