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Nipissing University/Canadore College Best Buddies
News Release

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Nipissing University and Canadore College Celebrate Best Buddies Month with the 2nd Annual Best Buddies Friendship Dodgeball Tournament

March is Best Buddies month in Canada. Best Buddies is a national charitable organization dedicated to building friendships between people with and without intellectual disabilities in schools across the country. The local chapter is supported by their host site agency-North Bay & District Association for Community Living. The Nipissing University and Canadore College chapters of Best Buddies are celebrating this month with the 2nd Annual Best Buddies Friendship Dodgeball Tournament. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Nipissing/Canadore Best Buddies Chapter and the Ontario Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (OPWSA).

Event: Nipissing University/Canadore College
Best Buddies Friendship Dodgeball Tournament
Date: Saturday March 15, 2008
Time: 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Location: C.F.B. North Bay Recreation Centre
Local Event Contact:

Heather Brown (Co-Campus Coordinator)
(705) 494-4948
[email protected]
http://ca.geocities.com/nusu_csrc_bestbuddies

Janet Bell (Host Site Coordinator)
North Bay & District Association
for Community Living
476-0974 ext. 24
[email protected]

Best Buddies Q&A

What does Best Buddies do?

We match students at the University and High School level with people with intellectual disabilities in one-to-one friendships according to their mutual interests.

What is Best Buddies’ Mission?

Best Buddies is a national charitable organization dedicated to enhancing our communities through one-to-one friendships between individuals with intellectual disabilities and students.

Why is Best Buddies important?

Best Buddies is about creating friendships between people who may not otherwise have had the chance to meet. This is important because a Best Buddies friendship helps to break down barriers to inclusion.

Where does Best Buddies Canada operate?

We are a national charity and have chapters in every province in Canada. Our chapters run at high schools, colleges and universities across the country.

Does Best Buddies operate in other countries?

Best Buddies has chapters in over 26 countries, on 6 continents, all around the world including the United States, Mexico, Spain, Ireland, Kenya, Hong Kong, and Australia!

What are the matching criteria?

We screen all of our student volunteers through applications, reference checks, criminal record checks, and interviews. Buddy pairs are then matched based on mutual interests and availability.

Who runs Best Buddies’ chapters?

All of our chapters are run by volunteers. Each university/college chapter is run by a student volunteer, called with a Campus Coordinator who collaborates with a Host Site Coordinator, who works for a community organization supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. A person with an intellectual disability called a Buddy Advocate works to support the chapter members in their activities.

What is the time commitment involved?

Our volunteers commit to a minimum of contacting their buddy once a week by phone or email, seeing their buddy twice a month, and participating in four group activities a year for one academic year. Many friendships last well beyond this, and our hope is that some will last a lifetime!

What is an intellectual disability?

An intellectual disability, also referred to as a developmental disability, is a term used to describe any condition that includes a lifelong impairment to a person’s ability to learn/or adapt to their environment. Some examples include autism, Down Syndrome, and Williams Syndrome. The degree of disability varies greatly from person to person. Intellectual disabilities may or may not be accompanied by physical disabilities. People with an intellectual disability do no necessarily have a recognizable condition.

How does one start a chapter?

Interested students, teachers, school support staff members, agency employees or parents are invited to contact Best Buddies to discuss starting a chapter in a high school, college or university. Best Buddies Program Managers also actively recruit new chapters by presenting at club days, volunteer fairs, and other events, and by contacting schools and boards of education.

How are chapters supported?

Chapters receive some financial support from Best Buddies to organize their group activities. Once established, chapters are encouraged to fund-raise their own money and become financially independent.

What is a typical outing?

Buddy pairs are encouraged to engage in activities according to their mutual interests. Some common outings include: shopping, movies, going for coffee, or cooking dinner together.

Who pays for outings?

Each individual pays for their own way in buddy outings. Since both students and people with intellectual disabilities can face budget constraints, activities that are free or inexpensive are encouraged.

What makes Best Buddies unique?

Best Buddies is a program based on friendship. We are not a mentoring program and emphasize reciprocity. We believe each member of a buddy pair has much to gain from the other.

How does the school benefit?

Schools benefit from having their students actively engaged in community service, learning empathy and caring for others while gaining valuable volunteer experience. Best Buddies promotes and gives exposure to its schools through local and national media, its newsletter, and its website (www.bestbuddies.ca).

How do the students benefit?

Students benefit from finding friendship with someone they may not otherwise have met. They learn about social inclusion and empathy for others, and bring these experiences with them in their future endeavors.

Is the program successful in building true, long-lasting friendships?

Not all Best Buddies matches result in long-lasting friendship, but many do and have. Many of our volunteers are still in contact with their buddy years after graduating.

Who supports the buddy pairs if there are any problems or concerns about the friendship?

The Chapter Leadership Team (consisting of a student buddy, a buddy, and a representative of the Host Site Agency) is there to support buddy pairs through any concerns or problems in their friendship. Program Managers support the Leadership Team with any concerns or problems they may have about the program.

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