Braeden Drake is a normal 12-year-old boy. He likes to ride his bike and play basketball, and he likes to hang out with his big brother, Jon.

Jon Puterbough is a local RCMP officer with a busy schedule, but he enjoys spending time with Braeden too. They go for walks together, play ball together and recently they visited the Kamloops zoo together.

If you ask Pam Bragg, Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Coordinator, she’ll tell you that this is an example of the best kind of friendship you can imagine.

Jon and Braeden, are one of the first Big Brothers matches made in Merritt since the program expanded to Merritt last year.

The program, which is designed to help build assets and develop resiliency in youth, matches children ages six to 16 from single parent families with an adult of the same gender who has gone through a screening process.

“This is not a random match,” said Bragg. “They’re matched with someone that has similar interests because it has to be a friendship.”

“Every child deserves one more person in their lives who thinks they’re special and important.”

“This is not supposed to be a councillor, or a teacher, or a babysitter – we match people up who can just be another special person.”

Jamie Gordon, Braeden’s mom, appreciated the thorough screening process and said she would definitely recommend the program.

“I got to meet Jon and decide if he was a match for Braedon,” she said. “So far, I’m really happy. It’s nice for Braedon to have a male mentor.”

Jon and Braeden, as well as other traditional Big Brothers Big Sisters matches, typically meet for about two to four hours a week to hang out.

“Maybe it’s going hiking, maybe it’s just sitting around yakking, or maybe it’s shooting a puck,” said Bragg, explaining that the focus is on the friendship and not the activities themselves.

And for Jon, the time commitment was small compared to the reward of building a relationship and being a positive role model.

“When I was young, I had a very strong, positive role model and that positive beginning has served me well,” he said. “I thought becoming a Big Brother would be another way to interact with youth and pass on some of the positive values I have acquired.”

In addition to the traditional program, School District 58 approved a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters that allows them to offer an in school mentoring program. Volunteers from Merritt Secondary School are paired with students from Central Elementary School for one hour a week to to play together, read together, or simply spend time together.

Grade 12 student, Taylor Morrison, an aspiring elementary school teacher, says she loves to spend time with her little sister a grade four girl at Central. Just the other day her little sister, applied what she was learning in class about telling the time to watch the clock and wait for Morrison to arrive.

“It’s a really cool experience to have the chance to be there for someone,” said Morrison. “We’ve had similar things happen in our lives and I’m able to be there for her, and that’s helped us bond.”

Building on the success of these programs, Bragg said she is hoping to start an adult in school mentoring program in the fall, which would be available at all elementary schools in Merritt. Adults in the community would have the opportunity to spend one hour a week with a little brother or sister.

“I’m really excited to see how this is going to take off in Merritt,” said Bragg. “It’s a wonderful feeling when you walk into a room and a kid just lights up. It’s my rush.”

Those interested in applying to volunteer or participate in any of the Big Brothers Big Sisters programs can go to the Community Policing Office or contact Bragg in Kamloops at 250-374-6134.

“The more people we have volunteering just a few hours, the more this community – which is already a dynamic community – is just going to get better,” said Bragg.