By Vicki Newton
Tight brown ringlets adorn the smiling face of Cora Guenette who gazes up at Bethany Bryson knowing this is their day to spend together.
“This is so you don’t get cold,” says nine-year-old Cora, gently slipping a towel over the shoulders of 26-year-old Bethany.
The pair decided to spend a Saturday afternoon swimming at the YMCA, after stopping for ice cream at McDonald’s.
To passersby, they appear to have known each other for years–but they haven’t. They became “sisters” in May through the Big Sisters of Ottawa-Carleton Big Sister/Little Sister match program. It’s easy to see the match is a good one.
It’s clear, as Cora begs for a bag of ketchup chips and twirls a knapsack around her body in the YMCA lobby, that Bethany loves her new-found role in Cora’s life.
“I’d wanted to be a Big Sister for a long time but I went away for university and you have to make a year-long commitment so when I was done I just started the process,” says Bethany, focusing her gaze on a dizzy Cora, who has just stopped twirling around.
Bethany says to get involved she went to a Big Sisters’ orientation and then sent in her application along with three references. Next, she was called for an interview to talk about her personal history, childhood and goals. She also had to let Big Sisters know what type of match she would be at ease with as situations such as custody problems or a handicap were included amongst the possibilities. Social workers choose pairs based on compatibility and personality. After a criminal record check, medical reference and training session, the Big Sister meets the Little Sister and her family.
Executive Director, Diana Carter says the process takes about six to eight weeks. In 1996 the Ottawa-Carleton organization made 315 matches, an increase from 297 in 1995. Currently, there are about 350 volunteers in the matching program, many of whom Carter describes as women in their mid-20s to late 40s, looking for career-related experience or who may simply want a one-to-one friendship.
Cora and Bethany were matched about two months after Bethany had completed the process.
“I wanted a Big Sister because I was really lonely and my mom called for a Big Sister because I didn’t have anybody to be with and no one to play with,” says Cora, spreading her arms wide and then resting her hands on Bethany’s shoulders. She then turns her attention to her ice cream, blowing on it and saying that it’s too cold.
Carter says Little Sisters range from six to 16 and there must be a reason for them to need a Big Sister. Reasons vary from family breakdown to parents unable to spend time with the child because they may work shift-work or six days a week.
Bethany laughs when she remembers the time she introduced Cora to her own sister and her sister’s fiance.
“My sister had said ‘Oh, so this must make us sisters too!’ but then Cora’s jaw just dropped and she said ‘But I only ordered one!’”
For Bethany, the four- to six-hour weekly commitment has just become part of her already busy routine. She works full-time at New Orchard Lodge Nursing Home and is used to a full after-work schedule of working out at the gym and playing various sports.
“It’s a lot of fun. We do lots of fun things I wouldn’t do otherwise, I mean when you live in Ottawa you don’t end up going to places like museums.
“I know that I’m helping her and giving her the opportunity to do some things she might not have been able to do. So, it’s really rewarding.”
When it comes to expenses, Bethany says sometimes it’s hard because most activities cost money, but it just takes creativity to think of inexpensive activites.
“Sometimes, we spend money and sometimes we don’t, we’ll just go over to my house for dinner and watch movies so two or three weeks might cost nothing and then the next week we’ll go to the movies or Gym Jam (Merivale Mall) so it all kind of evens out.”
When asked how long she sees the relationship lasting, Bethany looks over at Cora, who is looking for the lucky penny she wants to throw in the pool, and smiles.
“I think we’ll go ’till she’s 16 and then we’ll see after that.”