All-Star Weekend helps Big Brothers Big Sisters

Sports greats gathered the weekend of May 9 to support Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Calgary and Area.

All- Star Weekend, an annual event hosted by former Calgary Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris — an avid supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters programs — featured a Celebrity Golf Tournament, a Kids Football Camp, and the All- Star Gala, held at Hotel Arts.

BBBS was formed in 1994, when three organizations, Uncles at Large, Aunts at Large and Big Sisters of Calgary, merged.

Since then, the organization has grown exponentially, extending outside Calgary to communities including Okotoks, Cochrane, High River and Airdrie.

Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters served more than 2,300 children and youth in Calgary and surrounding areas, working to further its mission to impact the lives of young people and volunteers through the power of mentoring.

For the past 10 years, that mission has been supported by All- Star Weekend.

Presented by Jayman and Qualico, the multi-event weekend afforded youth the opportunity to interact with professional and amateur athletes the likes of: NFL legend Vince Ferragamo; Olympic curler Cheryl Bernard; Olympic decathlete Michael Smith; Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell; Olympic gold medal curler John Morris; three-time Grey Cup champion Ryan Thelwell; Lesley Reddon, former Olympian with the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team; and former Olympic bobsledder, Christina Smith.

Others in attendance included: All- Star Weekend event chair Gary Nissen; BBBS president and CEO Trish Bronsch with colleagues Laureen Jensen, Rocky Hynes, Jodi McKay, and Wanda Phipps; Qualico’s Glynn Hendry; Geeta Sankappanavar, president and COO, Grafton Asset Management; Claudio Ghersinich, director, Valeura Energy; Kaush Rakhit, CEO, Canadian Discovery Ltd.; BBBS board chair Richard Brown and vice-chair Steele Curry; ProCura Real Estate’s George and Sherry Schluessel; Rick Strain, vice-president, Topco Oilsite Products Ltd.; Jonathan Hector and Gary McCowan, Canadian Progress Club — Calgary Bow River; BBBS program participants Chris Mullins (mentor) and Brayden Pedersen (mentee); Janine Sweetman (mentor) and Stephani McCabe (mentee); Jesse Hokanson (mentee) and his mom Val; Nicole Burris, better half of Henry Burris; Sportsnet 960 host Rob Kerr; and gala host Dave Kelly.

DARRAGH, CINDERWOOD VIDEO & PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS: MEGAN Participating in the All-Star Weekend in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Calgary and Area are, left to right: Laureen Jensen, of Big Brothers Big Sisters with CFL quarterback and All-Star Weekend host Henry Burris, his wife Nicole and...

Pictured, from left, at the All-Star Weekend are Sean McCafferty, event chair Gary Nissen; Geeta Sankappanavar, president and COO of Grafton Asset Management, Claudio Ghersinich, director with Valeura Energy and Kaush Rakhit, Canadian Discovery CEO.

All smiles at the All-Star Weekend are Lesley Reddon, left, former Olympian with the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team and former Olympic bobsledder, Christina Smith.

Scores of celebrity athletes participated in the All-Star Weekend in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Calgary and Area.

Enjoying the All-Star Weekend are Topco Oilsite Products’ Rick Strain and BBBS president and CEO Trish Bronsch.

The event was a success thanks to volunteers like Jonathan Hector, left, and Gary McCowen of Canadian Progress Club Calgary Bow River.

Pictured, from left, at the All-Star Weekend are Qualico’s Glynn Hendry, with Big Brothers Big Sisters mentee Jesse Hokanson and famed quarterback and weekend host Henry Burris.

Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor Chris Mullins, left, and mentee Braydon Pederson had a great time at the All-Star Weekend.