A big night out for two sisters
It was nearly four decades ago that Nancy Durno bought a puppy for young Angela Boyce.
They became like siblings through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colchester and were reunited once more to celebrate the organization’s Big Night Out gala dinner Saturday, celebrating 40 years of mentoring youth.
“I’m very proud of what she’s done with her life. She’s supporting four beautiful girls,” said Durno. “The connection is still there; even if we don’t see each other for a few months, we’re still in touch on Facebook and we really enjoy meeting with each other. It’s like real siblings – there’s that closeness.”
As Boyce’s big sister, the pair went fishing and camping, walked in the park and on the beach and otherwise hung out at each other’s homes in the early 1980s. For Boyce, having a big sister was priceless as her parents had recently been through a divorce.
“It was someone I could invite in, I felt safe with her and I could talk about things,” Boyce said of Durno. “We seemed to hit it off right away.”
Boyce later finished her high school and moved to Tatamagouche, where she still lives. She currently works at the Basic Spirit Fine Craft and Gift Gallery in nearby Pugwash.
It was success stories like Boyce’s that were celebrated at the Big Night Out gala dinner, with guest BBBS national CEO Matthew Chater and the Colchester chapter’s outgoing executive director Michelle Misener, who is stepping down after 35 years. The Oct. 13 gala marked her last official function with BBBS.
“It’s been an absolutely fabulous career and I’ve loved every day and the reason being that the power of mentorship is demon- strated by the children who come in every day, especially when they get their big brother or big sister, and seeing the smiles on their faces,” said Misener.
As executive director, Misener contributed to numerous fundraising drives – including the very successful weekly Big Bucks 50/50 draw – as well as recruiting volunteers and engaging in public relations.
Misener’s replacement at BBBS will be Nick Sharpe, the former marketing director at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre.
Chater, who spoke briefly at the gala, described the Colchester BBBS chapter as “exemplary,” saying it gave him “a moment of pride.”
The group’s president Kelly Shaw said that BBBS has mentored literally thousands of local children and youth since the 1970s.
“Every young person deserves to have someone who’s crazy about them and for some kids that’s a grandparent, aunt, or uncle and for other kids that’s their big brother or big sister. That relationship helps kids develop the skills they need to be successful adults,” said Shaw.