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 With an established track record with our university, college and high school programs, Best Buddies Canada began to plan the introduction of its elementary school program in 2008.
The first middle school program launched in 2008, at Citadel Middle School in British Columbia. In 2009 the first elementary chapter, at Evelyn Harrison Public School in Ontario, opened.
 We have since created chapters in the Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba and British Columbia, with much success. We recently received an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to expand the elementary program in Hamilton, Ontario.
Best Buddies knows friendship is important in the development for everybody. For people with intellectual disabilities, friendship is a way for them to become more involved with their communities and increase confidence.
By introducing the program at elementary and middle schools, we can promote social inclusion from a young age, and encourage life-long involvement with Best Buddies.
Participants are paired in one-on-one partnerships, meeting during weekly or bi-weekly group activities, during the school day, like at lunch time. This allows students to know who their buddy is, but also participate in a more comfortable setting. Buddy Pairs build and cementing their friendship, but the entire chapter is developing a bond which will last the entire school year, and into the future. Chapters can also arrange activities outside of the school, with proper permission from the school.
To help launch the program in a school, each school is led by teachers and a Best Buddies staff member. Once the chapter becomes established, chapters take on more independence. Best Buddies remain involved to help with the chapter’s planning, activities, and troubleshoot any potential problems.
The elementary program focuses less on disability education, and more on creating a friendship bond between everyone in the chapter. We want students to recognize their similarities, not their differences, and learn from any early age to accept everyone for who they are, and what they have in common.
With the elementary school program, Best Buddies creates an environment of life-long learning, compassion and acceptance for all people.
Read about the program expansion in Hamilton.
How much work is involved in running a chapter?
Read the program overview
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