Youth HQ is calling on Red Deer businesses, organisations and community members to Turn the Town Teal in September to raise awareness about 65 local youth currently on a waiting list for mentors through Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Red Deer & District.
Campaign aims and how the community can help
The month-long campaign invites public-facing locations — foyers, reception areas, storefronts and other shared spaces — to install bold, conversation-starting teal displays that incorporate the number 65. Organisers say the displays should be engaging, encourage interaction and point visitors to ways to volunteer, donate or learn more about mentoring opportunities.
- Displays should be set up before the campaign begins on Sept. 1 and run throughout the month.
- Registration for participating sites is open until Aug. 21.
- Each participating group will receive a Turn the Town Teal Starter Kit with campaign materials, awareness resources and QR code posters.
Materials, timing and community hubs
Youth HQ will coordinate deliveries of the starter kits during the final week of August so participating locations have time to install their displays before the official launch. The starter kits include QR codes that link community members to volunteer opportunities, information about mentorship, donation options and other ways to get involved.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Registration deadline | Aug. 21 |
| Starter kit delivery | Final week of August |
| Campaign dates | Sept. 1–30 |
Youth HQ said every participating location will act as a local community hub where visitors can learn more about mentorship and scan QR codes to connect directly with opportunities.
“Every share, post, comment, and conversation helps amplify awareness and demonstrate that our community is united in supporting local youth,” Youth HQ said in a statement.
Why this matters in Red Deer
The campaign focuses attention on a clear local need: 65 children and teenagers in Red Deer and district waiting for a mentor through a well-known national model of support. Mentorship programs such as Big Brothers & Big Sisters pair young people with trained volunteers who provide guidance, friendship and stability — supports that can affect education, mental health and long-term outcomes.
For local businesses and organisations, Turn the Town Teal offers a low-barrier way to contribute to that effort: setting up an awareness display, sharing campaign posts and providing a physical location where residents can connect with the mentoring organisation. Youth HQ is also asking the public to take photos of the teal displays, share them on social media, tag others and encourage involvement.
No figures beyond the waiting list number and the campaign timetable were provided. For more information or to register a participating location, Youth HQ directs interested parties to its website at www.youthhq.ca or to email events@youthhq.ca.
The initiative arrives at a time when civic and non-profit partnerships are increasingly relied upon to address gaps in youth services. For Red Deer residents, the campaign creates an immediate opportunity to make a visible, neighbourhood-level contribution to mentorship capacity without a large financial commitment — and to spotlight the number of young people waiting for matched mentors in the community.
