The 2026 Mentorship Program, hosted by the BCLA Mentorship Committee is underway!
The first step is filling in the Expression of Interest form, which is now closed for the 2026 season (check back in October for our next round).
This mentoring session will run from January 16 to June 30, 2026.
- November 7, 2025: Expression of interest form closes for mentees.
- November 21, 2025: Extension offered for mentors to create balance.
- December 1, 2025: Mentors and mentees accepted to the program will receive a more detailed intake form from our mentorship platform called Pollinate, including a Knowledge Transfer Index (KTI) survey, to better understand your interests and style.
- December 19, 2025: The final day to fill in your intake forms for Pollinate.
- January 2-8, 2026: BCLA Mentorship committee reviews Pollinate’s recommended matches.
- January 16, 2026: Pollinate will announce your match by email with an invitation to explore the resources on their platform.
- January 22, 2026: The session begins with an online Kick-Off event via Zoom; get in touch with your mentor/mentee!
- Mid-March, 2026: Anticipate a “pulse check” survey from Pollinate.
- June 30, 2026: Session ends; please complete the follow-up survey
If you have any questions about this process, please email us.
*Pollinate is a Canadian-based mentorship platform that facilitates matches, provides resources, direction, and acts as a communication hub for participants.
Expectations
The program is open-ended for participants to design the session according to their own needs, schedule and interests but with the added structure of Pollinate, as an intentional place to glean resources, stay on track, and communicate. We expect the mentee to make the initial contact with their mentor, to establish a connection and communication plan.
Applicants to the program are expected:
- To commit to the full term of the session.
- To respect BCLA’s Online Community Code of Conduct when interacting with your mentor / mentee.
- To have read the content of the Mentorship Program webpage and be familiar with the mechanics, intent and spirit of the program.
- If you are a mentee, to initiate communication and your goals with your mentor.
- Familiarize yourself with Pollinate, which includes mentorship resources, key dates and reminders, and a dynamic communication platform.
- Once matched, to keep in touch with their mentorship partner a minimum of twice per month.
- To communicate any unexpected changes, such as a job leave or career change, resulting in the dissolution of the match to both the mentoring partner and organizers of the program.
- At the close of the session, to complete an online exit survey.