Influences are important, especially in childhood. Whoever you look up to when you're little could have an impact on who you are for the rest of your life. For the kids at InjaNation yesterday, role models were not in short supply with the All-Star calibre mentors available.

All-Star Day, put on by Big Brothers Big Sisters Calgary and Area, went yesterday. All-Stars attended to give kids a chance to interact with their heroes and, maybe, leave a good influence that could change a young kid's life.

Obstacle courses, dodgeball, trampelines, foam pits, climbing walls and tight ropes are just a few of the events taking place in the huge campaign. The kids were eager to hop to it, but perhaps even more eager were the All-Stars themselves.

To become an All-Star, one must be a kind, community-driven person who is interested in being a big impact in the life of kids. And this year, the All-Stars did not disappoint.

Here are just a few:

Constable Jeremy Shaw, Digital Communications Officer with the Calgary Police Force

This is not Constable Jeremy Shaw's first rodeo. The digital communications officer has been to All-Stars day for four years and he believes it has an important impact on the youth in Calgary. However, just how big that impact is, he said, is hard to measure.

"t's funny, I always make the link back to policing and crime prevention because you can't tell how much crime you prevent, but you also can't necessarily what good you're going to provide to these kids' through mentoring. Some of it's obvious, like when they don't go down a wrong path, but on the flipside of that, you don't know what triggers (a response) in their head. It might just be the smallest little reaction to something, or a confidence booster that they get, whether it's completing an obstacle here today or a challenge they face in life. They might have a different perspective now that they know there are people around them supporting them."

Shaw said that you can see the positive impact the mentors have during the event itself.

"A lot of kids, even last year at the event, were a little too scared to climb up the ladder or something like that and you can just give them that extra little push and they realize that 'Oh, I can do this'. Then, they're up and down the ladder a hundred times after that. That's always really fun, to watch that change throughout the day as they build their own confidence on simple things like completing obstacles on an obstacle course."

Bo Levi Mitchell, Quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders

You can't get much more All-Star than a Grey Cup Champion quarterback. A long-time supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bo Levi Mitchell of the Calgary Stampeders launched the day by introducing the All-Stars and putting on his All-Stars outfit.

Mitchell said that the event itself is very important for the Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"Today we're just out having fun, hanging out with some mentees and mentors that have been together for a while and just trying to celebrate with them, they're relationship and their mentorship that's been going on. Me, I'm just trying to raise awareness, just trying to use my name, use the platform really, to get to other people out there and let them know how much help we need. This is for the entire year, this month raises the money for the entire year, so to have their support is huge."

Mentors have a huge impact on a kid's life and Mitchell himself can remember a few that have helped him along the way.

"It inspires them to one day want to be in our position. I think why I'm here right now is because of the brothers I had growing up and the mentorship I had growing up. That really got me here. Me realizing that I thought I need to give back so other kids can have that same opportunity. I wanted to be that mentor for them as well," said Mitchell.

"Now that they're in that position, they're getting mentored, they're having these one-on-one relationships, now as they grow up, they're going to realize, 'Man, this is what helped me be good in school, this is what helped me get good grades, this is what helped me get a college education; having these people that cared about me and realized my potential'. One day, they're going to turn around and realize they need to give that back as well."

Reggie Begelton, Slot Receiver for the Calgary Stampeders

Mitchell was not the only Stampeder in attendance. Reggie Begelton, a receiver for the CFL team, attended with a desire to help impact a kids life.

"I love to be part of a support system. When I was growing up I loved looking up to older people," said Begelton. "Hopefully I can influence these kids and teach them that we are not not human and that we can relate to everybody in the real world."

Begelton said that he himself had role models that inspired him on his football journey.

"When I was growing up playing football as a kid, I always looked at the high school players. When I was in middle school, or even in elementary when we used to go to the high school games. it was like, man, I want to be there. They looked like gods to me. I know I could be a big influence on the younger generation."

"They see me here, they see me interacting, and it gives them hope, it may spark that one kid to change his life. And that's all you need, one."

Leon Johnson, Offensive Tackle for the Calgary Stampeders

At 6'5, Offensive Lineman for the Calgary Stampeders Leon Johnson is really an All-Star you can look up to. He said he believes in setting a real-world example for the kids

"I think having access to your future in physical form is important because you get to see what it is, it's not something that you see on television or on posters, you get to interact with it."

Johnson said that he had role models growing up, but eventually became his own.

"I'm sure, at the moment, I looked up to people, but now I kind of look up to myself because I've changed as a person and I've become a better person. That's my motivation to help other people because I've done it already."

Kevin Koe, 2018 Winter Olympic Curler

Two-time World and four-time Canadian curling champion Kevin Koe attended and said he has enjoyed helping out so far.

"I recently became involved with the organization. It's a great cause and if I can spend time here to help some kids and Big Brothers Big Sisters, I'm looking forward to it."

Koe said that not just being a mentor, but somebody the kids can talk to, is very important

"Just to shows them that they have people they can talk to is the main thing. If they're looking for some support. That's the big thing, just to help them out, meet some people and hopefully keep in touch with some."

Makena Hodgeson, Senior National Luge Team member

At 19, Makena Hodgeson of the Senior National Luge team was one of the younger All-Stars. However, that didn't at all hinder her in providing an important mentorship role to any and all of the kids at InjaNation. Hodgeson believes that setting the example is extremely important for helping the kids find their way.

"It's great. When I was just starting out in luge, I had a ton of mentors that I looked up to and really supported me. I know there are kids out there that don't have that, so this is a really good program that kind of helps them find a mentor and helps them pursue their dreams."

Hodgeson said there were many influences along her journey to where she is now.

"There were definitely a bunch of the girls who were on the Senior National Team, where I am now, that I definitely looked up to. Just seeing the success and seeing how much they loved the sport, it was really inspiring for me."

If there was one lesson Hodgeson would want the kids to take from the event, it's to have the courage to shoot for the stars.

"I really think it's important to just go for it. There are a lot of people that have reserves about chasing their dreams because they think it's not going to work out the way they wanted it to or people aren't going to see them the way they want. But, I think they should just go for it."

Some very special All Stars came to @InjaNation today as part of All Stars for Kids Day in partnership with @BBBSCalgary

Our very own Claire Spencer was among the All Stars like Bo Levi Mitchell and Constable Jeremy Shaw. pic.twitter.com/yQFGqQBP6i — DiscoverAirdrie.com (@AIR1061FM) August 10, 2019

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