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Beyond 2010
Canadians have a rich history of volunteering and community involvement. But today's volunteers have come a long way from hosting bazaars, bake sales and soup kitchens.
The Changing Face of Volunteerism
Donna Wilson, executive vice president, workforce and sustainability, explores the legacy of volunteering for the 2010 Winter Games.
Volunteerism and Your Career
Lots of us have used volunteer opportunities to fill out the resume. Often we have gotten out of it far more than we expected.
How to Volunteer
Volunteering can bring a great sense of balance and well-being to life. The first step is: look inward.
Readiness Quiz
Our quick quiz will help you figure out what opportunities best suit you.
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Donna Wilson, executive vice president, workforce and sustainability, explores the legacy of volunteering for the 2010 Winter Games.
When you think about the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it’s natural to envision athletes and medals, and people around the world celebrating. What we don’t always think about is that none of this would happen if there weren’t people working behind-the-scenes. That’s where the 25,000 volunteers that we’re recruiting for the 2010 Winter Games come into play.
Imagine this: we’re expecting a quarter of a million people, including athletes, officials and spectators to visit during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Each person’s experience will be significantly influenced by the volunteers they interact with along the way. Millions of people from across the globe will also take in the Games through the media. The story that the world hears about Canada and the 2010 Winter Games will be hugely influenced by our volunteers. They will have a role in shaping how our country is seen on a global scale, during the Games and long after.
It’s a huge responsibility, but one that Canadians won’t shy away from. Our country is one that embraces volunteerism; it’s easy to forget that not all countries do. It says something about our character — we’re always willing to help others.
It also does more than say something about us, it changes us. Volunteering makes our country better. During the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games, Canadians flocked to volunteer. Today, Alberta boasts one of the highest volunteer rates in the country.
Ellie Hildebrant shared her story about volunteering in speed skating at the 1988 Winter Games. The experience made such an impression on her that she’s continued her volunteer legacy. She now freely offers her time and expertise at the Olympic Oval and Olympic Oval Organizing Committee in Calgary, where she helps put out short track speed skating and speed skating competition results. Ellie is also among a group of past Games volunteers who continue to get together socially, two decades after the fact.
Ellie never imagined the impact that volunteering for the Games in 1988 would have on her life. "In Calgary, the spirit of the Games lit everything up. It was an amazing experience to meet people from around the world, and I made friendships that are still strong today. I highly recommend volunteering for anyone who wants the experience of a lifetime. 1988 was incredible — 2010 will be even better.”
Toban Allison has a different reason for volunteering for the 2010 Winter Games. He was first introduced to the Olympic and Paralympic Games when he was eight years old. The British Columbian saw speed skating on television during the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Games. The impact was so profound that a few months later Toban joined a local speed racers club determined to compete in the Winter Games as an athlete. He continued training and racing for nearly 10 years, however, then realized that what he really enjoyed was the social aspect of the sport, not the competition.
When the 2010 Winter Games were awarded to Vancouver, Toban decided that competing as an athlete was not in the cards, but he still wanted to get involved and decided to do so as a volunteer. “Although I will never be an Olympic athlete, I’ve been given a second chance to realize my goal of participating in the Games by volunteering. My one shift per week answering calls in the Volunteer Information Centre (as a pre-Games volunteer) may not be much, but if it can help create an Olympic Winter Games that will inspire children to pursue sport, just like the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Games did for me, then it’s time well spent.”
Ellie, Toban and the tens of thousands of others hoping to volunteer may be driven by different reasons, but they all share something: they will be the heart and soul of the Games, and the legacies they leave in Canada and around the world, will live on well beyond the Closing Ceremonies.
When we first opened up the volunteer application process for the Games in February, I was awed by the response we received: on the first day, more than 10,000 people applied to volunteer. My hope is that after the 2010 Winter Games, many of these people will go back to their communities and continue to volunteer. That would be one of the true legacies of the Games.
- 10,620 volunteer applications were completed on February 12, the first day of the Call For Volunteers?
- 20,000 volunteers will be required for the Olympic Winter Games and 5,000 for the Paralympic Winter Games?
- Volunteer applications have been received by residents from 89 different countries?
- 115 nationalities are represented among the volunteer applicants?
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