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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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One of our colleagues who works in the luxury goods business became deeply troubled by media reports of poverty among children in his city, and the fact that many come from families that cannot afford warm winter clothes.
He felt if he could sell diamond rings and ruby necklaces by day, he should do something to create balance in the world in his spare hours. So, he started a charity that supplies winter parkas to children in need.
Another friend is a lawyer who spends long hours defending our Bill of Rights. She felt that education helped open the world, and that reading is the ticket to happiness. She volunteers weekly at a literacy organization, helping young immigrants learn to read and write.
Volunteering is a significant aspect of Canadian life by which volunteers strengthen the fabric of Canadian society. The volunteer activities of Canadians reflect the diversity of their interests and motivations. Volunteers serve as coaches for children and youth, raise funds for the causes they support, provide social services in their communities, protect the environment and provide health care and education.
In 2002, The Government of Canada selected Volunteer Canada and Imagine Canada to deliver the Canada Volunteerism Initiative, a program designed to encourage Canadians to volunteer and to help more organizations involve volunteers.
According to Statistics Canada's 2004 Canada Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP), 11.8 million Canadians (45% of the population aged 15 and older) volunteered their time to charities and other non-profit organizations, in 2004. Volunteers contributed almost 2 billion volunteer hours to organizations. This time is the equivalent of 1 million full-time jobs.
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