Honouring volunteers in the community
Volunteers, this is your moment to step into the spotlight and take a bow. Commemorated each Dec. 5, International Volunteer Day gives community organizations and charities a chance to celebrate their volunteers. It’s an annual opportunity to acknowledge those volunteers who may not otherwise be acknowledged or highlighted.
International Volunteer Day was designated in 1985 by the United nation to bring awareness to those volunteers who give of their time and energy to create vibrant communities across the globe.
Saskatchewan is known for its high rate of volunteerism with 58 per cent of adults in the province actively donating their time. Volunteers make organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Saskatoon Food Bank, and Telemiracle make a difference in the lives of others. Large sporting events such as the 2012 Tim Horton’s Brier and the upcoming MasterCard Memorial Cup in Saskatoon takes a small army of volunteers.
Christine Epp, manager of Volunteer Saskatoon, says celebrating volunteers has many benefits. “Recognition, saying thank you in public, has multiple functions beyond simple courtesy. To the volunteer, recognition signifies that someone notices and appreciates their volunteer efforts.”
Choosing a public way to acknowledge volunteers on IVP allows community organizations to raise their profile within their communities and inspires others to be part of their work.
Epp adds, “To the community that benefits from volunteer involvement, recognition inspires and enhances the spirit of giving among citizens.”
“Recognition of volunteers is always important – regardless of the time of year or date on the calendar. Recognition of this generous gift of time and talent is more than saying thank you. It’s the deliberate and intentional ongoing way that we engage with our volunteers to reinforce that they are a valuable part of our organization, that they matter and that what they are doing has an impact.”
In Saskatoon organizations are marking IVD in a variety of ways – hosting recognition teas and events, through social media shout outs, and newsletters.
This year to honour IVD Volunteer Canada will unveil a new and updated website at www.volunteer.ca.
“The new website responds to a distinct need for a central entry point to Canada’s volunteering community,” says Epp.
In an ever-changing technological landscape, the refreshed web portal acknowledges the growing trends of online volunteering and activism. The new Volunteer Canada website will make it easier to connect with opportunities both online and in person.
“This site will be a dynamic portal to all things volunteering in Canada – a place where Canadians can learn about getting involved in their communities, and where community organizations can find out how to better engage today’s volunteers,” Epp explains.
The website will track a person’s location and find the nearest volunteer centre, like Volunteer Saskatoon, as well as feature a searchable database.
“These features offer Canadians, voluntary organizations, businesses and other volunteering leaders with quick access to their local and provincial experts on 21st-century volunteering,” says Ruth MacKenzie, president and CEO of Volunteer Canada in a press release.
To get involved visit the United Nations website for more information on IVD at www.worldvolunteerweb.org or visit www.volunteer.ca for volunteer opportunities.