Where to find volunteer opportunities

Every year, Volunteer Canada dedicates a week in April to celebrating volunteers and encouraging more Canadians to get involved in their communities. If you want to volunteer, here’s where you can find opportunities in your area.

Volunteer centres

The primary purpose of a volunteer centre is to promote volunteerism in the community by encouraging people to donate their time and providing them with the resources they need to get involved. Volunteer centres also help local organizations improve the way they recruit, manage and retain volunteers. Additionally, these centres play an important role in raising awareness about the community’s needs and the importance of volunteer service.

If you want to give back, a volunteer centre can provide you with an up-to-date list of the opportunities in your area. Alternatively, some centres may ask you to fill out a form so they can contact you with opportunities based on your skills and availability.

Online

Another simple way to find volunteer opportunities in a particular province, region or city is to use Volunteer Canada’s pan-Canadian volunteer matching platform. This resource allows you to choose from more than 75,000 volunteer opportunities and narrow your search based on your location, interests and skills. You can even find opportunities to volunteer virtually.

Finally, remember you can always reach out directly to local organizations, or speak with friends, neighbours and colleagues who might know of a good cause that could use your help.