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Join us in welcoming Milton A. Ortega to the role of Executive Director!

Milton brings over a decade of nonprofit leadership experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s nonprofit and volunteer sectors. We are confident that he will be an invaluable asset to our organization, and we are excited to see the impact his leadership will have on volunteerism. #ExecutiveDirector #VolunteerConnector

We had the immense pleasure of being present at Board Leadership Calgary a couple weeks ago. It was a chance to connect with some awesome humans doing cool work in their pockets of community. Huge thank you to Justin Solamillo and the team at the Government of Alberta Community Development Unit. VolunteerConnector got to spend 90 cool minutes immersed in the intersection of community building, organizations and humans trying their best. 

There are three reflections we have from this event and the time we spent. 

Great suggestion for our always in our hearts merchandise line of “the best volunteers are prickly”. We are thinking plant pot with a cactus in it. 

There was a profound moment where many organizations in the room were sharing the current state of volunteerism in their organizations. It was mostly a story of struggle. From trying to recover from Covid to simply not seeing the response from efforts that they had hoped. Present in the room were also 3 awesome young people from Youth Central who shared their perspective of wanting to engage in community but not being able to find open opportunities. And there it was, without us even having to say it. There are not less people out there looking for opportunities, there are different people out there looking. It is tough work, but it is up to organizations and the people in them to shift roles, processes and opportunities to connect with the people out there who do want to and have capacity to volunteer.

Finally, to get us started and focussed on the work of volunteer engagement we inquired about the best or worst advice people had been given about engaging volunteers. The most common answer around the room was none. No advice. What a moment so aligned with learning that across the country of the 1.3 million organization, charities, nonprofits, grassroots groups that 1 million of them are volunteer run with no staff. Most people who engage volunteers are volunteers themselves and they are doing it through their own grit, determination and trial. 

This week we feature a guest blog which serves as a good reminder of the meaningful connection that comes from volunteering at Long Term Care Facilities. Thanks for sharing Rob.

I had always been someone who lived within the rhythm of routine - work, family, a little personal time. Everything had its place, and I rarely strayed from it. So, when a volunteer flyer showed up at my door one rainy afternoon, I barely gave it a second thought. But something about the simple words “Bring Joy, Make A Difference” caught my eye. I can’t explain why, but I found myself Signing Up to Help at the local senior center.

The first day was... awkward. I walked into a room full of elderly people, sitting silently, some staring out the window, others absorbed in newspapers that had seen better days. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do, what I could say. But then, I spotted an old man sitting by himself, his gaze fixed on the floor.

I hesitated, then approached. "Hello"; I said softly, sitting down next to him. My name is Rob. How are you today?;

He didn’t respond, but there was something in his eyes - a kind of quiet sadness, or maybe just a need for connection. I stayed with him, not knowing what else to do but to offer my presence.

It wasn’t until weeks later that he finally spoke to me. His name was Mr. Thompson, and when he looked up at me with a faint, almost hesitant smile, it felt like the world shifted. Do you like stories?; he asked, his voice cracking.

I nodded eagerly, and for the first time, he began to share. His stories weren’t just memories; they were pieces of a life that had been forgotten by most, but not by me. With every tale, a bridge was built between us. I learned about his youth, his family, the adventures he had before his advancing age slowed him down. At 90-years-old he was a living history book!

By the time I left the center that day, it hit me: sometimes, making a difference isn’t about grand gestures or heroic acts. Sometimes, it’s just showing up, being present, and offering a moment of connection. In that quiet corner of the world, between a lonely man and a stranger who wanted to listen, a bridge had been built - and it began with a smile.

This week we are so fortunate to feature a guest blog from Volunteer Ottawa. Founded in 1957, Volunteer Ottawa is one of many volunteer centres across Canada.Volunteer Ottawa connects people to one another and to hundreds of local charities that rely on the time and talent of volunteers. We provide supports and services to promote and celebrate volunteerism, help volunteers find opportunities, strengthen non-profit capacity through training and networking, inspire diversity and inclusion, and encourage local employers to invest in the community. 

Last year, Volunteer Ottawa helped Export Development Canada (EDC) with its biggest Community Impact Day ever! VO has helped organize this annual event with EDC for 8 years, and in 2024 it coincided with EDC’s employee conference in Ottawa. 1600 EDC employees from Ottawa, across Canada, and around the world gathered on June 6 to donate their time and talent to 40 organizations across Ottawa and region.

The volunteers received a warm welcome and some of the activities were featured in local news, like the tree planting activity at Ottawa Community Housing. Roughly 4,800 hours were donated to achieve impressive results, including: 

Hundreds of sandwiches and Hope Bags made for the Ottawa Mission 

Over 60 donations of blood and plasma to the Canadian Blood Services 

Hundreds of walkers raised awareness for CARE Canada 

Piles of invasive plants like buckthorn removed for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Ottawa Valley Chapter and the Riverview Park Community Association 

Gardening, cleaning & beautification projects across the city for organizations like Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, Mādahòkì Farm, Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard, Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, and many more

The organizations hosting volunteers reported that EDC employees were smiling (despite often being soaking wet) and worked hard – in many cases completing more work than anticipated!

Thank you to all the participating organizations and to the many EDC employees who donated time and talent.

This week we welcome guest blog writer Jason Nguyen. Jason was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta with Vietnamese origins. He graduated from the University of Calgary, Haskayne School of Business in 2019, but has a passion for the arts--most specifically writing! 

Who would have thought one randomly-presented volunteer opportunity would change the trajectory of my entire life? Not the version of me that agreed to it, that’s for sure. 

Let me tell you about the time I agreed to choreograph a dance performance for my church’s Lunar New Year festival. I must have only been 19 years-old at the time, but word got out in my church community that I was a dancer. To be clear, I was not a choreographer nor did I have any experience teaching dance. I was just a recreational breakdancer and somehow one of the members of the choir found out and approached me to ask if I could come up with a dance to perform at the annual Lunar New Year festival. Naturally, I asked if they had any dancers they could spare for the performance. I ended up with a group of about ten kids I had never met before (save for the one closest to my age with whom I attended Sunday school). 

None of these kids had any dancing experience, but I can honestly say they were all good dancers. It did not take them long to pick up the inherently basic steps that I had come up with. Remember that I had never choreographed a dance before myself so I kept things nice and easy. We performed the 2- or 3-minute-long dance at the festival for the parents and the crowd went crazy. The applause from the crowd and the smiles I saw on the faces of my makeshift dance team was enough of a reward for me to be glad I volunteered my time, but it didn’t end there. 

The next year, they asked me to choreograph another dance and this time…a group of about thirty kids showed up! Over the course of the next few months, I came up with and taught dance to this group of bright, young kids and more importantly, created long-lasting friendships and mentorship relationships. We were lucky enough to perform for another couple of years before we got too busy with our lives, but I don’t think those memories will ever fully fade from our minds. One of the guys on the dance team even asked me to be one of his groomsmen at his wedding next year! Needless to say, I am tremendously glad I was offered this volunteer opportunity and if I had the chance to do it again, I’d take it up in a heartbeat.

Last week was National Volunteer Week and there were lots of waves! Here are some of our highlights. 

Calgary Volunteer Fair and Caribbean Youth Summit were both awesome well attended events that left the Calgary community feeling inspired. The Calgary Volunteer Fair saw over 700 attendees and offered the chance for organizations to connect with humans who care about their causes. The Caribbean Youth Summit was a brilliant way to empower youth to bring their skills and talents into community. 

Our friends at ECVO produced this awesome podcast with the Edmonton Community Foundation, you should give that a listen today! This awesome and vibrant conversation demonstrates that volunteer motivation can vary but the benefits are numerous. The awesome humans at Volunteer Toronto shared some cool data insights about the communities in their areas and what they are interested in. Plus, they turned the CN Tower Blue and Orange. 

Finally, we got to see so many organizations celebrating all the humans who make their work possible, who fulfill their mission, who provide community and belonging. Which was such a good reminder of why we do the work that we do and why we care so much about the VolunteerConnector. 

This week we welcome a collaborative guest blog from the Volunteer Centre of Calgary and Youth Central. Youth Central is a Calgary based organization that inspires youth to become changemakers in their communities by offering meaningful leadership and volunteer opportunities. Every year, over 2,200 young people in Calgary, ages 12 to 18, join their programs and events—growing in confidence, forging lasting connections, and developing the skills they need to lead with purpose and passion. 

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week across Canada, Youth Central and Volunteer Calgary want to take a moment to recognize the immense impact of volunteers on the wellbeing and vibrancy of our communities.

As Volunteer Canada beautifully says, "Volunteers Make Waves." And they do - waves that ripple outwards, touching countless lives. 

They serve warm meals with compassion and without judgment.

They power youth sports and enrichment programs, nurturing the next generation of compassionate, engaged citizens.

They are the engine behind our cities’ most vibrant festivals, arts events, and cultural moments—making connection and celebration accessible to everyone.

They are the force behind our cities' most vibrant events, ensuring that everyone has access to art, culture, and connection.

And that’s just the beginning.

Our communities thrive because of volunteers—people who give their time not for recognition or reward, but from a simple hope: to make someone else’s day a little brighter. In return, they often discover deep connections and a profound sense of belonging.

The volunteer landscape is changing

 Just like our neighborhoods, the volunteer landscape is evolving. The demographics are shifting. youth are stepping up in large numbers, eager to make a difference. The second-fastest growing group of volunteers? Newcomers to Canada.

Why the shift?

Many young people are searching for ways to take meaningful action in a world that feels uncertain. Volunteering gives them that outlet—an empowering way to build community and create change. For newcomers, it’s a powerful tool to connect with others, contribute their talents, and grow their sense of belonging in a new place.

So why are organizations still struggling to find volunteers? 

Despite this growing interest, many nonprofits are finding it harder than ever to attract and retain volunteers.

As a sector, we’re working to better understand this disconnect. But a few patterns are emerging. TThere’s a gap between what volunteers are looking for and what many organizations are currently equipped to offer.

Modern volunteers want flexibility. They want to contribute quickly, without long screening processes. They want opportunities that fit their lifestyles, reflect their values, and allow them to use their skills in meaningful ways.

Meanwhile, many organizations are still navigating post-pandemic realities. Some haven’t been able to rehire volunteer managers since pandemic-related layoffs, making it hard to adapt existing systems or engagement strategies to meet today’s new  expectations.

Together, we can close this gap 

To ride this new wave of interest, we need to evolve how we engage volunteers. That means rethinking old models and adapting to what today’s volunteers are really looking for:

• Be flexible. Not everyone can commit every Tuesday at 2. Offer short-term, remote, or project-based roles that accommodate real life.
• Make it meaningful. Volunteers want to do work that matters. Invite them to share their skills, passions, and ideas.
• Show the impact. A simple thank-you, a story about how their contribution made a difference, or a quick update on results can go a long way.
• Cut the red tape. If signing up feels harder than getting a passport, you’ll lose people. Make it easy to get involved.
• Invest in volunteer management. Volunteer coordinators are the heart of engagement. Rebuilding this capacity is crucial to meaningful and sustainable volunteer relationships.

The interest is there. People want to help. Organizations just need to meet folks where they are.

You’re not alone. 

If you are in Calgary- Youth Central and Volunteer Calgary are here to support organizations. We offer free support to help you adapt to this new wave of volunteerism. And once you're ready, we’ve got thousands of eager individuals ready to connect with causes like yours.

Together, we can create a volunteer landscape that reflects the energy, diversity, and generosity of our communities.

Let’s make volunteering accessible, impactful, and truly meaningful, and more powerful than ever. 

To all those who feel the pull to give back: we see you, and we’re ready to connect you. Reach out to Volunteer Calgary, Youth Central, or your local volunteer centre—we’ll help you find the right fit. 

The future of volunteerism is bright. Let’s ride this wave—together.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and creative Communications and Marketing Coordinator to join our team. If you are passionate about storytelling, digital marketing, and advancing equity and inclusion through volunteer engagement, we’d love to hear from you! This position is made possible from the generous support of Canada Summer Jobs Program, to be eligible the candidate must be between 15 and 30. More information on the position and how to apply, click here.. 

Last week we had the immense privilege of tuning into The Walrus Talks: Reimagining Volunteerism. The time was filled with so many amazing gems from people who spend time and energy caring for their community. “Reimagining” is a word we have been hearing a lot about in the past couple years. As we have gained more distance from the global covid pandemic lots of people have made massive shifts in their own lives and now are turning to the systems/structures. Dreaming about what our future selves need from community and each other and how to make that happen. It was clear from the night that we are so lucky to work in a sector and be in communities where people care so deeply about continuing to care. Thank you to the The Walrus for convening the conversation and to all the speakers to for sharing their perspectives. 

You can watch the full event here.

Our key takeaways were; 

-The act of engaging in community is critical to our community fabrics, our individual wellness but is also filled with complexity. 

-The future involves a profound trust in people to rebuild communities and connection in ways that are meaningful and relevant.  

-Fundamentally the work involves humans having capacity to care for and respond to each other, those humans need to be rested, nourished and valued. 

Nominate Someone for the 2024-2025 Minister's Seniors Service Awards! 

Do you know someone in your community who’s making a meaningful impact on the lives of Alberta’s seniors? The 26th annual Minister's Seniors Service Awards nominations are still open, and we want to hear about the incredible people, businesses, and organizations who are going above and beyond for seniors. 

These awards celebrate the outstanding contributions made through volunteerism, advocacy, essential services, and innovation. Whether it’s providing exceptional support or pioneering new ways to improve the lives of seniors, your nomination can help recognize their dedication. 

There are five award categories to choose from, offering many opportunities to shine a light on those who deserve it most. 

How to Nominate: Visit alberta.ca/MSSA for details and to submit your nomination. 

Deadline: Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025 – don’t miss the chance to recognize someone special!