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On March 21 in Sharpeville, South Africa 69 people were shot and killed by police. On this day each year we honour those whose lives were taken in the fight for equity. March 21 is now a date that is honoured around the world as the International Day for the Elimination against Racism. 

I have had the extreme honour of visiting Sharpeville with a survivor of the massacre. It will be forever imprinted on my mind where he pointed the corner he ran behind to the hide from the bullets. It is a brutal reminder of the great cost of standing up for humanity. 

This is a reminder for however you show up in your space, whoever is in your sphere of influence to continue to stand up for justice and equity. It matters. 

Volunteer Canada has launched their 2025 National Vounteer Week Toolkit! The theme this year is Volunteers Make Waves. The toolkit is an awesome place to start on honouring volunteers inside your organization. They have some awesome templates from canva to ready to go social media posts to make it easy. 

You can get access to all the information here. 

However and whenever you choose to celebrate your volunteers is wonderful! If you are looking for ideas or want to talk things through please do not hesitate to get in touch with us, info@volunteerconnector.org! 

To kick off 2025 we welcome guest blog writer- Jawad Gul. Jawad is a passionate member of the community and writer who has published several books. To read more writing from Jawad check him out here. 

Back in 1996, when I was in high school in my home country, I was fond of writing—mostly short stories and poems published in local newspapers. At that time, the only thought in my mind was to bring about change in society through my writings and point out the injustices in my surroundings. It was my first step toward volunteerism. I took part in social literary societies and actively participated as a freelance co-editor of the literary magazine page of a local newspaper. I also published a magazine to promote the native language of Hindko and organized fundraising weekly meetings.

However, I felt that I should engage in practical efforts as well; writing was just for the literate members of society, while the majority of people were uneducated and suffering. I wondered what I could do for them. So, I volunteered at a blood bank, donated blood, and joined campaigns against polio in rural areas of Pakistan to vaccinate children. I also joined NGOs that worked for the education of females while I was there.

One thing I would like to mention is that different phases come in our lives and change our thinking processes for a while. There was a period when I stopped my volunteer work after my marriage, thinking I should focus on my life objectives and that volunteerism was just a thankless job. After some time, I realized that when I participated in volunteer activities, my own objectives were achieved automatically, and I had no worries about accomplishing my goals. However, since I stopped volunteering, I felt stuck and had to put in a lot of effort to complete my tasks. I realized that there was some spiritual support surrounding me when I was engaged in volunteer work. From that moment on, I have never stopped volunteering in my life.

Now I am in Canada, and I have connected myself, one way or another, with volunteer associations. Currently, I am with the Affinity Mentorship Foundation, which works to inspire and empower at-risk youth through mentorship, building their strength, confidence, and resilience to shape their own positive futures.

When I participate in volunteer events, it gives me a sense of fulfilment and nourishes my thoughts. I forget my own stress and can connect with others. It creates a synergistic effect; my presence gives them hope, and ultimately, I gain energy from my volunteer work.

Life is a one-time journey, and no one is perfect. In society, volunteer work is the key to success because I have discovered the spiritual aspect of volunteering.

At VolunteerConnector we love people who think deeply and strive for strongly rooted empathetic change. We always seek to amplify those humans across the country doing that work in all areas of the sector. There are some brilliant people working in food security who are seeking to put Food Banks Out of Business! These are people who work in these spaces and care intensely about the people in the communities who they work with. Please read more about their desired action and how you can help here. 

Some information about Food Security in this country via Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank. 

- 8.7 million Canadians are currently food insecure.

- 1 in 3 single mothers (and their children) are food insecure in Canada.

- Black and Indigenous people are twice as likely to be food insecure.

- People who are severely food insecure cost taxpayers more than double in healthcare spending.

- Unattached singles on welfare in Canada are living in deep poverty on incomes that are 63 per cent below the poverty line.

- Poverty costs Canadians up to $84-billion per year

There is a bill in the Senate (S-233) that calls for the federal government to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income.

If you volunteer in the space of food security or are involved in your local food bank please do consider joining this vital work and supporting Universal Basic Income in Canada. 

We are super excited to announce that we have added a resource library to VolunteerConnector! From your dashboard click on Resource Library under Tools to find a bunch of things to help you on your volunteer engagement journey. We are always looking to add things to this area so please feel free to share anything that you think is helpful for anyone who supports people engaging in their community. We would love to feature it on there. 

Please let us know if you have any questions or if you feel like something is missing we are happy to create it! Get in touch with us at VolunteerConnector 

This week we welcome a guest blog from REALTORS Care® at the Canadian Real Estate Association. 

Tristan Kong, a REALTOR® with the Tristan Kong Group at Keller Williams Real Estate Associates Brokerage – Glen Williams, is reducing barriers and championing the Deaf community in the Greater Toronto Area through his volunteerism, sponsorship, and social outreach.

Since he committed to lifting others up at a young age, Tristan has continued to inspire and motivate those who cross his path. Whether through his business, at local charities, or supporting youth through mentorship, this Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2024 nominee is empowering the Deaf community, and its allies, across Canada.

As a shy youngster, Tristan learned how to come out of his shell and find his voice at the Sign Language Summer Program (SLSP) run by Silent Voice Canada. The annual day camp operates entirely in American Sign Language (ASL) and provides a fun and supportive environment for youth who are Deaf, hard of hearing, children of Deaf adults (CODA), and their siblings. For Kong, the camp was a life-changing experience that highlighted the impact positive Deaf role models and mentorship can have on youth. It was the beginning of a lifelong journey to provide that same opportunity for others. 

“Giving back to the Deaf community is deeply meaningful to me as my success and who I am today wouldn’t have been possible without the support I received from the Deaf community, and I am so grateful for that,” shared Tristan. “I believe it’s now my turn to pay it forward, offering support and opportunities to the next generation.”

Building on his transformative experience at SLSP, Tristan has continued to support Silent Voice Canada in various capacities. In addition to their summer program, Silent Voice Canada supports Deaf and hard of hearing children and adults, and their family members, with services that include immigration integration support, after-school programs, language education for individuals and professionals, and provisions of food and necessities for a population that faces chronic underemployment and societal barriers. 

Today, Tristan supports their efforts through directed donations, social media and marketing support, presentations, and as a public advocate for the organization. He was also a key sponsor and supporter of Silent Voice hosting the Canada Deaf Games in 2024, bringing Deaf athletes from across the country to Toronto to compete and vie for spots in the Pan American Games for the Deaf and the Deaflympics. His brokerage also sponsored the games.

“Canada Deaf Games is important because it allows Deaf athletes to be recognized and compete in an accessible way that they don't have the opportunity to if they were competing strictly with athletes who aren't Deaf,” shared Tristan.

Tristan’s commitment to the Deaf community extends beyond Silent Voice Canada. East of Toronto, at Durham Deaf Services (DDS), he is equally dedicated to the senior population and the small but impactful agency that is at the heart of the Durham Deaf community. Tristan began volunteering for the organization by providing workshops to seniors in ASL on a host of real estate topics. For many, this was the first time they had heard real estate information in their first language, providing a more secure and sound understanding of how they could utilize their properties to best support themselves and their families in the future. The success and impact of the program led Kong to accept a position on the Board of Directors and later the role of President, supporting the organization’s move to a new and safer location and helping build its strategic growth plan.

“Tristan is a key player on the Durham Deaf Services board,” shared fellow board member Connie Russell. “Nowadays it’s challenging to get younger people involved in their communities, Tristan stands as a role model and shows the importance of volunteerism and giving back to your community. Hopefully, future generations will see that and follow his example.”

The onset of the pandemic brought new challenges, particularly for Deaf seniors who relied on in-person communication and had little experience with technology. DDS was forced to close its physical programming, leaving many seniors isolated with little to no ability to communicate with grocery stores and pharmacies for necessities. To help keep them safe and informed, Kong began translating COVID-19 protocols and health guidelines into ASL. At the same time, thanks to the support of donors and board members like Tristan, DDS staff began delivering adaptive technology to seniors’ homes, helping them learn to use it, and connecting them back to the wider community.

In addition to his direct work with local charities, Tristan focuses on supporting the Deaf Ecosystem, a term that describes investment in Deaf-owned and operated businesses, professionals, and schools. Having experienced firsthand the barriers that Deaf job seekers face in finding traditional employment opportunities within the hearing community, Tristan works with other Deaf business owners to mentor them through the experience of building a client base. He uses his social media platform as a REALTOR® to promote their work and grow their business. He also hires and contracts within the Ecosystem, building a better business community and helping with poverty reduction in the process.

“It was really touching for Tristan to post about my business,” shared Dallas Boyd-Zagozdzon, owner of Zago Creations “It's been a difficult journey for me, and one that was filled with a lot of doubts. Seeing that Tristan was willing to share the word about my business and help me achieve success as a business owner really meant a lot to me.”

If there’s a REALTOR® in your community whose commitment to their community reminds you of Tristan, nominate them at REALTORSCare.ca/nominate by December 1, 2025 at midnight Eastern so they can be in the running for the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2025 Proudly Presented by REALTOR.ca! In honour of 10 years of celebrating REALTOR® impact, CREA has doubled the donation that the recipient’s charity of choice receives to $10,000 and the winner and their charity will be announced in April  2025 at their AGM.

REALTORS Care® Spotlight shares stories of how featured nominees the Canadian Real Estate Association’s Canadian REALTORS Care® Award are working to make their communities a better place for all.

This week's guest blog is brought to you by Ghazi Abid. He believes education and art can change the world, which is why he is a practitioner of both. With experience in teaching, curriculum design and career development, Ghazi loves working with students from all age groups. As a newcomer to Canada, he is enjoying the pursuit of my varied hobbies: reading, biking, playing soccer and volunteering. To connect with Ghazi you can look for him on LinkedIn or Substack. 

She was hunched over me closely inspecting my every move and even though I sensed some doubt emanating from her demeanor, the air of hope was much stronger. I continued diligently, my latex gloves now torn from the friction generated by the wrench I held. I wrestled with the frequent thoughts of failure and subsequent shame which put my sweat glands into overdrive in the industrious yet warm confines of Bike Root. “Oh wow, you did it, he did it!”, she exclaimed and gently patted my back as I straightened and pointed towards the stand I had just installed on the frame of her bike. She was motioning for Tom, the actual mechanic, to come and see the job I had done which she had felt was impossible to do herself. As I marveled at the work I had done, having no experience as a mechanic, I felt as if I was standing on a podium in front of a crowd of loving supporters. She immediately tested the newly installed stand, her eyes gleaming with joy. I could tell it meant so much to her because she had earlier mentioned how difficult it had been to keep her bike upright as she struggled with a loss of dexterity that comes with old age. I have ever since forgotten her name, but never will I forget that one cold winter evening, in a small workshop in a tiny corner of the world a fledgling immigrant from Pakistan brought joy to a stranger just by volunteering a moment of his time.  

This week we are excited to feature guest blog writer; Lori Gotlieb. She is the founder of Lori Gotlieb Consulting as well as Co-developer and faculty for Humber College Volunteer Management Leadership Certificate. Lori is a well-respected author and subject matter expert and continues to challenge the boundaries of volunteerism to creatively engage communities with non-profit organizations and associations.To connect with Lori check out her website.

The following are some helpful tips for off boarding volunteers.

Develop a clear offboarding policy: Establish a standardized process for offboarding volunteers, which includes steps such as notification, exit interviews and post-departure follow-up. 

Communication: Notify the volunteer about their offboarding in a timely manner and provide the reason for their departure if applicable. 

Exit interviews: Conduct an exit interview with the volunteer to gather feedback on their experience, identify areas for improvement and learn about their reasons for leaving. 

Show gratitude:  Take the time to acknowledge the volunteer’s contributions. Whether you’re celebrating them at your annual meeting, hosting a farewell event or simply sending a personalized thank-you note. 

Knowledge transfer: Ensure that the volunteer’s knowledge, skills, and experiences are documented and passed on. This is also a great opportunity to establish a mentorship opportunity for your incoming volunteers. 

Reassignment opportunities: Of course, just because they’re no longer in a specific role, that doesn’t mean they’re out of the organization. Offering alternative volunteer opportunities can help re-engage your departing volunteers and avoid those hard feelings.   

Things to consider:

Is there an opportunity to engage the volunteer in mentorship or coaching new volunteers?

Is there an opportunity to engage the volunteer in special projects. 

Are there opportunities to acknowledge the volunteer in a public forum (award nomination, impact stories for publications)

Have you provided and/or reviewed the following:

Opportunity to provide feedback through exit survey or interview.

Letter of appreciation and/or certificate of appreciation 

Final review and knowledge transfer

Informed appropriate volunteers/staff of exit. 

Volunteer Managers play a pivotal role in connecting volunteers with meaningful opportunities. Join Volunteer Alberta and Alberta Blue Cross in celebrating International Volunteer Manager Day (Nov 5), by nominating yourself or a Volunteer Manager who should be recognized in your community to receive a $10 coffee card! Let's raise our (coffee) cups together and shine a light on the impact that Volunteer Managers bring to our communities. While we will prioritize nominations for those who didn’t receive a coffee card last year, we encourage everyone to participate—every Volunteer Manager deserves recognition, so don’t hesitate to nominate someone special, even if you think they’ve already been honoured!

Terms & Eligibility: 
- Must be a volunteer manager or coordinator (or equivalent) for an organization or grassroots group in Alberta. We recognize that there are informal ways of volunteering, or that what you do may not be called volunteering depending on cultures, languages etc. Our only requirement is that the nominee supports or organizes a group of people who give back to the community in some way. 

-Deadline for nomination is November 11, 2024. 
- Those nominated can only receive 1 gift card. 

Fill out the nomination form here. 

We love to use this space to give an extra shout out to organizations doing cool work! Food security is a cause that is important to most communities across the country. Especially in the cost-of-living crisis. Food Banks hold a critical space in that work. Food Banks BC is currently looking for several board members. What we like about this opportunity is the clear effort to seek out people who are reflective of the community across the province of British Columbia. Many people often self-select out of board roles because they do not feel qualified, but the voices are critical to centring the actual needs of the people organizations serve. If you are interested in that work and have lived experience in food insecurity or poverty, check them out! 

The holiday season is just around the corner, with that is some long nights and some very short days. The thing that breaks up this time for all of us are dazzling lights. The Burlington Festival of Lights has been a destination for residents of Burlington and beyond for twenty-nine years! If the light life is for you over the holiday season, have a look at their opportunity. What we love about this opportunity; the title “Twinkle Patrol” AMAZING! We adore a unique title. The other thing we love about this opportunity is that the organization has identified this role is good for families, groups and youth! An awesome and festive opportunity. 

Young Politicians of Canada is a national, non-partisan, non-profit youth-led organization based in Toronto. There are elections in the air across the country and we love the idea of supporting youth engaging in the democratic process and the shifts that can happen in our society when people lean into their civic responsibility! You can check out their opportunity here.