Volunteering in Canada

• Volunteering can help you to stay productive, maintain skills you already have, and expose you to new learning opportunities. It is a chance to gain valuable transferable skills that will be useful for your career advancement, including communication, leadership, interpersonal, management, and problem solving skills.
• Volunteering can help you understand your likes, dislikes, strengths, and passions, which in turn gives you insights that you can apply to your future job search and career planning.
• Volunteering is also a great way for you to gain experience in a Canadian workplace, as well as experience related to your field or industry, which can be helpful for future employment.
• Volunteering is also an opportunity to expand your social network, which can benefit both your personal and career advancement.
• Volunteering can help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and social isolation.

The options for volunteering are endless, but here are some examples depending on the area you want to gain experience in:

• Leadership – e.g., serve on a Board or Committee with a non-profit organization or with the college’s student association (CCSAI), chair a fundraising campaign, assist with organizing an event at Centennial.
• Management and administration – e.g., coordinate volunteers for an event, provide general office support for a non-profit organization or at Centennial.
• Technology and social media – e.g., design a website for a non-profit organization, write a blog on affordable housing, teach computer skills in a community centre.
• Building and handicrafts – e.g., help with building a home through Habitat for Humanity, sew costumes for a school play.
• Nature and environment – e.g., walk a dog for a local animal shelter, plant vegetables in a community garden.
• Education & One-to-one support – e.g., be a peer mentor at Centennial, tutor children, become a Big Brother or Big Sister.
• Direct service – e.g., answer phones for a helpline, prepare lunch in a soup kitchen, coach a children’s sports team.
• Healthcare – e.g., providing information to hospital visitors, assisting patients in hospital or senior home, assisting in a hospital gift shop.
• Entertainment – e.g., play a musical instrument at a retirement residence, host a volunteer awards night for a non-profit organization, join a choir that entertains at community events.

See additional examples of volunteering.

Here are some links to begin your search of volunteer opportunities on and off campus.

• Volunteer at Centennial College 
• Global Experience program at Centennial College
• Centennial College Student Association 
• Volunteer Toronto
• Volunteer Canada 
• Charity Village

Generally, it is recommended that you have a resume to apply for a volunteer opportunity. Some organizations will require you to send a resume, while others may just ask you to submit an online application.

The time commitment will vary depending on the activity, the role, or the needs of the organization. Volunteer opportunities can range from one day events to short term positions (less than 3 months) to long term positions (more than 3 months). The weekly commitment will also vary, but can be as little as 1 hour a week.

Find answers to other common questions about volunteering.