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This week, we welcome guest blog writer Saumya Colgan. Saumya is a high school senior born in Scotland with Irish and Indian origins. She has been volunteering since she was seven and is currently a Wayfinder at Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. In 2023, she volunteered in the Dominican Republic as part of a global health initiative, creating sustainable structures and offering basic healthcare to communities. 

When I was younger, I read a book called Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McLeod. It describes how everyone has an invisible bucket to hold good thoughts and feelings. The book is meant to teach kids how to be kind to others and "fill their buckets," but I believe that it is a good metaphor for human interactions. As a volunteer, I strive to fill others' buckets and often find that mine gets filled too. Whenever I reflect on this concept, a particular memory surfaces. It was a cold winter day, and I had just returned to my post. I was smiling at everyone walking past me when suddenly, a woman stopped in her tracks, looked at me, and said: "Thank you for your smile." This fleeting moment filled my bucket and reminded me why I volunteer.  We don't always know what others are carrying. They might feel lonely, unseen or have faced bad news. A smile, a simple yet powerful tool, can fill others' buckets and serve as a friendly reminder that warmth and positivity still exist in the world. Although volunteers have a formal purpose, I believe our job is to brighten environments. Volunteering is unique because it isn't a paid position, meaning everyone has chosen to show up every day. Even when things feel a bit slow, I have never ended a shift in a bad mood. I've had difficult moments, but I've learned from them and view them as chances to fill others' buckets. Volunteering is and has always been one of the highlights of my life. Throughout the years, I have had many opportunities to forge invaluable human connections. These connections, built on the foundation of kindness, make volunteering truly special. Volunteers are bucket fillers, the silent contributors who make the world a little brighter. 

VolunteerConnector hosted our AGM on Wednesday, June 18. The event featured a panel discussion with wonderful panelist under the topic of "Volunteer and Inclusive Access: How Volunteer Systems Can Evolve to Welcome and Support Everyone" featuring James Stauch, Ariba Dara, and Heather Johnson. This panel discussion explored how volunteer systems can be reimagined to promote greater inclusivity and equitable access, ensuring that individuals from diverse backgrounds and abilities are meaningfully engaged and supported. Through critical dialogue and evidence-based insights, panelists examined systemic barriers and proposed innovative frameworks for inclusive volunteer engagement. 

The key takeaways from the speakers were to meet people where they are at- if that means embracing their availability or unique skill sets then that is what organizations should do. Another suggestion was for organizations and people who engage volunteers to consider how they are framing and creating position descriptions to ensure that people in community are not self selecting out. Finally, embrace people's intersectionality and identity. Humans who come forward to volunteer are full and beautiful people who come with varied skills and life experiences. They are what make organizations great. 

This week are excited to welcome guest blog writer Thanishka. Thanishka is a passionate storyteller and creator, always seeking ways to connect with others through words. Writing has been a lifelong love, from crafting stories to song lyrics and poems. Thanishka thrives on exploring new ideas and expressing themselves in creative ways that resonate with people.

I remember being 12 years old and nervously tying my shoes before heading out the door. It was my first time volunteering, just a small afternoon at a local event. I didn’t really know what to expect. I just knew I wanted to do something that made a difference, even if it was small. The world felt too big sometimes, and I was still figuring out how I fit into it.

When I got there, the room was warm, full of chatter, clinking spoons, and friendliness. I was asked to hand out drinks. Simple, right? But somehow, it felt like more. People smiled. Said thank you. One guy told me about his day. Someone else complimented my hoodie. Another asked if I liked tea or coffee better, and we got into this whole random debate about it.

At the time, I thought I was just pouring juice.

But it wasn’t really about the juice. It was about presence. About being there. Letting myself be seen on more than a physical level. I was just a kid still trying to figure things out, and somehow, I felt like I mattered in that space.

Since then, I’ve done other things, like packing hygiene kits, tutoring kids in math, and once I even helped design posters for a food drive. But I always go back to that first time. It wasn’t fancy or impressive, but it stuck with me. I think that’s the thing with volunteering, it sneaks up on you. You think you’re helping others, and somehow you end up being helped too.

This week we welcome a guest blogger from Calgary. Sabiha lives in Calgary, just near the Bow River where she enjoys listening to a good audiobook while taking in the teal colours of the water.

I got into volunteering during my first year of college, initially on the advice of a mentor. As an inexperienced student, I was told that volunteering would enhance my resume. At the time, I didn’t have any goals beyond that. The mentor recommended The Yellow Door, as a potential organization in Montreal, which supports elderly members of the community. 

When I started, I didn’t realize how deeply the experience would impact my life, and not just my resume. I became a friendly visitor to a retired nurse who lived alone. Although her son visited regularly, she was looking for company on other days to go for coffee or walks. Until then, most of my social circle had consisted of people my own age. Growing up, my grandparents either lived abroad or had passed away, so I had little experience interacting closely with the older generation. 

Spending time with the retired nurse opened my eyes to the wisdom, resilience, and insight that comes with age. I especially enjoyed listening to her stories about being a working mother and wife, experiences that would become relevant to me only a few years later. Real life, human connections like these are invaluable. Listening to my new companion’s challenges, successes, and life lessons helped me reflect on my own values and make more informed decisions. Interacting with my senior companion has had a calming effect. The older generation is less distracted and less in a rush. They’ve mastered the art of living and listening. 

More than anything, volunteering made me pause and reflect on what truly matters in life. I started out, thinking I was simply giving back to the community, but I gained so much more. After every visit, the sense of meaning and appreciation I felt far outweighed the small amount of time I was giving. 

Since moving to Calgary, I’ve continued volunteering with seniors through Bethany Senior Care and the Calgary Seniors Resource Society. These ongoing experiences have only further enriched my life. The elderly in our community are often an underserved population. Many of them have contributed to society in their younger years and supporting them now is a way of bringing life full circle. 

Volunteering with seniors started as a resume booster, but it has become a lifelong journey of growth and gratitude of the human experience.

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.