- Volunteer Abbotsford
- Volunteer Burnaby
- Volunteer Campbell River
- Volunteer Chilliwack
- Community Volunteer Connections
- Volunteer Resource Centre
- Deltassist Family and Community Services
- Volunteer Cowichan
- Volunteer Langley
- North Shore Community Resources Society
- Volunteer Nanaimo
- Volunteer Prince George
- Oceanside Volunteer Centre
- Volunteer Richmond
- Volunteer Saltspring
- Sunshine Coast Volunteer and Info Centre
- Smithers Volunteer Centre
- Squamish Volunteer Bureau
- Surrey Community Volunteer Services
- Volunteer Victoria
- Volunteer BC
- Volunteer Vancouver
Experience More Volunteerism
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Be part of the community and volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to develop experience that will help you with your career development and can be one of the most fulfilling experiences of your life. There are many organizations that desperately need volunteers, and many organizations that want to see volunteer experience on a resumé.
Volunteer experience is an asset that most employers look for on a resumé besides your education and employment background. By demonstrating your ability to adapt to a new work environment and effectively communicate with your fellow co-workers to potential employers, you will greatly increase your chances of finding employment.
Some other employable skills you can gain through your volunteer experience are:
- Communication skills — oral written
- Professional network of contacts
- Personal satisfaction from helping others
- Personal management — positive attitude and behavior
- Responsibility — punctuality, attendance, and time management
- Industry experience
- Independence and teamwork
Best practices for volunteering
Finding the right opportunity
Thinking about where you might have the best volunteer position begins with considering the following:
- How much time am I able to commit?
- Would I like a long‐term or temporary position?
- Would I like to work on my own or with other people?
- What are the skills, interests and experiences that I would like to share?
- What experience am I looking to gain?
- What are the areas I would like to focus on? What issues in the community do I see as critical? (ie. poverty, homelessness, education)?
Next steps
Once you have found a suitable volunteer position, contact the organization and ask the volunteer manager some questions to get a better understanding of the position:
- Is there a written position description?
- Who does the position report to?
- How many staff and volunteers are within the organization?
- What training and/or orientation would I receive?
- Is there opportunity for advancement or more challenge in the future?
- How will I be evaluated?
- Can I have a reference from one of your current volunteers?
- Will my personal expenses be reimbursed? Are volunteers covered by an insurance plan?
- What is the screening process for your volunteers?
Responsibilities as a volunteer
Once you’ve obtained a volunteer position, consider some of the following responsibilities:
- Be reliable and punctual
- If you cannot meet your commitment, be courteous and inform the organization
- Attend all pertinent training sessions
- Keep all information confidential
- Familiarize yourself with policies and procedures of the organization
- Be responsible as the organization relies on you
Volunteer centre locations
Find the right internship for you
Internships are a great way to find work in a professional setting. Employers benefit from an enthusiastic worker and the employee gains invaluable first-hand experience. Internships can be paid or unpaid, but regardless, it is a beneficial opportunity to learn new skills and make connections within your field of work.
Association Quebecoise des Organisms de Cooperation International
Building on the strength of its network, AQOCI work to eradicate the causes of poverty and to build a world based on principles of justice, inclusion, equality and respect for human rights.
Campus Access
Campus Access is a comprehensive resource for university and college students seeking information about careers, internships, and student life.
Canada World Youth
Canada World Youth offers world-renowned international volunteer programs to youth from Canada and abroad who, through their participation in community-driven development projects, acquire the leadership skills that allow them to become agents of change.
Canadian Co-operative Association
Working with local partner organizations, the Canadian Co-operative Association aims to establish and grow co-operatives internationally to build a better world.
Canadian Society for International Health
The Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH) is a national non-governmental organization that works domestically and internationally to reduce global health inequities and strengthen health systems.
CARE Canada
CARE is a leading international humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE works with the poorest communities in 90 countries. CARE has many objectives, a few being to improve basic health and education, provide food security, and increase access to clean water and sanitation.
CECI: Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation
CECI advocates for economic development, food security, human security and emergency response and gender equality. They offer training, volunteer positions, and more.
CECI: Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation
Chantiers Jeunesse
Encouraging young adults from Canada and overseas to engage with the world. Since 1980, it has supported young people empowerment and local community development. The organization enables the personal development of our volunteers by giving them rewarding experiences in a spirit of solidarity, respect of differences, sharing and openness.
Charity Village
Charity Village is well-known for its listing of employment opportunities (under Jobs) in the non-profit sector, listings of volunteer organizations around the world and more.
Coach Association of Canada
The goal is to enhance the experiences of all Canadian athletes through quality coaching.
Crossroads International
Crossroads International works to create a more equitable and sustainable world by engaging and strengthening individuals, organizations and communities through mutual learning, solidarity and collective action.
Engineers Without Borders
Challenging and investing in each other to continuously learn to create systematic change together.
Global Visions International Careers Abroad
Internship opportunities in the areas of wildlife conservation, teaching, community development. Marine conservation, art and animal care.
Government of Canada International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)
IYIP provides Canadian youth with the tools and experience they need to launch successful careers. This program is designed for post-secondary graduates between the ages of 19-30.
Government of Canada International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)
Government of Canada International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI)
The International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI) initiative provides opportunities for Aboriginal youth to participate in international internships in developing countries.
Government of Canada International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI)
Horizon Cosmopolite
By participating in an internship, an exchange, or studying abroad, you can begin to discover other cultures, learn new languages, acquire new skills, and gain work experience in a specific field.
IAESTE Canada
Enabling students, volunteers and employers to gain international work experience through partnerships with Canadian universities.
InterExchange
Uniting people through international exchange, InterExchange offers Au Pair, work and travel, and internship positions around the world.
InternWeb
Provides a database of internships which can be searched for by field or type of employer. Positions are mostly within the USA.
Idealist
Idealist seeks to connect people who want to do good in the world with opportunities for action and collaboration. It provides internships, volunteer opportunities and more.
Mines Action Canada
Young Professionals (YPs) work in diverse environments to build the capacity of international partners and gain valuable career-related work experience. The program is based on a Five-month overseas placements with a focus on the international movement to ban landmines and cluster munitions.
Natural Resources Canada
Gain valuable experience in your chosen field and apply technical skills learned from school.
Parliament of Canada
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to gain practical work experience in the policy and legislative process of Canada's Parliament.
Placement Etudiant (Emploi Quebec)
This site contains information about finding a job within the Quebec public service in municipalities and private companies.
Sciences Horizons Youth Intership Program
Internship opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics related to the environment.
Smithsonian
Learning experiences guided by a mentor, occurring during a specific time frame, which provide benefits relating to an intern’s education, coursework, or career goals.
United Nations Association of Canada
The International Development & Diplomacy Internship Programme (IDDIP). These internships provide successful applicants with invaluable, demanding, deeply meaningful work experience, as well as a proven bridge to employment.
Washington Centre for Internships
Learn about the three components of our Washington, D.C. academic internship program that will help you bridge the gap between college and your professional future: the internship, the LEAD Colloquium, and the academic course.
World Literacy of Canada
With wide-ranging internships, this volunteer internship opportunity provides Canadians with flexible and tailor-made work placements at our Varanasi, India office. All internships provide a full immersion into program and policies, marketing and fundraising, and “hands on” learning on international development and global citizenship.
World University Service of Canada (WUSC)
WUSC is working to create a world where all young people can grow up in safe, secure and supportive environments, where they can learn, work and play a vital role in their country’s development. WUSC works - with partners - to strengthen education systems, expand employment opportunities, and improve lives.
Young Canada Works
Young Canada Works sponsors two internship programs for unemployed or underemployed college or university graduates.