National Volunteer Week is the biggest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in this country.
The Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington uses this opportunity to highlight the contribution of our community volunteers and to thank and recognize their efforts. From media releases and promotion to running free events for volunteers and awards programs to honour individuals and groups, the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington is well prepared for this week of celebrations.
National Volunteer Week was first proclaimed in 1943. In Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver, Women’s Voluntary Services organized special events to draw the public’s attention to the vital contribution women were making to the war effort on the home front. In the late 1960s, the idea of a designated week to honour volunteers was revived and the focus was broadened to include all community volunteers. With local community organizations taking the lead, National Volunteer Week promotions and celebrations continue to grow.
Why celebrate? From coast to coast, volunteers strengthen our communities. They serve on boards and committees, mentor peers, organize cultural and recreational activities, support the elderly, provide shelter, counsel youth, clean parks, coach teams, read to children, and so much more. Volunteers do the work they do because they believe in causes, equal opportunities, clean, healthy and safe community spaces, active living and helping others.
The Universal Declaration of Volunteering of 2001, states that “Volunteering is a fundamental building block of civil society. It brings to life the noblest aspirations of humankind – pursuit of peace, freedom, opportunity, safety, and justice for all people.”
Volunteers aspire to make life better for others and we honour them for doing so. Highlights from the National Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (2000) include:
– volunteers come from all walks of life and represent a wide cross section of the Canadian population;
– 50% of Ontarians volunteer (aged 15 and older);
– 4.5% of Canadians who volunteer contributed to 52% of total volunteer hours in 2004;
– an average Ontario volunteer contributes 162 hours per year volunteering;
– of the 47% of Canadians who volunteer 47% are interested in organizing events; 46% fundraise; 36% are board/committee members; 30% teaching, educating or mentoring; 26% counselling or providing advice; 25% serving and delivering food; 25% office work; 20% driving; 19% providing health care or support; 19% coaching, refereeing or officiating; 18% maintenance or repair; 16% conservation or environmental protection; 15% canvassing; 10% unspecified activities and 7% first-aid, fire-fighting or search and rescue.
Although there have been no studies specific to volunteering statistics in Guelph/Wellington, the National Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (2000) can be used to generate local information. In the 2006 Census the combined population of the City of Guelph and and Wellington County is listed as 200,435 (114,943 for Guelph, 85,482 for the county). So if 50% of Ontarians volunteer (aged 15 and older), then approximately 100,218 residents of Guelph and Wellington County volunteer.
The Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington has a mandate to serve the geographic area of the County of Wellington and the City of Guelph. With approximately 1,000 square miles and a total population of 200,425, the organization estimates that there are hundreds of non-profit and charitable organizations serving this community. For more information visit the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington, at www.volunteerguelphwellington.on.ca or Volunteer Canada at www.volunteer.ca or Canada Volunteerism Initiative – Ontario at www.volunteer.on.ca.
Source: www.volunteerguelphwellington.on.ca
