Volunteer at Canuck Place
As a Canuck Place volunteer, you help families create lasting memories. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Without this dedicated group, we couldn’t provide the exceptional care and comfort families count on.
Canuck Place volunteers support us in a range of ways. From baking cookies to helping a child with a craft project, they ensure short lives are lived to the fullest.
We are not actively recruiting new volunteers at this time. Volunteer recruitment will resume in Spring 2025. Please check back closer to that time for updates on how to join our volunteer team.
Garden Volunteers
- Lovingly maintain our grounds and beautiful gardens—places of joy and tranquility for children and families while in hospice
- Must be able to manage light to moderate physical labour—year-round and in all types of weather
Garden Volunteer shifts are every other Saturday at Canuck Place Vancouver – Glen Brae from 10 am. to approximately 3 p.m. (Approximately 3–4 hour shifts)
Family Volunteers
- Work alongside the clinical care team to enhance the quality of life of a child with a progressive, life-threatening condition, and support their family
- Keep children company during activities: in the school room, working with arts and crafts, and on community outings. They provide general support for the child and family
- Provide mentorship, guidance, and support to newer volunteers
- Must complete a Canuck Place 25-hour training program (offered once a year), and then commit for a minimum of 1 year of weekly or bi-weekly shifts
Family Volunteer shifts are available morning, afternoon, and evenings, seven days a week. (Approximately 3–4 hour shifts)
Peer Volunteers
- Support Family Volunteers and our professional care teams
- Provide general companionship to children by reading aloud, doing arts and crafts, playing computer games, etc.
- Work closely with the siblings of in-house children
- Assist clinical staff in running errands
- Must complete a 4-hour Canuck Place training program, and then commit for a minimum of 1 year of weekly or bi-weekly shifts
Peer Volunteer shifts are available morning, afternoon, and evenings, seven days a week. (Approximately 3–4 hour shifts)
Kitchen Volunteers
- Play a huge part in creating and maintaining a warm and welcoming place that provides families with the comforts of home
- Provide support to kitchen staff by assisting with baking, meal preparation, and clean-up of kitchen and dining room areas
- Must have Food Safe Level I Certification and a current Hepatitis A Vaccination
Kitchen Volunteer shifts vary depending on the need but are typically between 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. seven days a week. (Approximately 3–4 hour shifts)
Office Reception Volunteers
- Provide a pleasant, articulate first contact for guests, visitors, and callers to Canuck Place
- Perform office support as needed
- Assist the full-time receptionist with reception and switchboard duties during evenings and weekends.
Reception Volunteer shifts are Monday-Friday, 5-8 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, Stat Holidays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 5 p.m.-8 p.m. and on an as needed basis during weekdays. (Approximately 3–4 hour shifts)
Special Event Volunteer
Special Event Volunteers play a crucial role in helping us organize and execute various special events and fundraisers. Specific responsibilities vary depending on the nature of the event. Time commitment varies depending on the event
Housekeeping Volunteers
- Support the Housekeeping team by assisting with various light cleaning tasks to ensure a high standard of infection, prevention, and control
Housekeeping Volunteer shifts can vary, but are typically morning and afternoons on weekdays. (Approximately 3–4 hour shifts)
Maintenance Volunteers
- Provide support to the Grounds and Maintenance team by assisting with various projects around the hospice
Maintenance shifts vary according to need. (Approximately 3–4 hour shifts)
