Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, build a sense of community, and make the world a better place! However, it can be discouraging when you have to hunt around, trying to find the right opportunities for you. Luckily, we’ve done all the digging for you! In this newsletter, you will find service opportunities for YOU to make a difference here in Vancouver.
Snow Angels
During wintertime, heavy snowfall means that mobility becomes restricted for many seniors in the Vancouver area. Oftentimes, a build-up of snow makes it increasingly difficult for senior citizens to access the driveways /paths in front of their homes. This is especially true for those with disabilities or illnesses.
If you are interested in giving back to your community and helping those in need this winter, the Snow Angels volunteer program is perfect for you!
Starting the first of December, Snow Angels will be assigned to a senior resident(s) to shovel snow for. Most likely, your assigned person will live in/near your general area. Snow Angels are required to bring their own shovels for shovelling snow in front of driveways and paths. Salt will be provided.
Becoming a Snow Angel is a fantastic way to lend a helping hand during the holiday season! Those who are interested in this volunteer opportunity can request to be a Snow Angel by calling 604-925-7288 (phone is open everyday between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM) or by emailing nowangels@westvancouver.ca
Become a Snow Angel today!
Harmony Arts Festival
The Harmony Arts Festival is a 10-day community-oriented celebration for visual arts, along with culinary, performing, and literary arts. If you are interested in making this Festival the best experience possible for everyone, then volunteering for the Harmony Arts Festival is perfect for you!
For 10 days starting from August 2-11, 2024, over 150 volunteers will be assigned to help support visual exhibitions, kids programs, information booths, performance stages, beverage sales and more.
This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in art, cooking, helping out in the community, or just have extra time to spend! For those interested in their website, the website link is just to the right of the page.
NSEM
The North Shore Emergency Management (NSEM) is an agency that provides emergency management services for the City of North Vancouver, and Districts of North and West Vancouver. The NSEM offers opportunities to help support residents when they need it most. So if you are interested in giving back to the community, and impact the lives of residents in need, then this is the perfect opportunity for you!
Committing to volunteering for the NSEM can vary from self-paced work to on-call rotations, to fit all schedules. The possible opportunities include: emergency planning and response support to community outreach. When volunteering, you also receive free training and to be part of a dynamic community.
Becoming a volunteer for the NSEM is a perfect way to build your resume and help people in need. Those who are interested and are over 16 can visit the NSEM’s website, linked to the right of the page, for the requirements and to apply as a volunteer.
Love West Van
West Vancouver has some of the most biodiverse natural areas in the region that provide us with clean air, fresh drinking water and amazing recreational opportunities. But with increasing pressures on our environment, protecting and enhancing natural assets is vital for long-term sustainability.
Environmental stewardship is about caring for our natural assets. The District of West Vancouver staff and local stewardship groups lead many stewardship initiatives. There are plenty of ways for you to get involved!
Specifically, the Love West Van organization has various District initiatives where you can get involved in helping the sustainability of our planet right here in Vancouver! Two of the main initiatives inside the Love West Van organization are Love West Van Parks and Love West Van Shorelines.
The Love West Van Parks volunteer opportunity allows you to meet like-minded Vancouverites who also are passionate about sustainability and the future of our planet as well as enhance and restore Vancouver’s natural beauty, specifically in parks. Some of the things you can do as a Love West Van Parks volunteer include removing invasive plant species, tree canopy and forest habitat protection, creek management for fish and wildlife, and habitat box installations for bees and bats. Volunteers for this initiative must be 14 years or older, and volunteers must be comfortable with working outdoors in various weather conditions.
If you are interested in protecting biodiversity, restoring nature, and working towards sustainability, Love West Van Parks is a great place to go! To become a volunteer, you can contact Volunteer Services at the number 604-913-2703 or by emailing volunteer@westvacouver.ca.
If you do not want to fully commit yet, drop-ins are always welcome. Before dropping into a Love West Van Parks event, please be sure to contact 604-925-7275 or email parks@westvancouver.ca (Note: It is very important to contact before dropping in so that organizers know how much equipment, such as gloves and tools, needs to be brought!)
The second opportunity offered by Love West Van is the Love West Van Shorelines initiative. This initiative mainly focuses on cleanups, whether they be beach, river, creek, or even storm drain cleanups. Not only is this an important and impactful way to help protect marine wildlife and prevent waste/pollution of our waterways, but it is also a great way to meet like-minded people and build new relationships.
Every cleanup team, whether big or small, can help to prevent many tons of trash from ending up in our oceans, rivers, and creeks. All equipment needed for these cleanups is provided (gloves, tools, trash bags, etc.)
For more information or to sign up for a beach cleanup, contact the number 604-925-7132 or email spenner@westvancouver.ca