36th Edition
March 2019
Making it Work with Volunteers
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derstood, the quantitative impact of the colBy Barbra Fairclough The contributions of volunteers is inte- lective work that in many cases is otherwise gral to our economy. unseen or unrecognized. Using conservative assumptions, the sizThese numbers sound impressive. In our able work effort that Canadians put into vol- rural communities, volunteerism can have a unteering would add nearly $56 billion to significant role so how do we work with the GDP (in current dollars) in 2017. This volunteers to make sure we can foster enrepresents about 2.6 per cent of Canada’s thusiasm and continuing interest in local oreconomic activity. (The Conference Board ganizations? of Canada, The Value of Volunteering in Hilary Brown, President at the Cedar Canada April 2018) Heights Community Association, which opIn British Columbia, 1.5 million BC erates programs at the Cedar Centre, shared volunteers contribute a little about 114 million hours a how they year to better commumake it work nities all across the when it province. That’s comes to hirequivalent to 60,000 ing volunfull-time jobs. teers. (Volunteer BC) Brown says The Cedar Centre the work of is located at 2316 volunteers Lakeview Drive in who run the Blind Bay and has programs is over 100 volunteers. done at the They offer a wide arcommittee Helping with grounds beautification ‘Brians Rock Band’ ray of programs and level and volL to R: Lorraine McCulloch, Nancy Waddington, Brian events for the commuunteer posiWaddington (guitar); Kim Cooper, Glenn Smith with Larry McGilvray on bucket duty. nity and with 8761 tions have Photo Credit: Sheila Armstrong hours logged by volroles and reunteers in 2017, it is sponsibilities easy to see the impact this work can have that are described in a volunteer job descripwithin the community. tion. Along with an orientation, volunteers On an equivalent basis the work done by get the confidence and clarity to work comvolunteers at the Cedar Centre contributes fortably within that role. They are encour$236,547 to the economy in Blind Bay/ aged to take responsibility. Sorrento area. Putting dollar amounts to this (Continued on page 3) work, brings into terms that are easily un-