Volunteers serve an important role in every community across Canada.
National Volunteer Week in Canada was celebrated from April 19-15.
Every year, organizations and communities honour their volunteers at special gatherings. In many areas in Alberta, the events are hosted by the local Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) organization. However, some FCSS groups didn’t host a volunteer event this year since the provincial FCSS program is currently reviewing and updating its mandates.
Still, it’s a great time to honour and thank volunteers in local communities.
Igniting Volunteerism was the theme for Volunteer Week as a way to highlight the vital contributions of volunteers and promoting volunteer service in the community. The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2026 as the International Volunteer Year to recognize volunteerism as a key driver of sustainable community development.
Be a volunteer – thank a volunteer!
Throughout the year, volunteers do so much to help support people and their communities as individuals or as part of a variety of countless organizations. Without volunteers, organizations and communities can’t survive. In fact, volunteers can help communities thrive.
From young children to seniors, volunteers show their heart, care and love to all they reach in so many ways. It comes from the heart to do something.
Volunteers can serve on their own or for a group such as community organizations, schools, sports and recreation, churches, health services, youth and seniors’ programs and more.
Community events also rely on volunteers. Many of those events raise funds from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars to support a variety of individual, health, recreation, education and community needs, programs, projects and services.
If communities want those projects and the community doesn’t raise funds, municipalities will have to come up with the money and perhaps increase property taxes.
Being a volunteer simply starts by helping a person walk across the street, mowing someone’s lawn or some other act of kindness.
Local organizations are always looking for more volunteers and committed members.
Older generations have been role models for volunteers. Now it’s time for the younger generations to step up.
Being a volunteer has so many benefits to life. By volunteers serving together to help others makes life more meaningful. Volunteering and connecting with others helps people find friendship, develop trust and create relationships. Communities are strengthened by volunteers sharing their time, talent and energy to support one another.
Be a volunteer – thank a volunteer!
Richard Froese