Volunteerism is undeniably a core component of a healthy British Columbia. 1.5 million BC volunteers contribute 114 million hours a year to better communities all across the province. That’s equivalent to 60,000 full-time jobs. This volunteer force (combined with the 147,000 paid staff that work in the over 20,000 BC nonprofit and voluntary organizations) makes the voluntary sector one of the largest social and economic drivers in the province, generating $11 billion in annual revenues.

For over 30 years, Volunteer BC has been the provincial leader in promoting the value and impact of volunteerism and enhancing the abilities of volunteer-involving organizations. Volunteer BC mobilizes the collaborative spirit, expertise and energy of all participants in the volunteerism movement to build a better British Columbia.

(Statistics from the 2003 National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations, Statistics Canada.)

Our Network

The Volunteer BC membership includes two strong and expansive networks that are at the centre of all aspects of the volunteer experience and that are capable of reaching almost every volunteer in the province.

Over 30 volunteer centres province wide form our primary network. They are local catalysts of community involvement, act as clearinghouses of resources to connect individuals to volunteer opportunities, and provide support to local and grassroots organizations in involving volunteers.

Volunteer BC is also a founder of the Voluntary Organizations Consortium of BC (VOCBC) – convening network with a broad membership, provincial and national connections, and extensive knowledge of the sector. Consortium members (over 30 organizations and counting) are provincial in scope and involve volunteers in a variety of areas, including sport, recreation, the arts, health, education, and social services, to name a few.