March 2010

A Message from the President
On behalf of Volunteer BC, it gives me great honour to congratulate the extraordinary efforts made by the 25,000 volunteers during the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. These volunteers exhibited the best traits of volunteer action: selflessness, dedication and spirit. They have proven to be an integral part of a very successful Games experience, and they have made our province proud. Volunteer BC promotes excellence in volunteerism, and the Games volunteers have embodied that excellence, serving as an inspiration for others. We at Volunteer BC look forward to seeing that same spirit and energy during the Para-Olympic Games taking place this month. The Games are a time to celebrate not only our athletes, but also all those who volunteer. We hope that the Games will inspire others to volunteer in the sports community, as well as in other sectors: culture, the arts, community development, environment, social development, or in other areas. We hope that Games volunteers will build on their experience and contributions, and continue to serve after the Games. We encourage everyone to seize the momentum of the Games, and connect with their local volunteer centre to find a volunteer opportunity. Our thanks to the volunteers from BC, from Canada, and beyond, who helped to make the Games possible, giving of their time, braving the weather, and doing such an excellent job presenting BC as the welcoming and friendly place we know it to be. We salute you!

- Volunteer BC President Kelina Kwan

December 2009

Volunteer BC wishes our friends and members a wonderful IVD, December 5th!

Since 1985 December 5th has been designated, by the United Nations, as the International Day of the Volunteer. Volunteer BC, the provincial association for volunteer centres, voluntary organizations and volunteers, celebrates along with our province’s community agencies, whose programs and services are made possible by the generous hours given by thousands of BC volunteers every day. “Each year, December 5th serves as a strategic opportunity to recognize the contributions of volunteers, as well as to highlight the need for citizens to take part in volunteering for specific causes. It’s important that we don’t forget that the actions and dedication of volunteers are a key part of achieving environmental change that will help protect our planet,” says Kelina Kwan, president of Volunteer BC. On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, Volunteer BC calls upon all British Columbians to get out and volunteer, and salutes our province’s volunteers and volunteer programs, which give so much to our communities.

October 2009

Volunteer BC Elects New Board of Directors During AGM 2009
We are pleased to announce our new board of directors for the 2009/2010 fiscal year. Please read their bios here, and learn more about our board and recent AGM, where Volunteer BC celebrated its 30th birthday as a non-profit society and charity in BC: download the News Release.

September 2009

Volunteer BC's Volunteer Futures: Building Effective Boards A Success

On September 25th and 26th, 2009, Volunteer BC hosted the first annual Volunteer Futures event at the beautiful Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, BC. Voluntary sector leaders from across the province joined together for a packed weekend of keynote speakers, board development workshops, and a celebration of Volunteer BC's 30th Birthday. A special thanks to our sponsors, workshop presenters, and all attendees for ensuring our event's success!

                            

 

June 2009

Volunteer BC Officially Releases the BC State of Volunteering Report

Volunteer BC is pleased to announce the release of the inaugural BC State of Volunteering Report. The BC State of Volunteering report comprehensively assesses volunteering in BC, giving both a broad view of the health of volunteerism in its many facets, as well as specific experiences and examples from which insights can be drawn from varying local contexts. Copies are also available for download from the official website at www.bcstateofvolunteering.org which includes additional links and resources from Volunteer BC, online discussion forums, and full case studies from participating volunteer centres and more!

Vol BC Launches New Resource Page for New and Emerging Volunteer Centres

Part of our role is to support the growth of the volunteer centre movement in BC. We are often approached by emerging centres or people interested to start a volunteer centre in their community. On this page, we bring together the many resources we recommend in response to such queries, for easy access, as well as some new tools from Vol BC. We welcome further contributions or suggested resources for this page, and feedback on its utility. Click here to visit the new page. 

VRIS and Vol BC Emergencies Planning Training a Success! During March 26-27, 2009, Volunteer Richmond Information Services and Volunteer BC teamed up to train over 20 representatives of the local voluntary sector in their PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCY in EMERGENCIES and DISASTERS: What your Non-Profit Organization Can Do. Trainees interacted with a variety of experts from health services, the provincial government's Provincial Emergency Program, the Red Cross and others. Participants were exposed to resources and guidance in service continuity planning, working with volunteers during an emergency, personal preparedness during emergencies, what to expect during a flu pandemic, and community convening for emergency planning, among other topics. Please contact us if you are interested in having this training come to your community. 

April 2009

Celebrating Volunteerism in the Kootenays: NVW 2009

Volunteer BC president Justin Ho participated in Volunteer Kootenays' Volunteer Awards ceremony during National Volunteer Week 2009.

"Volunteers, Ho says, are the people who make these things happen in the community and he knows that one reason why volunteering is so infectious is that people just do it without talking about it much."... Read the full article here.

Volunteer BC on People First Radio in April - Click here to listen to Volunteer BC board members Barb MacLellan and Marjorie Driscoll discussing the state of BC's voluntary sector, national volunteer week and other volunteerism issues on the air. 

 

January 2009

PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCY in EMERGENCIES and DISASTERS: What your Non-Profit Organization Can Do A Training for Organizations (March 26-27, 2009) In the event of an emergency in your community or in the province, does your organization have safeguards and plans in place to maintain its services? Do you serve vulnerable people who depend on your organization to be there no matter what?  In the event of an emergency such as a pandemic, earthquake or flood, does your organization have resources to contribute such as volunteers, space, skills, networks or equipment? Do you know how to put forth what you have to offer as part of a community plan?   Can your organization play a mobilizing role in the event of a health emergency?  Are you prepared?  Volunteer BC and Volunteer Richmond Information Services are offering a unique training course to support non-profit and community organizations to be resilient in the face of an emergency. The training will facilitate the active engagement of the non-profit and voluntary sector in ongoing, collaborative community resiliency strategies and to support their participation in the planning for, response to, and recovery from emergencies. It features a variety of experts as guest speakers, tools you can apply, templates and resources to help you play a role in making communities and organizations resilient in the face of disasters and emergencies. Who is this for? Coordinators of volunteers, the staff person within your organization responsible for Service Continuity Planning; those working in community development, networks, volunteer centres, community agencies, voluntary organizations or neighbourhood associations who serve as community conveners. Location:  Richmond. Cost: $100 for members of Volunteer BC or VRIS for the complete course of five modules; $150 for non members. Registration: To register please contact before March 10, 2009: Jocelyn Wong , Manager - Volunteer Centre and Information & Referral Services, Volunteer Richmond Information Services, E-Mail: info@volunteerrichmond.ca Phone: (604)279-7020.

December 2008

Volunteer BC celebrates International Volunteer Day: December 5th, 2008. Read a message from President Justin Ho: Volunteers – A Certainty in Uncertain Times.

November 2008

Volunteer BC signs on to a letter from Imagine Canada which urges "the Government of Canada to maintain existing levels of funding to Canada’s charities and nonprofits through its grants and contributions programs. The many Canadians who serve their communities in these organizations in every reach of the country, a number of whom have joined us in signing this letter to you below, strongly believe that now is not the time to reduce support to communities through federal funding cuts. We are not asking for new support but a commitment to hold the line." Read the full letter here.

Volunteer BC holds their annual Board Retreat in the beautiful Comox Valley, in collaboration with Volunteer Comox Valley: November 21-22, 2008.

September 2008

Just Released: Volunteer BC's Annual Report 2007-2008: Hear about what we've been up to and our exciting plans for the coming year. Click here.

August 2008

Save the Date: September 12th for the Volunteer BC AGM

Mark your calendars for September 12th , when Volunteer BC will host its AGM once again at the incomparable venue of the Vancouver Aquarium. We will be offering a slate of workshops , including a workshop on the Volunteer Centre Tool Kit from Volunteer Canada, a special networking lunch, a resource booth and updates on our exciting opportunities for volunteer centres and voluntary sector organizations in 2008-2009. Click here for workshop descriptions and how to register.

Consultancy Opportunity with Volunteer BC: Short-term consultancy for identifying statistical measurement approach for a new, annual “BC State of Volunteering” report. Click here for more info. Deadline for applications: Sept. 1, 2008.

 

July 2008

Volunteer BC's resources are used this month on the BC Workinfonet Youth Site. Check it out! http://www.workinfonet.bc.ca/youth/

 

June 2008

Calling all volunteer centres! Volunteer BC has teamed up with Volweb.ca, an initiative of 2010 Legacies Now, to take volweb.ca's product, the Volunteer Opportunities Listings Tool, out to volunteer centres across the province. The Tool is software that allows volunteer centres and their member agencies to easily manage their volunteer listings. Open volunteer positions are posted to an on-line database and easily searchable by potential volunteers. It's a way to help spread volunteering to a bigger audience and to make volunteering accessible. And best of all, it's completely free for both volunteer centres and volunteers! To set-up a demo of the Tool for your volunteer centre, contact us today. Read more about the tool here.

 

April 2008

Read Volunteer BC's President's Greeting for National Volunteer Week 2008 and see the winners of our annual NVW photo contest: click here.

 

February 2008

Volunteer BC issues a news release responding to to the concept of "paid volunteering" during the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and other events in BC.

New from Vol BC member, Volunteer Richmond Information Services (VRIS):

- Leadership Richmond Conference and AGM of the Administrators of Voluntary Resources of BC (AVRBC): February 29, 2008  Visit our Provincial Training Calendar to learn more (see Leadership category).

- Launch of Leadership Richmond- Next: this unique program engages retired and soon-to-be retired volunteers in meaningful projects that capitalize on their skills and meet their needs. Read more here or visit www.volunteerrichmond.ca to download the application form.

 

December 2007

December 5th is International Volunteer Day: Read the December 2007 The Connector, Volunteer BC's monthly newsletter, dedicated to how our members celebrated IVD.

Training for Charities to File the T3010A: Valuable information, resources and training are available to charities through the new The Charities File web-site being launched on December 6, 2007. The Charities File is a pan-Canadian project of the Canadian Federation of Voluntary Sector Networks led by the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development (CVSRD) and VOCBC is the network responsible for these workshops in BC. Click here to learn more.

 

October 2007

New: Download our 2006/2007 Annual Report.

Membership Mapping: Who are Volunteer BC's members? Click here for a visual representation.

New: Browse through the Volunteer BC Resource Library catalogue and contact us to borrow a resource: click here.

 

September 2007

Join us for a Special Event on September 14th at the Vancouver Aquarium:

Volunteer BC's AGM and an AVRBC Speed Networking Session.

Register by September 10th.  Click here for more information.

 

May 2007

Volunteer Canada and the Advisory Council of Volunteer Centres have just released their new Volunteer Centres Toolkit. Learn more here.

 

April 2007

The Enduring Volunteer: Read the 2007 National Volunteer Week President's Greeting: click here.

Check out Volunteer BC's winning Photo Contest entries for National Volunteer Week and see the spirit of volunteerism in image. Click here.

2010 Legacies - Volunteers Now is working with Volunteer BC to bring the Volunteer Opportunities Listing Tools to volunteer centres across the province. Read the latest press release to learn more.

Click here to learn more about the 2008 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) which will take place in beautiful Cowichan, B.C from August 3-10, 2008.

Volunteer BC's 2006 Annual Report now on-line. Click here to download.

Check out how Volunteer BC celebrated National Volunteer Week this year.

Sharpen Your Skills and Freshen Your Mind

Check out our provincial Training Calendar regularly for upcoming learning opportunities: conferences, trainings, workshops and more.