Volunteer Calgary
Volunteer Calgary is a volunteer centre located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Its primary role is to serve the non-profit community in Calgary and promote and encourage volunteerism in the city. [2]
History of volunteering in Calgary
The city of Calgary has a long history of volunteering. As a prairie settlement, volunteering was essential for survival for European settlers seeking to establish themselves in the west. A strong sense of community was evident among these early homesteaders, who readily supported one another. Volunteering took many forms, from helping neighbours build homes to donating food and supplies to those in need. Traditional barn-raising events, church socials, and volunteer fire brigades are examples of this early spirit of community involvement.
The first Volunteer Centre in Canada was established in 1937 in Montreal to address the need for volunteers during the Second World War. [1] The first volunteer centre in Calgary was established in 1955 by the Junior League. During the 1960s and 1970s, Volunteer Centres emerged across Canada in many urban areas, aiming to promote and support effective volunteer work.
Today, there are over 200 Volunteer Centres across Canada. These centres have developed significant expertise in volunteerism through programs, research, and training. They are committed to addressing issues that influence volunteer participation in Canada, reducing barriers, and promoting safe and meaningful volunteer opportunities. Volunteer Centres support and promote various new and emerging trends in volunteering, including youth volunteerism, corporate volunteerism, mandatory volunteerism, community service orders, educational campaigns, and governmental legislation.
Calgary has grown into a vibrant cosmopolitan city of over one million people. The spirit of volunteering is prominent due to the ongoing work of local volunteer centres.
Statistics on volunteering in Calgary
- 71% of Calgarians volunteer an average of 15 hours per month. This is 20% higher than the provincial average. [2]
- Over 5,000 non-profit organizations exist in the Calgary area, many of which rely on volunteers. [3]
- 63% of volunteers in Calgary are female, 37% are over 55 years of age, 46% are married, and 62% have a post-secondary degree. [4]
- 65% of volunteers in Calgary are involved in youth and children's activities, with significant participation in sports and recreation (44%), social services (42%), education/research (41%), and faith/religion (36%). [5]
- 76% of volunteers in Calgary are driven by a desire to give back to their community, the value of volunteering, and the personal fulfillment it provides. [5]
- 71% of Calgarians aged 12–18 have volunteered in the past year.
- 63% of young volunteers are inspired by family members who volunteer. [6]
Volunteer Calgary currently supports over 400 organizations. These include a wide range of registered charities and non-profit organizations in Calgary and surrounding areas, such as The Salvation Army, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary Stampede, Calgary Public Library, Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta, EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts, Girl Guides of Canada - Alberta, UNICEF Alberta, and Habitat for Humanity - Calgary.
Notes
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ 2004 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (Ottawa: Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada-Minister of Industry, 2006)
- ↑ Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, In Brief Issue #4, January 2008
- ↑ 2005, IPSOS Reid Survey, Calgary
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 2006, IPSOS Reid Survey, Calgary
- ↑ IPSOS Reid Survey on Youth Volunteering 2006, Calgary
External links
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