Canada welcomes the contribution given by international volunteers and offers a wide range of programs foreigners might be interested in.
Some volunteering programs based in the metropolitan areas and usually revolve around conducting social projects for the elderly or working with children. In the more remote or rural parts of the country, you can help out by involving yourself in a house – building project or by participating in recreational and/or educational camps for people with certain disabilities or who cannot afford such excursions. Public health programmes are also available,for both urban and rural areas.
Working with an international organisation or a volunteering placement agency will ensure that your program is trustworthy and that legal matters are taken care of. With such an organisation you can even ask for a personalized volunteering programme. Most projects also offer free accommodation for volunteers, so that is one less expense you have to worry about. One way of avoiding paying agency fees is by contacting a local Canadian non for profit organisation and discussing your opportunities directly with them.
Experience the winter wonderland that is Canada! Indulge your love for all things snowy – whether you’re into sports like skiing, snowboarding and ice-skating or keen to soak up the views of snow-capped mountains, glaciers and frozen lakes – there’s something for everyone. Visit the Niagara Falls, explore the Banff National Park or check out the rare wildlife all year round (yup Canada gets some sizzling summers too).
Canada really is a place like no other, and you’ll be glad to have the opportunity to get out there, earn my way and figure out where I want to live for the rest of my life.
Where You Can Help
Most placements are offered in the larger towns and cities like:
- Burlington
- Calgary
- Halifax
- Hamilton
- Kelowna
- Mississauga
- Montreal
- Ottawa
- Quebec
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Welland (Niagara Falls)
- Winnipeg
How to Help
Summer Camp Assistant
Some outdoor camps cater specifically for disadvantaged youths, or for young people with mental or physical disabilities. The environment and activities are the same at these camps to all other camps throughout Canada, but volunteer duties within these camps include an additional caring component.
School Assistant
School Assistants in Canada assist school staff with a number of duties which may include classroom teaching assistance, lab preparation, tutoring, playground supervision, games/sports coaching, outdoor education, field trips and excursions, music, art and drama, supervision in residence and administration work. The roles are varied and allow volunteers to get involved with many aspects of school life. Volunteers at this placement assist with middle and senior school classroom duties, and could also take part in extra-curricular activities such as sports coaching. You will also have the opportunity to take part in school camps and field trips, and would assist with discipline and pastoral care.
FAQ
Visa
Most volunteering activities in Canada do not require a Visa, but if your programme is similar to an internship, you are required to apply for a work permit even if you are not being paid. Some placements in Canada require volunteers to have a panel medical (recognised by Canadian Officials) which can cost around £300, to submit with Visa.
Accommodation, food and allowance
Accommodation is provided by the host organisation, whether that is in the staff quarters, in a residential home, your own room in a school boarding house or shared accommodation in an outdoor camp. Many camps are situated in incredibly beautiful places beside lakes and in the woods. While some placements provide food, others set up a system of self-catering for volunteers. Some international placements provide a weekly allowance of approximately CAN$100 (this differs from placement to placement).
If living close to nature, working in a team and inspiring young people sounds exciting, then camp life is for you! As an Outdoor Activities Instructor, you will work within stunning scenery assisting young people to learn and develop their outdoor skills, some of whom may have a disability. Enriching placements are also available in schools to befriend and mentor students at a crucial stage in their education. This is perfect for anyone thinking of going into a teaching career and want some international experience.
FAQ
Requirements
English is a requirement for volunteers wishing to involve themselves in projects all over Canada with the exception of Quebec, where French is preferred. Other requirements can vary from one volunteering organisation to another and from one project to another, but you are generally asked to provide proof of a clean criminal record.
Need to know
Pre departure briefing – all volunteers are invited to a group briefing prior to departure. On arrival – if available in-person, volunteers will take part in a orientation in Vancouver with the rest of their cohort. Some volunteers at outdoor placements have onsite orientations run by their camp. These people will travel straight to their placement.
Free Time & Travel
In terms of evening and weekend activities, what you do will largely depend on where you are placed. Many of our outdoor education roles are placed in areas of spectacular beauty, and you will be able to take advantage of your surroundings in your free time. If you are placed in the foothills of one of Canada’s many mountains, for example, you and your fellow volunteers could stretch your legs climbing to the top. Alternatively, if you are placed near a lake, you could try getting involved in water sports or take a dip during the summer months. If your host placement is in a more urban setting, you can spend your weekends exploring what the nearby town or city has to offer.
Travel
Most people have heard of Canada’s world-class skiing resorts, Niagara Falls and, of course, the iconic moose. But these highlights are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Canada has to offer its visitors.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Canada is a gift that keeps on giving, and you will have lots of opportunities to experience nature. Hikers can explore snow-capped mountains and even sample a stretch of the vast Appalachian Trial, while fans of water sports might choose to spend a day kayaking down the South Nahanni River. If winter sports are more your cup of tea, why not spend your free time during holidays snowboarding in Whistler or ice-skating on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal? Aside from these activities, Canada is renowned for having a calendar packed full of exciting festivals all year round.
From Okanagan’s ice wine festival in January and Regina’s powwow in March, to Montreal’s jazz fest in June and Toronto’s film festival in September, you’ll have lots of excuses to travel around Canada during your stay.