Canine Foster Volunteers provide a safe, loving and temporary home for puppies, senior dogs and adult dogs with specific needs.  You must have the ability to separate the foster animals from any pets in your home by keeping them in a separate room, if necessary.  We will provide training and all the supplies you need.

In 2023, our Animal Care Team looked after more than 1500 animals onsite and, thanks to our Foster Volunteers, 1044 additional cats and dogs were cared for in loving foster homes.

Description

Canine Foster Volunteers are responsible for helping puppies (litter sizes can range from 4-6 puppies), seniors and / or adult dogs in their care thrive until they are ready to be adopted.  This will include feeding the animals at least twice a day, possibly more, potty training (for puppies), and exercising and socializing the animals.  It may also include bottle feeding and administering oral medications.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Maintain clean and tidy environment
• Provide treats, food, clean water and clean bedding as required
• Provide puppy pee-pad training, if necessary
• Bathe and groom dogs, as necessary and if comfortable doing so
• Interact with dogs for walks, training and socialization
• Provide a structured environment and reinforce behaviours that make dogs more adoptable
• Assist in the maintenance of dogs’ health and welfare
• Administer medication, as required and as instructed
• Ensure any veterinary appointments are kept
• Return dogs to GTHS Animal Centre as required (for surgery, treatment, adoption…)
• Ensure dogs are safe and secure
• Follow appropriate protocol, policies and procedures

Perform musically for geriatric patients

Assist staff to deliver various programs such as crafts, bingo, outings and trips for adults with diverse disabilities. We offer a hybrid approach that involves both in-person programs at our Centre and virtual programs.

Volunteers tasks:
• Telephone check-ins with our Consumers
• Accompny consumers at programs at the Centre
• Organizational/administrative assistance for our Connecting with Seniors program
• Opportunity to do crafting or recipe videos for our social media outlets
• Other opportunities

Volunteers act as coaches in weekly sport training sessions, working with athletes with an intellectual disability in a variety of sports such as Floor Hockey, 5-Pin Bowling, Curling, Softball, Snowshoeing, Bocce, Pickleball and more! 
 
Other volunteer positions include administrative roles on community councils (fundraising, secretary, public relations, etc.).

Volunteer drivers assist with deliveries of food boxes to distribution sites (Collingwood, Clearview and Wasaga Beach) and/or individuals in the surrounding communities.  
 
Volunteers help with packing fruits and vegetables for monthly good food box orders

Exhibition / Event set up: There’s a lot to learn about hanging an exhibition and the curatorial practices in a professional gallery, which you could learn by assisting our director and the team as they carefully change exhibitions. These happen all year round so get in touch if you’d like to have valuable insight into what goes on behind-the-scenes! You can also help set-up displays for one of our varied fundraisers, which also involves teamwork and an attention to detail. You might also be asked to lift or carry items, depending on the event.

Reception and Greeting: An integral part of events at Quest is the welcoming face our visitors see when they first arrive. If you feel you are a friendly, welcoming person then you could assist us by greeting visitors, taking down their information or assisting with ticketing. This role requires someone well-presented and able to multi-task.

Workshop / Educational Support: There are many different workshops held at Quest Art School + Gallery, and off-site, to a wide variety of students. We offer classes to children, youth and adults of all skill levels. If you are curious, patient and eager to lend a hand, then you might be perfect assisting one of our instructors as they lead a workshop.

Off-Site Events: Quest Art, as a charitable organization, is often invited to a wide range of events in the Midland-Penetang’, and sometimes wider, region. These vary by season and year, so depending on where you can get to, you could assist at one of these events. Please let us know your preferences as this would be a real asset to us at Quest when seeking location specific volunteers!

Bingo

Help us keep kids close to home! Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is looking for Foster Care Providers! 
 
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is a Child Welfare (Simcoe & Muskoka) and Children’s Mental Health (Muskoka only) agency licensed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. We support children, youth, families and communities with multiple services including fostering for children and youth up to 18 years old.  
 
Our agency has an urgent need for foster care providers across Simcoe and Muskoka. We are looking for diverse caregivers who understand children’s needs. Children & Youth lose so much when they have to leave their community. Foster caregivers provide a safe home and a temporary solution for children and youth, while their families make the changes needed for them to come back home. 
 
Would you consider opening your home and heart to providing care to youth and children? Fostering can be challenging, but it’s a very rewarding career. You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference in the life of a child. Fostering can be flexible and fit in with your lifestyle! 
 
We encourage all applicants to apply regardless of sex, gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, orientation or religion.  
 
Our application process, training and support will prepare you for your fostering journey. We find that all successful foster parents believe that the rewards of fostering, including building strong, loving relationships that last a lifetime, far outweigh the challenges involved. We offer a rate of $85/$155 a day per child to help support the cost of raising healthy, happy children and youth. Please inquirer today!
 
We look forward to hearing from you! Please share with anyone you think might be interested!

Tear down and re-arrange exhibits. Design, build, research and install new and existing exhibits in coordination with the Museum Curator.

Assist in one or all special events that take place at the Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives including: Winterama, Easter Eggstravaganza, Canada Day, Tea & Tarts, Spirit Walk, Doors Open, Halloween Spooktacular and/or Breakfast with Santa.  

Positions include:
• Shopper/cooks: Develop menu, shop within budget, cook meal - 12 Noon-5:30 pm
• Prep/set-up: Prepare meal and set up hall - 2 pm-3:30 pm
• Servers: Greet community members, serve meal - 4 pm-7 pm
• Clean-up: Clean up after meal - 5:30 pm-7 pm

• Work with a team of volunteers to sort fruits and vegetables into individual orders
• Handle food gently and hygienically, and arrange the boxes for maximum appeal
• Assist with packing site set-up and clean-up

Volunteers are needed to pack Good Food Boxes the 3rd Tuesday of every month in the Church Hall at Guardian Angels Church, from 8 am to 10 am.  
Volunteers are also needed from 10 am to 12 noon to assist individuals that are picking up their Good Food Boxes.

• Cook, bake, gardening
• Activities with residence
• Supporting with activities of daily living

• In early spring (typically late April/early May) volunteers are needed to help plant tree seedlings in the Severn Sound watershed.
• Site locations vary from year to year.

Big Brothers commit to a one-on-one relationship for a minimum period of one-year, 2-4 hours per week on an average basis, doing activities they both enjoy.

• Provide weekly companionship to client of Breaking Down Barriers.
• Assist with activities like arts & crafts, cooking, scrapbooking, weaving and Friendship Café
• Meet for conversation, maybe go for an outing and just be a friendly face to someone who may otherwise be isolated.

Walk the waterfront 

Interact with tourists 

Recommend restaurants, shops and services 

Take a short survey with those that would participate 

Be visible and be the smiling friendly face of Orillia!

Variety of Duties Depending on Strengths and Interests of Volunteer. Pre-event tasks may include:

• Answering Phones
• Updating Spreadsheets
• Soliciting and collecting donations and sponsorships from Ramara / Orillia area

Event-day tasks may include:

• Checking in guests
• Distributing water
• Taking in Feedback
• Organizing Guests
• Distributing Gift Bags
• Serving

We will be stepping into chest waders and wading into waist-deep water to anchor old Christmas trees into the streambank. This not only reduces erosion and stabilizes the streambanks, it creates habitat for young trout and salmon, which hatch on the site every year.

Take a look at how your help will improve fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and our economy in our 9 minute documentary. You can also visit our website for more information.

• Friendly Visiting, Coffee Social 
• Knitting, Painting, Crafts 
• Scrabble Players, Bingo Caller, Pin Setters for Bowling 
• Assisting in the Dining Room and Program Set up 
• Movie Night Volunteer 
• Friendly Reminder Volunteer 
• Manicures 
• Musical Talent

• Provide companionship
• Reading
• Crafts
• Assisting in the Culinary Department.

Recreational Therapy Volunteer: Assists our Recreational Therapist with a wide range of hands-on activities including individual and group-based games, art projects, equine learning, life skills and a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Horse interaction will occur as  well as assisting & working alongside participants. No horse experience required. 

Unmounted Horse Leader: Assists in preparing, grooming and leading the horse at the same time as the participant. You will interact with horses and participants. Horse experience an asset, we will train you.

Side Walker: Walks beside the horse and participant providing support and stability. Involves a good deal of walking. No horse experience required, we will train you.

Mounted Horse Leader: Assists the participant in preparing the horse for the lesson & may involve leading the horse during the lesson depending on the participant's ability.  Involves a good deal of walking and at times short bouts of jogging with the horse. Horse experience required.

Volunteer opportunities for individuals interested in assisiting with recreation programs, outings, friendly visiting, computer programs, reading programs and special events.

Required Positions: 
- Event Set-up Volunteers 
- Cheer & Spirit volunteers 
- Sign-Making Volunteers 
- Event Tear-down Volunteers

Volunteers act as coaches in weekly sport training sessions, working with athletes with an intellectual disability in a variety of sports. Other positions include administrative roles on community council (fundraising, secretary, public relations, etc.). If we host competitions, day-of event volunteers are also required. SOO-Barrie offers 14 Olympic-type sports.

Various opportunities available such as board member, warehouse roles, client intake and cart preparation. Click here to see details and to sign up: https://www.barriefoodbank.org/get-involved/

Create Go Fund Me type of pages, as well as other methods, etc. To maintain them Monday - Friday. Except holidays.

Need people to maintain a Facebook page, once it is set up. Required people to set up and maintain a LinkedIn page.

Assist with repairing used bicycle; Salvaging parts; Organizing/sorting bike shop equipment and tools; Assisting clients/public with bicycle repairs.

Repairing used bicycles for distribution or sale to the public.

Web design 

Board member

Fundraising

The Barrie Dragon Boat Festival is looking for:  
- 15 site set-up volunteers on Friday, August 15, 2025
- Various festival support volunteers on Saturday, August 16, 2025

Visiting residents residing in long term care, one-on-one. This can include walking with residents inside and outside the facility.

• Help our youth foster a lifelong love for the game
• Recreational and competitive opportunities available

Helps build houses.

Welcomes donors to hospitality area of clinic

• offer refreshments
• give information and updates to donors
• answer questions, thank donors and give milestone donor recognition items
• observe donors and watch for adverse reactions
• keep hospitality area in good order

Volunteers needed within various aspects of assisting children and adults with special needs to participate

Working towards the 2024 Barrie Fair. Property clean-up, gardening, local promotional activities. Fair setup and takedown.

Join our incredible team of volunteers and help Glowing Hearts Charity disrupt the cycle of poverty by providing programs that reduce barriers and support the mental health, growth, and development of school-age children and youth in Simcoe County.

To apply, please fill out the form on the volunteer page on our website: https://www.glowingheartscharity.org/volunteer

Volunteers must have lived experience raising a child with mental health challenges (parent, guardian, caregiver, etc.). 

Core Competencies 
● Strong Facilitation Skills 
● Team-focused 
● Communication Skills 
● Planning & Organizing  
● Leadership 
● Ethics & Integrity 
● Compassion & Empathy 
● Knowledge of child and youth service systems and sectors, both locally and provincially or a willingness to learn more about this to be effective in your role

Training and support are available to build further skills and competencies. We would look forward to having a further conversation with you if this sounds like a fit for you!