BECOME A Volunteer
Provide meaningful support to your local communnity
PAL Canada is actively seeking volunteers to join our dynamic Volunteer Team. If you’re eager to contribute, please complete the online sign-up form provided. Upon receipt of your application, one of our team members will reach out to discuss your interest further. Please be aware that if you prefer to volunteer in an area with an existing Chapter Supporting Cast Team, you’ll be directed to the coordinator of that specific team. Your dedication is invaluable in addressing the challenges of poverty, isolation, and housing within Canada’s professional artists’ community. We sincerely appreciate your willingness to support our mission.
Volunteer Sign Up Form
Volunteer Opportunities
Phone Companions commit to a weekly telephone call to an isolated senior or adult with a physical disability. Every effort is made to match phone companions with clients who have similar interests. Phone Companions are patient, compassionate, caring, and reliable with outstanding telephone communication skills.
Commitment: On-going/ more than 1 year
Police Check Required: Yes
Finger Print Required: No
Resource Coordinators communicate with seniors and others in the professional arts community who need assistance accessing community social service agencies and/or community health and well-being providers. Coordinators will be sensitive to the needs of others, and good listeners.
Commitment: 2 hours per week, 6 months to 1 year
Police Check Required: Yes
Finger Print Required: No
Friendly Drivers provide a much-needed service to those who are not able to drive or use public transit. Volunteer drivers use their own well-maintained vehicles to drive clients to and from important appointments.
Commitment: 6 months to 1 year
Police Check Required:
Yes Finger Print Required: No
Fellowship Reps. In our effort to help alleviate isolation among senior artists, our Fellowship Reps perform home visits with Supporting Cast clients on a pre-arranged schedule. Every effort is made to match reps with clients who have similar interests. Fellowship Reps are patient, compassionate, caring, physically fit, and reliable with outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
Commitment: Ongoing/minimum: 1 year
Police Check Required: Yes
Finger Print Required: No
Handy Helpers assist with odd jobs to ensure that seniors and adults with physical disabilities live in a safe, clean and well-maintained house, apartment and home. These jobs include light housekeeping as well as small jobs like changing light bulbs, changing clocks back or forward, replacing smoke detector batteries, hanging pictures, setting up a TV or a DVD player, and other small jobs.
Commitment: On-going/ More than 1 year
Police Check Required: Yes
Finger Print Required: Yes
Client Recruiters are responsible for finding and connecting senior arts professionals in need with the volunteer support available through Supporting Cast. Recruiters communicate with other arts organizations, associations, and unions.
Commitment: 6 months to 1 year
Police Check Required: Yes
Finger Print Required: No
Grocery Shoppers – Volunteers shop for clients (for food and non-alcoholic beverages), according to their stated needs.
Commitment: 6 months to 1 year
Police Check Required: Yes
Finger Print Required: No
Cheerful Chaperons accompany a Supporting Cast client on outings and to arts events etc. This volunteer position plays a particularly important role as it serves in providing social interaction for socially isolated clients. Volunteers may require their own well-maintained vehicle. Hours are flexible.
Commitment: 6 months to 1 year
Police Check Required: Yes
Finger Print Required: No
Housing Envoys communicate with Government Housing Authorities, Building Managers, Real Estate and other Housing Matching programs in their community to source affordable housing for senior, and disadvantaged artists for the PAL Website’s Available Housing Board. Housing Envoys also accept referrals from individuals who may have knowledge of affordable housing opportunities in various areas, including shared accommodation opportunities.
Commitment: 6 months to 1 year
Police Check Required: Yes
Finger Print Required: No
Technotutors offer free resources and tips to help seniors operate their computers, smartphones and tablets. They also educate and empower seniors to proactively protect themselves with simple cybersecurity best practices, which help them protect their personal sensitive information, reducing their risks online. Technocrats help seniors to understand how scammers operate, and familiarize them with the most common scams targeted at seniors. They teach seniors about tech support scams, tax scams, ransomware, false debt collectors, sweepstakes and lottery scams and how these and other scams can be detected. (these positions are a great fit for technology savvy youth seeking high school volunteer hour credit)
Commitment: Ongoing/minimum: 1 year
Police Check Required: Yes
Finger Print Required: No
Special Events Volunteer
As a special events volunteer, you will have the opportunity to help our team execute top-quality events for our communities including our annual Supporting Cast concert. During events, volunteers will be assigned various activities which will collectively ensure that the event runs smoothly.
Duties
- Work independently and as part of a team
- Be able to problem solve effectively and on spot
- Feel comfortable working in large crowd environments
- Friendly, outgoing and approachable personality
- Ability to volunteer evenings or weekends
- Be punctual and dependable for each session
- Maintain confidentiality of client information
Commitment: 6 months to 1 year
Police Check Required: No
Finger Print Required: No
Background Check – Vulnerable Sector Screening Process
Records Management Services (RMS) will perform a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by a registered agency (organization) to our Police Reference Check Program. An individual cannot apply for a VSS without going through a registered agency. PAL Canada will advise you of where you may apply depending on the jurisdiction in which you choose to volunteer.
Estimated Cost (may vary by jurisdiction)
- VSS Volunteer applications – $20.00