Helping Alberta do good, together.
We are a diverse and inclusive member association strengthening and creating pathways for volunteerism and civic engagement in Alberta.
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Find programs, services and resources to help you recruit and screen volunteers, start a nonprofit, work with corporations, engage your board, and much more! Our resources provide a foundation for developing good standards and practices.
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Volunteerism and civic engagement are crucial for creating healthy, vibrant, and connected Albertans.
We are:
Connectors that convene and collaborate across networks to advance collective work and nourish relationships.
Champions that amplify diverse voices to elevate the power of volunteerism and civic engagement.
Catalysts that strengthen nonprofit and community capacity to engage Albertans.
Land Affirmation
Volunteer Alberta’s main office is situated on Treaty 6 Territory, specifically, amiskwaciwâskahikan (ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) as it is referred to by the Plains Cree peoples among other Indigenous names, and the homeland of the Métis Nation. Our staff, board, and our work reach across Treaties 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10, and we affirm that the land we call Alberta is the traditional and ancestral territory, as well as present-day homes of many Nations, including the Blackfoot Confederacy – Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika – the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stoney Nakoda, the Tsuu T’ina Nation, and the Métis People of Alberta, which includes the Métis Settlements and the Six Regions of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Since time immemorial, First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples have cared for these lands, and they continue to do so today. We encourage you to visit Native Land to learn more about the land and its Nations where you live, work, and play.
Volunteer Alberta identifies and affirms the historical and current relationships of these Nations to the land as an act of reconciliation and with the awareness that acknowledging, recognizing, or affirming these facts is a small step and not enough. Quoting Sheila Batacharya and Yuk-Lin Renita Wong, Sharing Breath (2018):
“This recognition of land theft, while important, is discursive and thus remains limited. Indeed, our determination, as [mostly] non-Indigenous inhabitants of … Turtle Island, to respect treaty relationships and acknowledge settler responsibility for the historical appropriation of Indigenous land is inescapably compromised, given that, in Canada, land can evidently be stolen and not returned provided you admit to wrongdoing, say you’re sorry, speak solemnly about the need for reconciliation, and continue to make promises that, in fact, have never materialized.”
Volunteer Alberta is committed to reflecting on, critiquing, and changing our ways of knowing, being, and doing in order to start supporting and concretely contributing to reconciliation and Indigenous Resurgence in ways we have not yet done.
The Volunteer Alberta Team
August 2023
National Volunteer Week is happening April 14 – 20, 2024
Volunteer Alberta’s National Volunteer Week Enhancement Funding Grant Applications are now CLOSED. Thank you for applying!
Every April, Volunteer Canada leads the National Volunteer Week (NVW) campaign. NVW provides a chance to celebrate the vibrancy and impact of volunteerism in our communities and nationwide. This year’s theme is “Every Moment Matters,” emphasizing the importance of each volunteer and their unique contributions, particularly now, when support is needed more than ever. Volunteer Alberta, in partnership with the Government of Alberta, aims to support communities throughout the province in celebrating the outstanding contributions of volunteers, past, present, and future.
We are kicking 2024 with a bang! We’re thrilled to announce our NEW, free, three-part webinar series: Equity and Inclusion in Volunteer Screening. In these sessions, you will gain valuable insights into how equitable and inclusive practices can foster safety, well-being, connection, and a sense of belonging for volunteers.
If your New Year’s resolution involves continuing your learning journey or fostering more meaningful connections, this series is made for you! We look forward to welcoming you to all three sessions, and the best part? You have the flexibility to sign up for each webinar individually at the links below! Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to a future where volunteerism thrives!
Volunteer Rights: What Volunteers and Board Members Need to Know
(Session Completed)
Unlock the Potential of Your Volunteer Experience! Discover your rights as a volunteer and gain valuable insights into the protective legislation that ensures your safety and well-being. Hear from the Co-Founder of IntegralOrg, Yvonne Chenier, who will bring her legal counsel on the social impact sector. Empower yourself to find meaningful opportunities with organizations committed to your welfare. Watch now and take the first step towards a rewarding and secure volunteering journey.
Goals-Based Approach to Volunteer Screening: How to Nourish Relationships and Trust in Volunteer Programming
(Session Completed)
Learn an alternative approach to the 10-step volunteer screening process. Placing emphasis on safety and trust, this flexible approach will empower organizations to cultivate meaningful connections and adapt screening practices to reflect their unique community, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative volunteer environment.
Engaging Newcomers: Welcoming Newcomers to Participate in Volunteerism
March 19th, 2024, 11 am – 12:15 pm
Learn why newcomers engage in volunteering, understand what inspires them to volunteer, and how organizations can craft opportunities that align with their unique goals. Join us for a conversation with Immigrant Services Calgary as they share strategies for supporting newcomers and creating meaningful connections through volunteer screening.
Download the “Equity and Inclusion in Volunteer Screening” poster to share with your network. After clicking on the link, right click on “Save image as”.
In June 2023, we embarked on a journey to envision the future of volunteerism and civic engagement in Alberta. Thank you to all those who took part in our Community Conversations and member survey this summer. Your wisdom and aspirations for the nonprofit/voluntary sector will serve as key inputs for our strategic ‘north star’ document that will guide VA’s direction from 2024 to 2026.
For more information about what we’ve done so far and where we’re going next, please click on the link below.
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