Next. A symposium on community belonging, engagement and volunteerism.

Serving community for over 65 years, we are a trusted charity providing digital volunteer engagement solutions across Canada.

VolunteerConnector

Join a brilliant group of humans from across the country to wrestle with where community belonging is at and the bright future ahead.

This will undoubtedly be a moment to remember as an extraordinary group of humans who have profound impact in their communities gather to share insights, illuminations and lessons from the past. Take this opportunity to shift your understanding and feel invigorated about the work of compassion and causes. This imagining is meant for anyone and everyone who engages other humans in community work; volunteer managers, grassroots organizers, community leaders, executive directors, board members, civil workers, people who work in the charitable sector, volunteers, people who care about their community but are not really sure what that looks like!The symposium will feature ten, 3 minute moments (think TikTok but with the lens of social justice and belonging), a fulsome space for conversation and parting thoughts.Featuring: (full bios and more people to come)Aditi Basedo, Pillar Non Profit Network: Aditi leads with her heart, from her very first step into the social innovation sector she has pulled on her personal story and challenges as motivators to move beyond the status quo. In 2018, Aditi founded Champions of Change Canada; a nonprofit that focuses on raising awareness for gender equality by empowering youth to lead community-centric fundraisers and campaigns. Currently, Aditi is completing a dual degree in chemical engineering and business at Western University. Adjacent to her education Aditi has also been engaged with social, economic, and environmental impact through her work with young people at Pillar Nonprofit Network where she has reimagined the strategic role of youth-engaged impact in the organization.Alina Emery, Vantage Point: With a passion to spread wellness and strengthen communities, Alina founded a non-profit called When I Becomes We that provides an accessible platform that connects volunteers with cause-based organizations to cultivate meaningful relationships and achieve a common goal. She is also the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at Vantage Point, a non-profit that connects and equips leaders to lift their organizational capacity. Elevated volunteerism is at the centre of Alina’s world, and she is eager to connect with others through this mission of kindness. Connect with Alina on LinkedIn!April Baird, Helping Hands: With a passion for food security and a desire to reduce food waste, April successfully established a community food pantry, not once but twice in her local community where food can be donated, dropped off and given freely to other community members without barriers or applications. Just a simple, stigma free community food exchange program that has transformed the Helping Hands Society of Cochrane &amp; Area into a food rescue agency currently rescuing over 8500kg of potential food waste in the community every month and doing so with the exclusive use of volunteers. These two “Free Food Sheds” currently offer over 240 volunteer shifts per month to cover food rescue pickups, twice daily caretaking, food shopping &amp; stocking and even recycling &amp; compost management at the Sheds! April attributes her Free Food Shed success to the engagement of the volunteers and champions without which this mutual aid concept would have never been possible. Becoming a volunteer manager was a result of community centered innovation.Candice Zhang, Ontario Non Profit NetworkCorrina Santos, Volunteer Connect York RegionDanielle George, Community Volunteer Connection TriCities: Danielle is a recent immigrant to Canada, originally from Kansas, USA. She has fostered over 20 cats, dogs, and/or rabbits since 2019. Danielle is a former officiate roller derby and traveled to 6 countries to run tournaments. She is believes passionately that food is love, history, culture, and wisdom all in one. And access to those things, like food, is a human right.Darryl DeDios, Volunteer AlbertaDebbie Maltman, Volunteer Scotland: Debbie is a Research Officer at Volunteer Scotland, where she works on quantitative analysis to enhance the knowledge of volunteering participation within Scotland. Over the last four years she has published research on youth volunteering; the characteristics of adult volunteering participation; analysis of NCVOs' Time Well Spent data for Scotland; and the impact of COVID-19 on the voluntary sector. Debbie’s current research on the Cost of Living Crisis has highlighted the critical role of volunteering in supporting societal needs, including mental health, physical health, and social isolation and loneliness.Emily Wettlaufer, Volunteer CanadaKatie MacDonald, Community Foundation of Nova Scotia atie MacDonald is a passionate community sector professional, dedicating over a decade to fostering community growth and engagement. For the past five years, Katie showcased this commitment at the Calgary Foundation, including two years working remotely from Nova Scotia, underlining her adaptability and dedication to community, regardless of location. Embarking on a new chapter, Katie is set to begin a secondment with the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia at the end of this month.With the Calgary Foundation, Katie has worked closely alongside the Indigenous Relations team, advancing organizational cultural development and change in alignment with the Foundation's ongoing reconciliation journey and commitment to strengthening relations with Indigenous communities. Her focus encompassed designing, coordinating, and co-facilitating culturally relevant learning experiences for staff, board, and volunteers; an experience she shares that has notably influenced reshaping decision-making processes to center lived and learned experiences. Katie acknowledges that a fundamental goal has been to infuse these experiences into the very fabric of the organization, envisioning a more meaningful approach to community and philanthropic support, grounded in equity and collaboration. As she moves forward, she aspires to contribute to a future where community growth is intricately informed by the diverse experiences and perspectives within the community.Turlough Myers, Winspear Centre: Turlough is the Patron Advisor and Volunteer Manager at the Winspear Centre/Edmonton Symphony Orchestra/Tommy Banks Centre for Musical Creativity. Since the pandemic, Turlough has reinvented the Winspear’s volunteer program with a focus on investment in the existing – committed and generous – volunteers, while adding new ones, to foster a culture of togetherness, helpfulness, inclusivity, and friendship. He now runs a program with over 25,000 hours of volunteering over the orchestra’s season by 105 incredible volunteers.When he’s not at work doing fundraising and volunteer management at the Winspear, you can find Turlough dancing Lindy Hop anywhere 1930s style jazz music is playing, cooking for his friends and young family, or breaking down the miniscule details found in episodes of Star Wars the Clone Wars that no one else notices.A post event debrief is scheduled for November 8, 2023 at 11:00 MST to continue to process and connect.

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