Volunteer opportunities
Volunteering enables students to connect in-class learning with valuable, career-related work experience. Students will have the opportunity to gain practical training, participate in professional development, meaningfully reflect on experiences, and contribute positively to the campus and/or local community.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities and how to get involved on- and off-campus, visit our get involved page.
Canada National Volunteer Program
The Government of Canada has created the Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG), a program that will provide thousands of qualified post-secondary students and recent graduates with learning and volunteer opportunities to address relevant COVID-19 challenges at Canadian not-for-profits during summer 2020. Students participating will be eligible to apply for a grant, which will provide up to $5,000 to be used towards post-secondary education costs. You have the opportunity to take part in this program between June 15 until September 15 2020.
Applicants must register by the deadline of August 8, 2020 in order to receive the CSSG
To be considered an eligible student, a person must:
- be enrolled and attending post-secondary education (PSE) during spring/summer 2020 and/or September 2020; or
- have graduated from PSE no earlier than December 2019; and
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, registered Indian or have refugee status.
- International students are not eligible.
- Canadian students who study abroad but are currently residing in Canada, and do their volunteer hours in Canada, are eligible.
- All students, regardless of age, who meet the eligibility criteria will receive the CSSG.
The CSSG is in addition to the Canada Emergency Student Benefit ($1,250 monthly). Students receiving the $1,250 monthly CESB benefit are eligible for CSSG. However, students receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) ($2,000 monthly) are ineligible to receive the CSSG.
The CSSG will be paid in a lump-sum amount based on the number of validated volunteer hours that an applicant has completed between Monday June 15, 2020, and Tuesday September 15, 2020.
The five levels of CSSG disbursement amounts are as follows:
- 100 hours for $1,000
- 200 hours for $2,000
- 300 hours for $3,000
- 400 hours for $4,000
- 500 hours for $5,000
Applicants must reach the minimum number of hours for each threshold (e.g. an applicant who submits 270 hours is only eligible to receive the $2,000/200 hours level disbursement amount
The CSSG program offers a variety of educational volunteer opportunities that will connect post-secondary students with not-for-profit organizations facing challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis in order to build skills and work experience. All volunteer placements are designed to respect social distancing and other health and safety precautions established by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Some examples include:
- Mental Well-being
- Peer-to-Peer Mentorship & Educational Support
- Arts & Culture
- Advocacy & Outreach
- COVID-19 Safe Ambassador Training
If you are a student interested in learning more about this program, click here
If you are from an organization interested in learning more about this program, click here
