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Get Inspired
Celebrate International Volunteer Day (December 5) by getting involved in your community! Read the story below for inspiration, and then visit VolWeb.ca™ to find event-based volunteer opportunities near you.
Lower Mainland volunteer finds time flies when you’re having fun
When she was in elementary school, Corrigan Goodwin started helping out at a Lower Mainland petting zoo. Soon after, she began helping her father with his work organizing New Westminster's annual Hyack Festival. Even though Corrigan was not being paid to do these jobs, it didn't occur to her she was volunteering. She was having fun, after all, and helping people made her feel good. But when Corrigan was asked to track her hours for the Hyack Festival, she realized she was indeed a full-fledged volunteer.
Now 18, Corrigan is still volunteering whenever she has the chance, with the Hyack Festival, the New Westminster Spirit of BC Committee, or as a Douglas College Student Ambassador. And she encourages others to volunteer, not just because it feels good to give back to the community, but because you can also have fun, meet new people and learn new skills.
"Enjoy the events that you are volunteering at by trying to get involved as much as you can and try new things," says Corrigan. "I gained so much from volunteering my time at events by being a part of the planning in my community and school. When I volunteer, I get to do things I would never have the opportunity to do and gain valuable, hands-on experience."
Corrigan says volunteering at community events is particularly rewarding, because you can go beyond being a bystander. And she has discovered a new way to find volunteer positions at local events: VolWeb.ca.
VolWeb.ca is a volunteer matching service, created by 2010 Legacies Now with support from the Province of B.C. The website helps connect volunteers with local events, from festivals and fundraisers to sport competitions and conferences. VolWeb.ca is designed to help volunteers find event-based positions that fit their life: their schedule, skills and interests.
"It's exciting to be a part of an event and help plan it," says Corrigan. "With VolWeb.ca, I can find a volunteer position that's interesting and build my resume and expand my skills. The website focuses on short-term positions, so it's easy to find something that matches my busy schedule."
