Volunteering in Sports and Recreation

This weekend I took to the streets to participate in the Ottawa Race Weekend. What an experience! From spectators, to fellow runners, volunteers and event staff there was enough energy circulating to carry even the faintest of heart runners from start to finish. The Ottawa Race Weekend is a great example of how volunteers affect our sports and recreation sector. This weekend thousands of volunteers donned there Ottawa Race Weekend t-shirts passing out water, guiding runners, moving gates and being the integral support system which, yearly makes this run the largest in Canada and one of the most expertly run.



Volunteers are not only making their mark in large scale events within the sports and recreation world, they influence our world everyday as coaches, administrators, board members and fundraisers. They are people who have latched onto their passion for being active and used it to benefit our communities. Athletics, especially when engaged in by youth, can be confidence building, help develop social skills and encourage healthy lifestyles.
This weekend was just another exemplary example of what happens when a people come together to volunteer. Whether on a large or small scale the impact echoes loudly and it’s us Canadian’s who reap the benefits of their time. So here’s a big shout out to the thousands of Canadians who volunteered at Race Weekend in Ottawa and to all the volunteers across Canada who give their time in sport management, coaching, fundraising or just in support of athletics. THANK YOU!

VOLUNTEER CANADA MEMBER PROFILE The Humanity Exchange

Ever think - I love volunteering in my community, but I want to think bigger, more globally and experience a unique culture, language and country while I'm at it???
Well we here at Volunteer Canada have an incredible member who is creating opportunities for people like you! The Humanity Exchange, is exactly the place to start looking! TheX offers a wide variety of opportunities in places such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Kenya, Peru, Cameroon and Colombia. The locations alone are exciting enough to peak one's interest, but the main reason why The Humanity Exchange is such an important organization for Canadians to become familiar with are the volutneer opportunities the offer. The Humanity Exchange offers opportunities in Latin America and Africa which are specialized and allow the volunteers to work in an environment in which they are truly passionate. From teacher, to media analyst, nurse, youth leader, caregiver and international cooperation intern, the variety of these positions in accordance with the experience create a volunteering position that you won't soon forget.

The Humanity Exchange's commitment to the integrity of its work as well as the safety of their volunteers make this organization one that stands out from other international development focused volunteer programs. For example, each overseas volunteer is guided by an Exchange Manager, who acts as both mentor and tour guide, ensuring that all of TheX's volunteers are aware of how to be safe and diligent while abroad. They also offer volunteer opportunities that involve a language focus and allow for volunteers to take language courses in French or Spanish to further benefit from their volunteer experience.



At their website www.thehumanityexchange.org you are able to search opportunities by location, program or focus. They have an incredible amount of information to offer and maintain a mission that the work done by The Humanity Exchange "is guided by the principle of humanity", they believe in education of both those in the developing nations, but also for the volunteers choosing to submerge themselves in these programs. TheX is challenging YOU Canada- students, teachers, couples, retirees and professionals, to be change, be active and be involved in aiding in some of the most critical issues affecting international development today

TheX is looking for people to volunteer this summer so check out all the incredible opportunities they have to offer at http://www.thehumanityexchange.org/current_opps.html

Volunteer Canada "On the Road"

This past week I did a little travelling of my own and headed down south to Tennessee and see for my self the effects of the recent flood. Upon first glance things seem business as usual, the bright lights of Music Row are shining and the capitol building is standing tall, however it's when you get off of highway 40 and into the communities that you truly see the effect the recent flood has had. When I finally landed in Nasdhville one week after the flood, the main street in downtown Nashville was still wet with flood waters, the cumberland river was still racing and the smell of dampened foundations, wet wood and generator exhaust hung heavy in the air. It ios estimated that there has been 1.56 billion dollars worth of damage in Middle Tennessee and from the absolute destruction of Opry Mills (which includes the Opryland Hotel, Mall and Theatre) to the rows upon rows of personal belongings outside waiting for pickup that now replace the sidewalk within teh neighborhoods of Nashville - it is clear that it's going to take a while before business as usual truly returns.



An example of one of the many homes in Brentwood, Tennessee effected by teh flood. As you can see their ruined belongings now line the side of the street to be picked up by Metro Services. Unfortunately, they are not unique in this situation as this scene repeated itself house by house throughout the affected neighbourhoods.

While in Nashville I was given the opporunity to volunteer my time with the flood relief efforts in a few different capactiies. With Hands On Nashville helping with volunteer placement, in one of the many disaster relief centres and down at the Nashville Farmers Market. Whether taking calls from eager volunteers at Hands On or handing out necessities in Bellevue, I was blown away by the positivity and willingness to help by all involved. For example Middle Tennesseans who were looking to recieve aid would in turn ask how they could be helping others, at one aid distribution location there were TOO MANY volunteers and at the Farmers Market so many people showed up to help it took little time to have the market looking as good as new!

Working alongside these passionate individuals reaffirmed my belief that volunteers and volunteerism helps us change the world, change lives and make our communities better places to live. The volunteer community in Middle Tennessee immediately organized and was ready and willing to begin rebuilding their communities the moment the flood waters finally diasspeared. It is their hard work and big hearts that will be the reason that Nashville, in time will recover, rebuild and grow together to continue to be one of the most beautiful and friendliest places in the South.

Thank you to all the volunteers I had the pleasure of working alongside and Hands On Nashville for being such a solid place for the community to turn to in their time of need. Your organization, passion and leadership will be at the heart of recovery for Middle Tennesseans as they recover from May's flood.

Disaster Relief and Volunteering

Even though we are barely half way through it appears as though 2010 will be known as the year of natural (and man-made) disasters. Already we've seen devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, an oil spill that threatens to alter the biodiversity of the gulf coast for generations and a flood that has devastated Music City and destroyed hundreds of years of music history in Tennessee. With all that being said - what are you doing?

Disasters such as the one's we've seen in 2010, can be used as an opporunitiy to re-affirm one's committment to volunteering and volunteerism. Think about those who volunteer with enviromental action groups who have left their lives, careers and families to offer their time and skill to protect the precious marshland of Louisiana's gulf coast. Or the international response from organzizations such as The Red Cross and Research in Motion who were immediately on hand in Haiti to offer aid and resources. Volunteers, such as those listed, are at the heart of disaster relief and aid. They are on the ground, behind the scenes, they are engaged in everything from medical relief to fundraising. The most important trait that all these incredible people share is that they take action. They are examples of what we all should be doing in our lives - taking action for things we are passionate for.

I challenge you to take action in your communities in honour of those currently affected by the disasters of 2010. Be there, be present, be engaged and take action. Start now by being a mentor or an example to our younger generations so that as they grow they develop a respect for the effect volunteerism has on our world and can become those incredible volunteers who would leave their lives behind to aid others in times of crisis.

To all those have volunteered or continue to volunteer in disaster relief across our world. Thank you for being an inspiration and reminding us about the importance of giving time.