Attractions & Recreation Volunteer FAQ
- How does the Community Facility Services Branch define a volunteer?
- What are the values, mission and vision of the Community Facility Services Branch?
- Does the City of Edmonton have a policy on volunteering and volunteer involvement?
- What are some tips to help me get started as a volunteer?
- Is volunteering a two-way street?
- 1. How does the Community Facility Services Branch define a volunteer?
A Community Facility Services volunteer is a person who chooses to share their time, skills and knowledge to enhance the quality of life in their community without the expectation of recompense.
A Community Facility Services volunteer performs a task at the direction of and on behalf of the Community Facility Services Branch.
A volunteer must complete an application form and be officially accepted by the branch prior to performance of the task.
- 2. What are the values, mission and vision of the Community Facility Services Branch?
We value…
- Staff and Volunteers - we embrace a recognition culture
- Service - We put the needs of communities and citizens first
- Well - being - We support the health of individuals, families, and communities
- Safety and Security - We operate clean, safe and secure facilities
- Respect - We treat people with dignity, understanding and compassion
- Inclusiveness - We are accessible and available to all our citizens
- Integrity - We demonstrate ethical and trustworthy behaviour
- The Environment - We endeavour to protect and preserve the natural and built environment
- Innovation - We seek out leading edge, forward thinking and creative practices
- Stewardship - We advance the prudent use and management of resources
- Accountability - We set clear objectives and foster open reporting to citizens and stakeholders
Vision: Creating Vibrant Places
Mission: We develop, manage, animate, and preserve recreation facilities
- 3. Does the City of Edmonton have a policy on volunteering and volunteer involvement?
Yes it does. The City of Edmonton’s volunteerism policy states that volunteerism:
- Promotes citizen involvement, social and civic responsibility, and civic pride.
- Contributes to healthy communities and a vibrant Edmonton.
- Improves Edmontonians’ quality of life.
Thus, the City will:
- Support volunteers and volunteerism in Edmonton.
- Provide positive, meaningful volunteer experiences for individuals who volunteer with the City by adopting the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement (2001) as its standard for the City’s volunteer management systems.
- Encourage all corporations in Edmonton, including the City of Edmonton, to support volunteerism.
- Work with voluntary community groups in order to strengthen and recognize volunteerism in Edmonton.
The Purpose of the Policy is to:
- Recognize the essential role that volunteers, civic volunteers and volunteerism play in building a healthy and vibrant Edmonton.
- Recognize the role that volunteers, civic volunteers and volunteerism contributes in making Edmonton a community of choice for businesses and individuals.
- Strengthen volunteerism in Edmonton.
- Enhance the City’s image and reputation as a socially responsible partner that supports volunteers and volunteerism in order to develop healthy and sustainable communities.
- Provide quality volunteer experiences for individuals who volunteer with the City.
- Develop systems and processes that support civic volunteers and volunteerism by establishing best practices in the management of civic volunteers within the City.
- Harmonize and provide consistent volunteer practices for City programs, services, and events that involve civic volunteers.
- Minimize civic volunteer turnover and increase retention of civic volunteers for City programs, services, and events.
- Encourage corporations, including the City of Edmonton, to support volunteerism by their employees.
- Strengthen relationships with and networks among voluntary community groups.
- Provide framework for civic volunteers to complement and/or supplement City programs, services and events. Civic volunteers will not replace employees nor affect any employee’s job security.
- 4. What are some tips to help me get started as a volunteer?
If you are interested in a new volunteer position, but aren't sure where to begin, try asking yourself the following questions to determine what kind of volunteer opportunities will be best suited to you:
- If you had all the human and financial resources in the world, what problem would you solve, what would you change, or what would you create? Your answer will tell you what matters the most to you.
- What kind of time commitment are you willing to make? Are you looking for a regular/weekly volunteer commitment or a short-term/one-time opportunity?
- Would you like to volunteer with other people or by yourself?
- Would you like to volunteer from your own home or would you prefer to volunteer at an organization.
- If you would like to volunteer away from home, where is the best location for you? Near your home, your work, your child's day care?
- Do you have specific skills or talents you would like to share with an organization?
- Would you like to develop a specific skill?
- What are your personal goals? Would you like to re-enter the workforce? Meet new people?
*Adapted from an article by Volunteer Ottawa
- 5. Is volunteering a two-way street?
Volunteering is a two-way street. Not only do the recipients of voluntary action benefit, but so too, do the volunteers. Volunteering provides a satisfying outlet for people’s talents, ambitions, and concerns in ways that are different from their daily responsibilities.
The importance of volunteers to the City of Edmonton is obvious. Our volunteers affect the success of many initiatives including numerous events, child & youth daycamp programs, Seniors Centres, public programs, and the City Archives to name a few.
The benefit that volunteers themselves derive from their volunteer activity is not so commonly recognized. The primary motivation for volunteers is to reach out and help their communities, but in so doing they also fulfil their own unmet needs. In the 2004 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, volunteers indicate they value volunteer work as an important element in their lives that allows them to use their skills and interact with other volunteers.
For more information:
Volunteer Services Program Coordinator
Community Facility Services Branch
Fort Edmonton Park
7000 143 Street NW
P.O. Box 2359
Edmonton AB T5J 2R7
| Telephone | 780-496-4935 |
|---|---|
| Fax | 780-496-8797 |
| rfsvolunteer@edmonton.ca |
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