Volunteer Resources

Kitchener's everyday heroes volunteer for many reasons: to be useful, to help others, to gain work experience, to meet new people, to develop a sense of accomplishment, to learn new skills, to meet new challenges, to work for a cause, to improve the quality of life in our community.

The value the City of Kitchener places on volunteers is evident through our Volunteer Resources and Community Engagement

Volunteer opportunities
Interested in joining a team of people dedicated to making a difference through the value of one, the power of many? Volunteer opportunities include:

Special events partners with the community to provide professionally executed, creative, leading edge events and festivals. Responsibilities include event management, marketing, program evaluation, networking and development of new festivals.

Advisory committees including Committees of Council invite residents or those working in Kitchener to participate in local government by applying to serve on its boards and committees.

Inclusion services for persons with a disability include opportunities for volunteers to help persons with a disability to participate in recreation and leisure activities.

Aquatics volunteers assist people of all ages with swimming instruction. To qualify, volunteers must be 13 years of age and older and hold a Bronze Medallion Award and Emergency First Aid and CPR-B. Adapted Aquatics volunteers provide assistance to a child with a disability under the guidance of a specially trained instructor at Forest Heights Pool. You must have your Bronze Cross Award and be 16 years of age or over.

Adults 50+ volunteers make many programs and services possible at our 3 centres for adults 50+. Volunteer opportunities include volunteer drivers and van assistants, kitchen assistants, snack bar volunteers, hosts and hostesses, advisory council members, conveners, senior day program assistants, peer helpers and office assistants.

Parks volunteers help with litter pick-up, spring and fall clean-up, Earth Day activities, tree planting, trail maintenance and the Kitchener Natural Areas Program.

Volunteers at The Aud help make city-hosted events a success at this world-class sports and entertainment facility.

Arts, culture and heritage volunteers assist with committees and events relating to the arts.

Youth program volunteers assist various programs: BYLD is a leadership development program for youth from 13-15 years of age. Youth receive 15 hours of training prior to being placed at a summer playground site for a 2-week period. A fee applies. Kitchener Youth Action Council (KYAC) is a volunteer opportunity for youth ages 15-24. Volunteers are asked to commit to a term from September to August in one of the following groups: youth special events, youth awards and recognition, and youth issues. Kitchener Youth Crew allows youth ages 15-17 to receive hands-on job experience, leadership training and the change to help out at the Kitchener Youth Drop-in Program.

Summer playground volunteers play a significant role in their neighbourhood by working with playground leaders in planning and implementing a successful program for children in July and August.

Outdoor winter rink volunteers flood the ice and take care of the ice surface at outdoor winter rinks located at community centres, schools and parks throughout Kitchener in winter.

To volunteer for a Neighbourhood Association, contact the community centre closest to you or the Neighbourhood Association in your area.
To volunteer for a Minor Sport Group, visit the athletics page for contact information.
To volunteer for organizations in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, visit the Volunteer Action Centre of Kitchener Waterloo and Area website.

Volunteer Resources & Community Engagement
Volunteers are valued at the City of Kitchener. To demonstrate the importance of volunteers, Kitchener City Council adopted a Code of Volunteer Involvement. This code is based on the Canadian Code of Volunteer involvement. It outlines core values, guiding principles, and standards for the involvement of City of Kitchener volunteers. View the City of Kitchener Code for Volunteer Involvement .

The Volunteer Resources and Community Engagement Section of the City of Kitchener offers centralized recruitment, screening, referral, and recognition of volunteers for municipal programs and services.

We also offer support, training, and consultation regarding volunteer management and governance to City staff who work with community groups and to Boards of Directors of minor sports groups, neighbourhood associations, and other groups affiliated with the City of Kitchener.

We also embrace the concept of 'informal volunteering' which is people pitching in to help make this community a better place in a whole variety of ways by organizing an activity to get to know their neighbours, picking up litter in their neighbourhood park, or being a good neighbour by keeping their property neat and attractive. We refer to this as 'Community Engagement' and encourage it through the following programs: Festival of Neighbourhoods, Earth Week , and Kitchener in Bloom.

What's municipal government all about anyway?

This publication explains how a municipal government works, who our council is and the vast array of ways you can get involved, have your say or just help out. Get Informed. Get Inspired. Get Involved with your City.