Community Involvement

UPDATE TO ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HOURS AS OF JULY 28, 2023

From 2020 - 2022, the Ministry provided temporary, flexible ways for graduating students to obtain community involvement hours to meet their graduation requirement during the pandemic.  At principals’ discretion, students were previously able to earn hours:

●      During instructional time on a school day;

●      Through duties normally performed at home (e.g., helping an elderly relative with an errand or a sibling with homework);

●      From paid employment for students 14 years and older (to a maximum of 10).

These temporarily eligible activities were revoked in the July 28, 2023 update to PPM 124 Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirement: community involvement activities.  The number of ineligible activities has increased in this latest update.  Please review accordingly.

Community Involvement hours must fall into one of these categories:

●      Not-for-profit: includes voluntary activities for any not-for-profit institution or foundation that would not displace a paid worker.

●      For-profit: includes voluntary activities that are charitable-based for any business or organization that would not displace a paid worker. If volunteers are enhancing a product/service being sold/provided by a for-profit business designed to make it more attractive and/or a better experience for clients, then it is not in keeping with the spirit of community service and would not be an approved activity.

●      Other: community support that you feel warrants consideration.  In this case, please submit a brief written summary that explains how this experience meets the spirit and expectations of community involvement as identified above.

If students are considering any of the activities that would fall into the second or third category above, approval by Student Services is required.

NEED VOLUNTEER IDEAS?

Find Volunteer Opportunities:

• Volunteer Ottawa - https://www.volunteerottawa.ca/

• Volunteer Canada - http://volunteer.ca/

• Charity Village - https://charityvillage.com/ 

• City of Ottawa - https://ottawa.ca/en/living-ottawa/volunteering

General Volunteer Ideas:

• Elementary Schools (library, classroom helper, special events)

• Ottawa Museums & Art Gallery

• Organized food drives 

• Support services for community groups (Shepherds of Good Hope, 4H clubs)

• Not-for-profit summer camps  and sports

• Community clean-up events, flower/tree planting(such as ‘Clean Up the Capital’)

• Community Centre led activities (ex: Santa breakfast, Mural painting, Leadership groups) 

• Libraries 

• Religious Events (Volunteering at Church/Mosque/Temple/Synagogue, etc)

• Leadership Training / Counsellor Training 

• Seniors Homes / Retirement Residences

• Not-for-profit / Charity Groups

Places to Volunteer:

• City of Ottawa Volunteer Youth Opportunities (Such as Aquatics, Special Events, Sports and Recreation, Before/After School Programs, March Break/Holiday Camp): https://ottawa.ca/en/living-ottawa/volunteering

• Ottawa Humane Society:  https://ottawahumane.ca/get-involved/volunteering/

• Mission Thrift Store: https://missionthriftstore.com/mission/volunteer

• Salvation Army: https://www.thriftstore.ca/volunteering/

• Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre:  https://eorc-creo.ca/volunteer/

• Smile for Seniors:  https://smilesforseniors.wixsite.com/ottawa/volunteer

• Ausome Ottawa (support children with Autism as they participate in sports & activities): https://ausomeottawa.com/get-involved/volunteer/

• Canadian Blood Services:  https://www.blood.ca/en/ways-donate/volunteering

• Ottawa Foyers Partage (OFP) (community programming and supportive housing for people with disabilities):  www.ottawafoyerpartage.org

• Minto Skating Club at Brian Kilrea Arena (Canterbury): Email colleen@mintoskatingclub.com

• Ottawa School of Art: Email volunteer@artottawa.ca

• Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa: https://www.bgccan.com/en/

• Youth Tutoring Project (Tutoring students in Gr 1 -8): https://ca.nextdoor.com/pages/youth-tutoring-project-ottawa-ontario/

Fall/Winter Volunteer Opportunities

• Canada Army Run - September:  https://armyrun.ca/volunteer/

• sKreamers (Kiwanis Club) - Fall:  https://skreamers.ca/

• Ottawa Symphony - Fall/Winter: https://www.chamberfest.com/volunteer/

• Girls on the Run 5K Volunteer - November: https://www.girlsontherunottawa.ca/volunteer

• Christmas Kettles – December:  https://bellringers.ca/ 

• Winterlude  - February:  https://volunteerottawa.ca/volunteer-job/winterlude-2023-volunteer/

Spring/Summer Volunteer Opportunities

• CN Cycle for CHEO - May:  https://www.cncycle.ca/volunteer/

•  Canadian Tulip Festival – May:  https://tulipfestival.ca/volunteer/

• Ottawa Children’s Festival – May:  https://ottawachildrensfestival.ca/volunteer/

• Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend - May:   https://www.runottawa.ca/torw/volunteers

• Ottawa Fringe Festival – June:  https://ottawafringe.com/volunteer/

• Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival – June:   https://dragonboat.net/volunteer.aspx

• Ottawa Ferrari Festival – June:  http://www.fcaottawa.com/

• Ottawa Bluesfest – July:   https://volunteers.ottawabluesfest.ca/

• Canada Day Celebration @ Petrie Island – July:  https://www.ocanadaorleans.ca/

• Ottawa Chamberfest – July & August:  https://www.chamberfest.com/volunteer/

• Royal City Soccer Club - July & August:  www.royalsoccer.com

• The Summer Youth Program at Perley Health:  https://volunteerottawa.ca/volunteer-job/summer-youth-program/

• Masters Indigenous Games - August:  https://mastersindigenousgames.com/volunteers/