Volunteer Symposium 2025
Kings Volunteer Resource Centre’s 7th annual Volunteer Leadership Symposium Building Community Through Random Acts of Volunteerism will take place Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 9 AM - 3:30 PM, at the Nova Scotia Community College - Kingstec Campus in Kentville.
Keynote speaker: Janice Landry
Janice Landry, an award-winning journalist and writer, will share stories from her latest book, Every Little Thing How Small Acts of Kindness Make a Big Impact.
“One of the main takeaways of my new book, Every Little Thing, is that we all have gifts to share in order to lift up others and spread light. Helpers and volunteers wear many hats, and they are the backbone of every community. This new work honours them.”
Workshops…and more to come
Creating and Supporting Inclusive Environments for Neurodivergent Volunteers
Presenter: Kym Hume
Volunteers are a critical resource for so many businesses and organizations. Persons who are neurodivergent often want to volunteer and have some exceptional skills which can provide a vital resource in these times of fewer people volunteering.
This workshop will focus on understanding the strengths and challenges which neurodivergent people bring to the workplace. Creating an environment that allows these volunteers to feel comfortable and carry out volunteer opportunities successfully will be discussed. Strategies and supports that can be incorporated into the environment will be described.
Finding Simple Ways to Increase Accessibility
Presenter: Katie MacArthur
Is your organization accessible to everyone? This workshop will guide you through the basics of conducting an accessibility audit to identify barriers in your workplace, services, or events. Designed for beginners, this session covers practical, easy-to-implement strategies to make your organization more inclusive for people with disabilities.
Learn how to evaluate physical spaces, digital content, policies, and practices, and discover actionable changes that can have a big impact. Whether you’re just starting or looking to expand your accessibility efforts, this workshop will provide the tools and confidence to create a more inclusive environment for all.
Recruiting Informal Volunteers for Short Term Events
Presenter: Max Chauvin
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community and our organizations. However, finding new volunteers for long-term commitments such as serving on a Board of Directors or helping out with short-term projects or special events is getting harder.
Join us to look specifically at how organizations can better recruit people for short-term and even single-day projects or informal volunteering, and target young, community-minded people to come out and help. What has worked in the past is not working anymore; it is time to consider updating your recruitment efforts if you need a strong and dynamic volunteer base to be successful.
Volunteers are the HEART of it all
Presenter: Mandy Morgan
Have you ever tried herding cats? Sometimes that is what it is like when working with and scheduling many different people to create a successful outcome of an event. Mandy is going to give a brief history on the Devour Film & Food Festival and give tips and tricks to working with volunteers from pre-event, to during, and post-event activities. She will discuss how she vets volunteers and from her perspective why they return year after year. We must remember that the volunteers are the HEART of it all.
Building Welcoming Communities
Presenter: Oge Chukwudozie
As Nova Scotia becomes more culturally diverse, we need to learn how to welcome and work with immigrants and build a better community together. In this workshop you will increase your understanding of settlement and integration barriers and explore practical ways to welcome and support new immigrants.
Grant Writing with AI
Presenter: Shaun Whynaught
Cut down on the time it takes to write a grant. This workshop will show you how AI can help you write a grant, in a fraction of the time.
Special Closing - Join Hike Nova Scotia Walk leaders in celebrating Nova Scotia Walk Day. Stretch your legs with a relaxed, 30-minute walk through the neighborhood. This is a great opportunity to connect with others, move your body at a comfortable pace, breathe in the fresh spring air and experience the beauty of nature in community. All are welcome. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate clothing.
