Volunteer Canada is joined by Statistics Canada to hear highlights from their recent article based on data from the 2018 General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (GSS-GVP).

Volunteering gives people a place and the space to shape our communities. In 2018, 79% of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported volunteering, either formally as part of an organization or informally, on their own without the involvement of a group, helping extended family, friends, neighbours and strangers.

Altogether, 24 million people contributed to improving the health, well-being, education and safety of Canadians and enhancing Canadian communities.

In this conversation and virtual workshop, led by Lisa Mort-Putland, Executive Director, Volunteer Victoria, we will unpack how COVID-19 impacted volunteerism in the short-term and explore how the non-profit sector might respond to new shifts, expectations, trends, and realities for the long-term.

2021 marks the 20th anniversary of 3 significant milestones for the non-profit and charitable sector in Canada:

(1) the International Year of Volunteers 2001;

(2) the launching of the first Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement;

and (3) the signing of an Accord between the Government of Canada and the (voluntary) non-profit and charitable sector.

We reflect on the past 20 years and look ahead to ensure we work together to lay a strong foundation for the next 20 years.