Volunteer
Why volunteer?
People volunteer for a variety of reasons and at various stages in their lives. Overall, they have a general willingness to serve others, and to connect with a community.
Volunteers are the backbone of our programs & services at Mount St. Mary Hospital. Our Volunteer Services Coordinator, Tara Fedosoff, works with each volunteer to ensure that they are matched to a volunteer position that best reflects their skills, experience, interests and passions. Positions vary in duration, frequency and level of physical activity. We want your volunteer experience to be as rewarding to you as it is for the residents we are serving!
WHY DO A CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK (CRC)?
*People sometimes ask if volunteers have to complete a criminal record check? The answer is yes. We perform the screening process, known as a criminal record check, to ensure that the right match is made between the work to be done and the person who will do it. Screening serves to create and maintain a safe work environment for the volunteer and for our residents.** See alternative text in green for this paragraph and the next.
Mount St. Mary follows the Criminal Records Review Act, which states that “that people who volunteer with – or may have potential for unsupervised access to vulnerable adults – undergo a criminal record check by the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP)”. All volunteers and staff are required to complete a Criminal Record Check prior to working with the residents. A safe and secure home environment is our priority.
We strive to make this process as easy as possible. Most applications can be submitted online with minimal paperwork. The average wait time for a volunteer clearance letter from the Criminal Records Review Program is 2 weeks.
Volunteer Opportunities
Cycling without Age Companions and Pilots:
Our Cycling without Age Program is popular with residents, and with the volunteers who take them cycling. Our volunteer pilots pedal the trishaw bikes, and our companions sit in the seat beside a resident to keep them company. The rides take passengers throughout the many cycle-friendly routes located close to Mount St. Mary Hospital. They operate all year, weather permitting, bringing so much joy to all who participate.
Intergenerational Dementia Choir helper/porter
As a Heart to Heart Choir volunteer, you can help build community for people with dementia, while gaining life skills, training and experience with elders with memory loss. Volunteers are needed Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm for porters or 6:30-7:30 for program volunteers. This intergenerational choir is conducted by Choral Director, Gordon Miller and coordinated by Certified Music Therapist, Marie Slade. The choir sings explores many musical genres including folk, classical, inspirational, jazz and rock and roll. Volunteers ages 12 and up are welcome.
Activity Helper/Porter:
The Recreation Team leads a variety of social activities throughout the hospital. We are looking for energetic and positive volunteers to assist with portering residents to and from their rooms as well as participating in a number of fun activities such as baking, art & crafts and gardening.
Music Therapy Volunteers:
Our iPod program has the ability to transport resident to special times and places in their lives. As a volunteer with our iPod program, you will enjoy meaningful one-on-one visits while listening to individualized playlists with the residents. Volunteers receive training and support from one of our music therapists. As a Full Circle porter you can help residents access the powerful benefits of music therapy for the human spirit. You will be invited to interact and engage with the residents by showing sensory prompts to help residents to understand the theme of the group. Full Circle is a spiritual music therapy program that meets and respects residents in their spirituality, led by Certified Music Therapist Marie Slade for over 23 years this program has a weekly spiritual theme with songs, poetry and a prayer on the theme.
Story Project Volunteers:
The Story Project is an occasion for residents to share their life stories with friends, family and staff. As a Story Project volunteer, you will spend one-on-one time guiding the resident with questions that will prompt recall of past memories. Once completed, these stories are posted outside each resident’s’ room.
Hymn Sing Porters:
Hymn Sing is an opportunity for the residents (and family members) to come together and sing their favourite hymns. This takes place on the first and third Saturday of each month. The group is guided by our Spiritual Coordinator and a volunteer pianist in our beautiful Chapel. As a Hymn Sing volunteer, you will porter residents to and from their rooms, sit with them in Chapel and sing along! This would be a 2 hour commitment – from 10am till noon, twice a month.