Volunteer resources

• Submit the Volunteer Orientation Application Form or contact Volunteer Resources at 416-422-7031 or e-mail us at volunteers@hollandbloorview.ca.
• Attend an Orientation Session – Please bring two reference letters and your availability calendar in order to set-up your personal interview at this session.
• Provide two written references – Details required for these reference letters is addressed in FAQ below
• Attend a screening interview – Please bring the required identification for the Criminal Record Check/Vulnerable Sector Search (Toronto residents only) and your availability calendar.
• Meet all screening requirements including a Criminal Record Check/Vulnerable Sector Search and Holland Bloorview’s immunization compliance standards.
• Participate in the Basic Introductory Training and Program Specific Training.

Successful completion of the application process does not guarantee a volunteer placement at Holland Bloorview.

Once you have attended an orientation session it will take approximately three weeks to become a Volunteer. It is mostly dependant upon how quickly you can complete your interview, training(s) and reference information.

• 17 years of age or older (for most programs)
• Recruitment of applicants 15 years of age with bronze cross or bronze medallion (Swim School only) are generally limited to early September (for fall/winter/spring programs), and May (for Summer Camps).
• Recruitment of applicants 16 years of age are generally limited to early September (for fall/winter/spring programs), January (for March Break Camps), and May (for Summer Camps).

Students and adults are welcome to participate in our year round, school year, summer and march break programs. Volunteers are welcome to stay with us throughout the year, or choose to participate in programs which run in sessions, allowing for time off in between.  We have a minimum volunteer time commitment of 75 hours and strongly encourage volunteers to stay with us long term.

September – June
To apply to volunteer between September and June, we require a commitment of 1 shift per week (approximately 3 hours a week) for a minimum of 75 hours.  Volunteer shifts occur at the same time and day each week. 

Summer
To apply to volunteer between July and August, we require a commitment of 5 – 10 shifts per week.  The options are 5 half days per week for both July and August or 5 full days for either the month of July or August.

March Break (high school students)
To apply to volunteer for our March Break Camp we require a volunteer time commitment of 40 hours over 5 full days, Monday to Friday.

We have a variety of volunteer opportunities available at the hospital to support our clients, their families and our staff.  Details of current available volunteer opportunities are discussed at our Orientation Session. Volunteers are placed based on vacancies that are available in the hospital, suitability and interest. A volunteer position description is provided to each assigned volunteer, outlining your duties and responsibilities.

Volunteer Resources does not offer clinical practice, internships or observership placements. Please see our clinical placements page for more information.

We have also listed a few of our specialized and community based programs, where Holland Bloorview volunteers are involved.

Swimming Pool Volunteers
We recruit volunteers to assist in our pool programs:

• Red Cross Swimming Classes – 15 years of age with Bronze Med/Bronze Cross
• Recreational Swim – minimum 17 years of age
• Integrated Education & Therapy Swim (IET)– Monday to Friday afternoons only
• Recruitment of applicants 15 years of age with bronze cross or bronze medallion (Swim School only) are generally limited to early September (for fall/winter/spring programs), and May (for Summer Camps).
• Recruitment of applicants 16 years of age are generally limited to early September (for fall/winter/spring programs), January (for March Break Camps), and May (for Summer Camps).

Sledge Hockey - Community Volunteer Opportunity
We recruit Holland Bloorview volunteers to help kids and young adults with physical disabilities learn the exciting game of Sledge Hockey.  Qualifications to volunteer in this program are that you must be 18+ years old with previous hockey experience and able to help out on the ice during our program.  Our program runs Sunday afternoons from 1:30 – 4:30 pm at Commander Park Arena throughout the winter. 

Nursery Schools - Community Volunteer Opportunity
Holland Bloorview Nursery Schools support children aged two to five years, with neurological and/or physical disabilities, including developmental delays, speech and language delays, and visual or auditory impairment.

Our nursery schools are designed to meet the individual needs of each preschool child, while encouraging children with physical disabilities and their non-disabled peers to play together. Our staff includes specialists in Early Childhood Education, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy Consultation.

Nursery School (Scarborough Site)
Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.
Monday to Thursday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m
1 Wayne Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario, M1R 1Y1

• Play and Learn Nursery School

Monday to Friday
8:30 to 11:45 a.m., 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
666 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, M5N 1C3

• Nursery School (High Park Site)

Monday to Friday
8:30 to 11:30 a.m. (no afternoon or full day placements)
285 Indian Road Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 2G8

Due to the popularity of these volunteer opportunities, Holland Bloorview volunteers who have contributed 30 hours in another program and have received a good evaluation can be added to waitlists for these programs.

During the Fall/Winter term, if you are available during school hours, we also have limited opportunities in our Integrated Education & Therapy Program, where you may have exposure to a Speech Language Pathologist, Physiotherapist, Occupational or Music Therapist; however your direct supervisor will be a Special Education Teacher. 

Two written letters of reference must be submitted at the Orientation Session. The reference letters must contain the following key information to be considered:

• Employment and or volunteer references are preferred.  Should you not have employment or volunteer references, we will consider teachers, coaches, community leaders or other professional references. We cannot accept letters written by a parent, family member, friend or “friend of the family”.
• The person writing the reference letter should emphasize the applicant’s reliability, competence and any previous experience working with children.
• Letters must be dated and written on letterhead (when possible) and include the full name and the current address and telephone number of the person writing the letter.
• We do accept photocopies of reference letters.

If you are 18 years of age or older you will be required to complete a Criminal Record Check/Vulnerable Sector Search.  Further instructions on the process for obtaining these checks will be provided to you at your screening interview.  The hospital will pay on behalf of accepted applicants, the costs associated with fulfilling these requirements.

To complete these requirements, we require you to bring to your screening interview the following (Toronto residents only):

1 photo and 1 non-photo piece of Identification

Accepted Photo Identification Includes:  Drivers License, Government Employment Card, Military Employment Card, Age of Majority Card, Canadian Citizenship Card, Indian Status Card, International Student Card, Passport, Permanent Resident Card, Canadian National Institute for the Blind Card (CNIB)

(Photo Identification must provide photo, name and date of birth)

Accepted Non-Photo Identification Includes:  Birth Certificate, Baptismal Certificate, Hunting License, Fishing License, Outdoors Card, Hospital Card, Canadian Bloor Donor Card, Immigration Papers

(Non-Photo Identification must provide name and date of birth)

For those applying to volunteer who live outside of the GTA, further information on how to obtain this check will be provided at your screening interview.

Accepted applicants will be required to provide proof of immunity to:  rubella, measles, mumps and chicken pox and documentation of a 2 step Tuberculosis screening.  A form to be completed by your physician or nurse practitioner on the immunization requirements will be provided to you at your screening interview. 

The two-step TB Test requires four visits to your doctor and therefore can take several weeks to complete.

Please Note:  It is the applicants’ sole responsibility to pay any costs incurred to meet the immunization requirements. 

No. While we welcome volunteers with health care experience, volunteers are not permitted to act as professional health care providers within the hospital.

Volunteer Resources is responsible for providing the hospital with volunteers.  Volunteer Resources has no authority to offer employment and volunteers are not considered internal applicants.  Volunteering may however provide you with experience or exposure that will assist you in finding employment. 

Registered Holland Bloorview volunteers who show their hospital volunteer identification badge are granted parking privileges while on duty.