Did you know that it is National Volunteer Week in Canada, and International Year of the Volunteer around the globe?

2026 is the international year of the volunteer, according to the United Nations. Every year, in April, Canada celebrates a national volunteer week to recognize and celebrate volunteers across the nation. At the KW Multicultural Centre, we want to recognize and celebrate the hundreds of volunteers who help our programs and services run, including WR Connectors, Let’s Talk youth, Conversational English Partners, English Conversation Circle and community event volunteers, and our volunteer board of directors.

Recognizing volunteering is more important than ever

Canada’s volunteer rate – which includes formal volunteering (like at the KW Multicultural Centre) and informal volunteering (like shoveling your neighbour’s driveway) – has decreased by 8% since 2018, according to Statistics Canada. This equals a loss of over 3.2 million people from Canada’s volunteer force. And the total number of volunteer hours dropped 18%, or a total of $1.1 billion in economic and social value.

There may be many reasons for this decline in volunteering. Jessica Pang-Parks, as reported in The Peterborough Examiner, mentions the increasing cost of life, which could include delaying retirement, fewer single-income households, and young people unable to volunteer on top of their work and/or school commitments.

Canada is a country built on a foundation of volunteers. Non-profit and charitable organizations, hospitals, places of faith, sports leagues, and even the profession of social work, are built and run on the support of volunteers. We believe that letting volunteerism fade away in Canada would result in crushing impacts to our social, cultural, and economic fabric. The KW Multicultural Centre is committed to recognizing, magnifying, and celebrating volunteerism at our centre and in our wider community.

**The KW Multicultural Centre’s commitment to our volunteers**

The KW Multicultural Centre recognizes the invaluable positive impact of volunteers on our Centre’s mission, as well as our community. In fact, the KW Multicultural Centre was founded by a group of volunteers, who were newcomers to Canada and who recognized the need for celebrating cultural diversity. 

Today, our volunteers join alongside staff members, independent contractors, placement students, and community supporters, working toward an accessible, barrier-free, and inclusive society for immigrants. Our volunteers represent diversity in age, background, immigration status, ethnicity, and much more, and serve as champions of newcomers across the Waterloo Region. Within the Centre, they support our programs, events, and many other integral operations to ensure that our clients feel supported, respected, and empowered. 

From our volunteer board of directors to employment Connectors, conversational English partners, youth leaders, and event supporters, our volunteers generously donate their time, skills, and gifts to the KW Multicultural Centre. Together, we amplify our shared vision of an inclusive and safe community where everyone has equitable access to the resources needed to prosper and thrive. 

Volunteer with us

If you are interested in helping newcomers to feel welcome, broadening your horizons, or using your experience and skills to mentor an immigrant to Canada, please review our open volunteer positions.