By Maggie Chen

 I went to a Multicultural Association to volunteer and what I saw impressed me: people helped each other and the community at no cost. Volunteerism is such a powerful thing in western culture!

 I eventually reached the position of  Board of Director and  President at the Multicultural Association,  so I had a chance to understand non-profit society structures and policies. 

 Volunteerism has given me the time to discover my own potential – my strength and abilities. I discovered I have strong Leadership and Organization skills and that gave me confidence in Canada. It has also given me the feeling of belonging – that I am part of this city, country and I am proud of who I am as a Chinese Canadian today. 

 In 2005, my family and I moved from B.C. to Calgary. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Statistics, so I went back to school to update my career.

In 2007, I decided to start my own business, CTL Accounting & Business Solutions. I remember the first year as being challenging, but I didn’t give up my dream. I worked hard to build my trust business relationship with my clients. 

In 2011, I branded my company to CTL Business Group Limited and extended our businesses services into International Business Consultations, Mandarin Language Training and Accounting. We have two offices in Calgary,Canada and Taipei,Taiwan now. On March 13 to April 12, 2012, we will open Business & Travel Mandarin Language Program to the public at Suncor Energy Centre West Tower Meeting Room. (www.ctlinternational.ca)

 In my heart, I didn’t forget the powerful impact of volunteerism that brought me to where I am today. For this reason, I founded the Alberta Chinese Canadian Friendship Association in 2010. Our three major missions are Taking Care of Our Environment, Engaging to the Community and Concerning the Generation.

I would like to help people who are struggling in different issues – such as careers, family and friends - find support that they need here. I also want to spread the idea of volunteerism to the community. I often hear people saying they don’t have time to volunteer because of jobs, family and other reasons, but if you can spend even 2 hours per month to help your neighbors, community and environmental issues, I think this world would change for the better because of everybody’s efforts.

 Alberta Chinese Canadian Friendship Association invites you to join our Year of Dragon Celebration “Making Chinese Dumplings Together.” You can go online www.accfa.ca to register. The celebration will held at noon, Sunday on Feb 26 at Old Y Centre, 223, 12 Avenue SW.

 Community is emerging and our world is shrinking – working as a team, developing successful, long term, strategic relationships are positive ideas to our community. Alberta Chinese Canadian Friendship Association is looking for volunteers for a variety of positions, sponsorships and community partnerships. If you have any questions, please contact us:info@accfa.ca or phone: 403-998-2436 Maggie Chen. Visit the website at www.accfa.ca

Michelle Mungar Lumley
Coordinator, Volunteer Programs
Ronald McDonald House® Southern Alberta 

Ronald McDonald House^®   Southern Alberta (RMHSA) provides a home away from home for sick children and their families.  The House would not be able to run without the dedication of hundreds of volunteers who support families in many different capacities.

Currently, RMHSA has over 700 volunteers who handle everything from reception, administration, housekeeping, baking and event support. 

Michelle Mungar Lumley is the Coordinator, Volunteer Programs, responsible for working with this passionate group of volunteers.

With a background in Public Relations, Mungar Lumley started her career working in sponsorship and event planning. Working closely with volunteers for almost five years, she began to develop a passion for the work volunteers do and soon found herself on a new career path as a manager of volunteers. 

Mungar Lumley’s passion for working with volunteers and RMHSA’s structured volunteer program helped her ease into her new role. The House has a volunteer manual which contains policies and various pieces of information necessary to ensure a successful and meaningful experience for volunteers.

“I had a role in making changes and updates to the information available, as well as policies,” says Mungar Lumley.   “I learned very quickly that in order to have a successful, progressive volunteer program we need to be able to change and adapt to the needs of the organization and the volunteers.”

Mungar Lumley stresses the importance of volunteer recognition especially in an organization that is dependent on volunteers. On a day-to-day basis, she ensures that there is ongoing volunteer recognition throughout the House in the form of thank you cards, chocolates and small tokens of appreciation.  Every year, they hold a volunteer appreciation event to celebrate everyone’s contributions.

Another way they ensure that volunteers feel valued is by asking for their input on recognition through surveys and in person feedback.  “Making sure that volunteers feel supported, appreciated and listened to is vital to an effective and successful volunteer program,” says Mungar Lumley.

Mungar Lumley finds the most challenging aspect of her job to be balancing the many different hats that she wears: from providing support to volunteers and families, responding to email to managing statistics and building programs.

“On the upside, I never quite know which direction my day will go and that is an exciting aspect to my job,” says Mungar Lumley.

 “I love working with the dynamic volunteer team and seeing all the volunteers grow. Every day I get to come in to a meaningful workplace and work alongside people from all walks of life, while making a difference to families going through a hard time.”

Tips from Michelle Mungar Lumley:

• Listen to the volunteers, ask for their feedback. We have made some amazing changes to the volunteer program because of volunteer feedback.
• Giving volunteers an outlet to network with the many other volunteers they rarely get to see  has contributed greatly to the level of satisfaction in the volunteer program.
• Read, network and soak up as much information as possible. There are many resources and tons of information available on the internet.
• Ask questions. When I started managing volunteers, it was a relief to know I could go to other managers of volunteers to ask questions and get feedback.
• Volunteer Calgary has also been a great resource through their training programs and availability when I have a question.

Check out the Volunteer Calgary website to find out how you can volunteer with Ronald McDonald House of Southern Alberta.  

The following is an excerpt from a speech given by Anita Hofer (Class of 2011) describing her experience as a participant in the Leadership Calgary Program.

This program – the human venture framework – these books – the conversations – that mapbook – it did something. It woke me up. It un-numbed me. It has opened my eyes. I am awake.

Suddenly I’m awake to illusions, awake to authorities, awake to the forces of culture. I am wide awake at night! And that un-numb/suddenly wide awake feeling – sometimes it feels like a relief – like clarity, but it hasn’t always felt so good. Over the year I’ve had bouts of despair about my mindless compliance, my gullability, my ignorance and arrogance – but it’s this un-numbing, this awakening to something bigger, this feeling of connecting and caring – that is the beginning part of being truly alive and human.

 What I’ve learned this year is that we humans don’t think deeply. There are all these problems out there – really awful systemic problems. Some of these problems were discussed in the selected readings this year: destruction of the ecosystem, economic collapse, a lack of adaptive schooling, war and genocide. There is a lot at stake.  And we humans have this sense of invincibility, but our existence is more tenuous then we think. Our culture of distraction and illusion, and the seduction of consumption have made it easy to walk our way through life with big, invisible question marks hanging over our heads as we fumble along without truly understanding what’s going on.  Or maybe worse, by turning off and becoming numb.

We’re not thinking deeply! So, the antidote to this? Inquiry. I’ve learned that if we become explorers, if we can dig, listen, read, investigate, wonder….there are some solutions, there are some preventions to these problems in the world. They are discoverable and they are applicable across many fields. There is hope. I’ve learned to explore and search for deeper understanding.

In history there are successes and failures. Investigate those and look for the patterns. Engaging with others and connecting with great thinkers can be fertile ground for inquiry. Who is doing work on the frontier? How can we connect with those people?

We need to question the news. And we need to question what isn’t on the news and why? I’ve learned I need to spend time searching for the truth. And what is true anyway? How would I know?

I learned if something moves you – a faraway civil uprising, a speech from an activist, perhaps a favourite story, a Bach Prelude, someone’s life story, the Mona Lisa – if it resonates with you – if you are passionate about something – WHY? Figure it out. It’s worth taking the time to dig. This passion serves as fuel.

Recently I remembered something that has always moved me – one of my favourite children’s books, The Velveteen Rabbit. In it, the young and naïve toy Rabbit has a conversation with the Skin Horse, who is an old and shabby toy but is also very understanding and wise. The toy Rabbit wants to become real. So he asks the wise Skin Horse, “What is Real?”  The Skin Horse replies, “Real isn’t how you are made, it’s a thing that happens to you.” And he continues on to say, “It doesn’t happen all at once. You become.” So I think we should have a Leadership Calgary version of this book and instead of reading “You become.” we could change it to read, “It doesn’t happen all at once. You are becoming.”

Anita Hofer

Leadership Calgary, Class of 2011

What does being alive and human mean to you? Join Leadership Calgary on Sunday, February 19 for the first of our Blue Water Workshops “What is the Human Venture and Why Does It Matter?”. For details and registration information, please visit our website.   

Devon Canada Corporation is a strong supporter of volunteerism within their own company and the community as a whole. Whether they are getting their hands dirty and building a ramp to improve accessibility to a non-profit partner or supporting a partner’s Volunteer Program, community success is of utmost importance to Devon.

For nearly 10 years, Devon has been encouraging their employees to get involved in the community through the Devon Volunteer Network Program. The company assists employees in searching for volunteer opportunities that they can engage with both on their own time and on company time with their coworkers. Additionally, when individual employees log 9 hours of volunteer work over 3 months, they qualify for a $250 grant for a charity of their choice. If a team of employees is volunteering or fundraising for a specific cause, they can apply for a $1000 grant from the company benefiting their charity.

 “Volunteering is the cornerstone of our Community Investment Program,” states Paula King, Supervisor of Corporate Communications & Community Investment. As part of their Community Investment strategy, Devon tries to have a volunteer component with all partnerships, tying in the technical skills of their employees whenever they can. Identified as the “Best Place to Work for Community Involvement and Employee Volunteering” by Alberta Venture Magazine in 2010, Devon attributes this achievement to taking on causes and initiatives that match the passions and interest of their employees.

For companies just starting to explore the concept of a volunteer program, Kray Price recommends, “Start small and profile the champions in your organization. This will start a snowball effect and you will soon see that more people want to join in. Listen to what your employees are saying and find out what they are passionate about.”

Devon is also a proud sponsor of Volunteer Calgary’s Leadership Awards – Volunteer Family Award. Devon sees their long history of family volunteering in two different ways – the Devon family of employees volunteering together and the Devon employees getting their own families to engage in the community. It is also a great way to recognize their employees. Every year, Devon selects one of their family volunteer champions to sit on the selection committee for the award.  

Volunteer Calgary thanks Paula King, Supervisor of Corporate Communications & Community Investment, and Kray Price, Communications & Community Investment Advisor, at Devon Canada Corporation.

Encana believes in supporting the decisions of its employees when it comes to giving back to their communities. While some employees choose to give through donations, which Encana matches,  the company also supports employees who  give their time in support of registered charitable and non-profit organizations.

Over the last four years, through Encana’s employee volunteer program, employees have been able to apply for cash grants for organizations where they (and their families) volunteer their time. Many of these groups are sports associations or community organizations. Encana also supports employee volunteer efforts by posting volunteer opportunities with its community partners on the company’s intranet. In 2011, the program recorded over 14,000 volunteer hours from employees.

Encana employees certainly seem to appreciate the freedom to determine where and how they donate their time or money. In 2011 alone, Encana and its employees gave approximately $6 million to community organizations throughout North America through their employee programs.

Encana has a few words of wisdom for companies just starting to explore employee volunteer programs, “Do your research.” Decide what results you want to achieve, choose the right tools to get those results and then be patient. It takes time for people to get accustomed to using your tools and tracking systems.

Encana is also the proud sponsor of Volunteer Calgary’s Leadership Awards – Leaders of Tomorrow Award. This award recognizes the outstanding volunteer work of Calgary youth. Encana believes these young leaders provide a role model for their peers and that it is important to celebrate their work, share their wonderful stories and encourage them to continue to make a difference in our community.

Volunteer Calgary thanks Kim Young, Community Involvement Advisor, and Erin Olesen, Community Involvement Analyst, of Encana Corporation.

To learn more about how you can start or enhance an employee volunteer program in your company, please contact Janet Kerrigan, Volunteer Calgary’s Corporate Citizenship Coordinator at jkerrigan@volunteercalgary.ab.ca at 403-231-1428.

On January 31, Cardel Theatre was abuzz with energy, passion and volunteer spirit, as the nominees for the 16^thAnnual Leadership Awards gathered in a special event to celebrate their contributions to creating a stronger and more vibrant Calgary.

 This year, a grand total of 99 nominations were received across eight award categories:Heart of Calgary, Leaders of Tomorrow, Leaders in Employee Volunteering, Leader in Volunteer Management, Leader in Volunteer Engagement, Volunteer Family, Volunteer in Profile, and Volunteer Animal. 

From Mika, the volunteer animal nominee and Riley Beatty (11), the youngest volunteer in the room, to lifelong volunteers and businesses of all sizes, these nominees represent the commitment, passion and diversity of the thousands of volunteers in Calgary who work behind the scenes to build a stronger and healthier community. 

Their stories are inspiring and amazing and deserve to be shared with the community. 

Click here to read about the nominees.

Click here for the press release.

We spoke to some of the people in the room and here is what they have to say: 

 “It’s incredible to have this amount of skill, talent and contributions in the same room. The energy was palpable. I’m humbled to be included in such a prestigious group of people.” ~ Sharlene Coulter, nominee for Leader in Volunteer Management Award

 “It’s an exciting event and an honour to be in the presence of so many people who are passionate about volunteering.” ~ Jessica Williams, nominee for Leader in Volunteer Management Award

  “It’s wonderful to have an organization that works not only to support volunteer engagement, but also provides a wonderful forum for volunteer recognition.” ~Erica Armstrong, nominator

 “I really feel it’s a validation of the things that I do. It’s nice to meet other volunteers with other organizations and learn about what they do.” ~ Priscilla Popilchak, nominee for Volunteer in Profile Award

 “I feel honoured about being nominated out of the many volunteers with the organization. There is an amazing range of volunteer that are here today.” ~ Don Nelson, nominee for Volunteer in Profile Award

 “Volunteers are important. There are so many inspiring stories. It is so inspiring to be here.” ~ Louise Thompson, nominator

 “It’s so great to recognize people who are doing so much for the city.Calgaryis such a caring community. I am grateful to Volunteer Calgary for recognizing volunteers.” ~ Jack Neuefeld, nominee for Heart of Calgary Award 

Learn more about the Volunteer Calgary Leadership Awards here.

Until recent history we, as a species, didn’t have to understand these things deeply. The consequences of trial and error learning, environmental destruction, the rise and fall of civilizations, pandemics and large-scale failures of humanity such as war and genocide, while devastating, were sufficiently localized to be globally tolerable. This is no longer the case. Globalization and the scale of human activity bring global risks as well as opportunities. As Edwards Deming, the pioneer of quality management put it, “learning is optional; so is survival”.

For the past 50 years we have experienced unparallel technological and economic development, accompanied by a growing chorus of warning voices that our path is not only unsustainable, it isn’t making us happier or more fulfilled, let alone wiser and more responsible. As is always the case with frontiers, the voices we hear cover the full range of human responses to change, risk and uncertainty. We hear those who for one reason or another seek to amplify the stress – the naïve alarmists, doomsday preachers, manipulative speculators and leaders looking to capitalize on fear and uncertainty. We hear a wide range of deniers and ignorers, including those who either refuse or are incapable of acknowledging anything outside their existing habits, interests or world-views. We also hear from those who understand the need to appear to be changing, but are prepared to do so only at a cosmetic level. The voices of disciplined inquiry, history, foresight, human caring, life responsibility, and creative action are also in the mix, but they have a long path to travel and many challenges to survive before they are widely heard. It is this wiser voice and the courage to use it that we seek to nurture and strengthen in the Leadership Calgary program. 

We are mapping out the frontiers and dynamics of human progress across disciplines, sectors, cultures and periods of history. We look for the best and worst of human thought, learning and action, and search for common patterns that we can integrate and apply in meeting adaptive challenges at every level of social integration – individual, organization, community, society and culture.

Commerce and economic development are critical parts of this picture, but not the whole. There is a new industrial revolution underway, one that links economics with ecology, social justice, culture, conduct and adaptive human and community development. The complexity of this new terrain requires new ways of thinking, caring, learning and acting, and a deep understanding of what it means to be alive and human. It is a daunting and audacious challenge, but each year more caring, thoughtful people step forward to take it on, and our pool of learning resources and networks grows wider and deeper. Together we are learning to navigate on this frontier. This is good. There is much work to do, and the stakes are high.

 Ken Low
Leadership Calgary

 Leadership Calgary is a 9 month, intensive program. We are accepting applications for the 2012/ 2013 class until May 17, 2012.

The health benefits of volunteering are numerous and well documented:

• According to a 2009 Mayo Clinic report, people who volunteer have lower rates of heart disease and live longer than those who don’t.
• Volunteering can boost mental health; it’s a great way to stay connected socially; and those social connections help buffer stress and get a person through hard times.
• Women tend to be more adept at maintaining social ties, and volunteer activities can further strengthen a woman’s social network.
• Volunteering can provide a sense of purpose and vitality, key elements in helping stave off the depression that sometimes accompanies aging and isolation.
• Volunteering can also improve your physical health there are many volunteering opportunities in the community that encourage volunteers to be physical everything from cleaning a local park to painting a fence or even helping lead a yoga class. 
•  Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that people who remain actively engaged in life tend to have better mental health and are more capable of coping with life’s challenges.
•  In his book, “Good Things Happen to Good People”, Stephen Post documents that “Volunteers tend to be happier and therefore less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.”
•  For those who are unemployed or retired, volunteering can give you a sense of purpose.
•  When you focus on helping others, you are less likely to focus on your own troubles.
• Studies show that staying socially connected is related to good physical and emotional health.

 To realize the health benefits of volunteering, your commitment should be 40 to 100 hours a year, says the Mayo Clinic report. (That equates to a couple of hours a week.)

If health and wellness are on your list of things to improve in 2012, we invite you to check out the Volunteer Calgary website to sign up and create a personal profile and let us send you emails every time one of our non-profit organizations posts an opportunity that fits your description of the perfect match.

Volunteerism is a means by which people can take control of lives and make a difference to themselves and to those around them. ~UN State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2011

Andrea Tolan
Manager, Human Resources
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 

Andrea Tolan’s passion for sports and people make her a natural fit for her role at Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, an organization which ‘strives to promote the importance of sport to Canadian families and communities by sharing the compelling stories of sport’.

Her wealth of experience in HR has proven valuable to her role as manager of Human Resources, which includes managing volunteers alongside staff. In this role, she develops strategies with management, employees and volunteers to realize the goals of the organization and individuals.

“My day to day work and strong fundamentals in Human Resources Management have allowed me to transfer a similar management approach to the management of volunteers here at Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame,” says Tolan.

Volunteers contribute to the day to day operations ofCanada’s Sports Hall of Fame in a variety of roles. Their facility is 100% accessible for all visitors and volunteers.  Volunteers help with tours and exhibits, school programs, special events, and more. 

“Volunteers are members of our team and work towards the same mission and share our passion for sport,” said Tolan. “They are integral to our team.”

As in the sporting world, Tolan ensures that volunteers feel that they are a part of the team from the very beginning. To do this, they make sure that each team member undergoes a comprehensive orientation. This includes a presentation, facility tour and gallery tour, department specific training and a buddy system.  Volunteers are also provided a Volunteer Handbook after the interview process so any further questions can be answered.

Providing volunteers with opportunities for learning and personal and professional growth is also part of the organization’s volunteer engagement strategy.

“My favourite part of my job is providing learning and development opportunities to volunteers, whether academic, personal or professional,” she said. “I love to learn and pass on my passion for knowledge to others.

If there’s any organization that knows the value of recognition, it’sCanada’s Sports Hall of Fame.  They always make it a point that volunteers feel appreciated – from simple “thank yous” to special events in honour of volunteers.

“We will be hosting our first 2012 Volunteer BBQ in recognition of our volunteers who have contributed to many successful day to day activities and events,” she said.

What does Tolan like about living in Calgary?  “Moving from Toronto several years ago, I’ve found the spirit of giving and volunteerism in Calgary is very moving.  It inspires me to contribute in some way every day. There is no better place thatCanada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the sport community to see how dedicatedCalgaryvolunteers are, it is truly an amazing legacy from the ’88 Olympics.”

 “As well, I am a passionate outdoorswoman and I love the opportunity to be in the mountains within an hour.”

 Tips from Andrea Tolan: 

•  Have fun with volunteers.  Get to know them and get to know what their interests are. Sometimes volunteers have a wealth of knowledge that is  revealed with a short conversation and a few simple questions.
•  Keep up with trends.  Continually change and stay current on best practices and new ideas.

Check out the Volunteer Calgary website to find out how you volunteer with Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

On Monday, December 5, 2011, people from all around the world will unite to celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD). There are many ways for you, your family and your friends to celebrate and support International Volunteer Day.

 1. THANK A VOLUNTEER.

With over 12.5 million Canadians and 1.4 million Albertans who volunteer, chances are, you are directly impacted by the work of a volunteer or you know a person who volunteers. Write a “thank you” note, send an email, shake their hands, take them out to lunch, buy them coffee. Whatever you choose to do, it is important to let volunteers know that their work is highly valued. It’s the least you can do to support these local heroes.

At Volunteer Calgary, we have fabulous and dedicated volunteers who help us work toward our mission of promoting, connecting, leading and strengthening volunteerism. We want to take this opportunity to say…

 THANK YOU to all the VC Volunteers 2011!

2. RECOGNIZE A VOLUNTEER.

If you know a volunteer who has made a tremendous positive impact on the community or the lives of others, let everyone else know. Share their inspiring story with others by contacting media or by nominating them for an award.

Nominate a local volunteer for one of Volunteer Calgary’s Leadership Awards, the city’s premier volunteer recognition event. Nominations are year-round. To nominate a volunteer visit, www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca/leadershipawards.

 3. BECOME A VOLUNTEER.

The best form of appreciation is emulation! One of the best ways to participate in International Volunteer Day is by embarking in your own volunteer work. Most non-profit organizations that work to provide essential services to the community can benefit from your support. Grab your friends and family and start volunteering. To find volunteer opportunities, visit www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca

 4. INSPIRE OTHERS TO VOLUNTEER.

If you are a volunteer, share your story with your friends, family and co-workers. Talk about what you do, create awareness for the cause you are working toward, promote the non-profit organization you are helping, help recruit more volunteers. Be a shining example and advocate of volunteerism and inspire them to do the same!

An easy way to spread the word about volunteering is by telling your friends about Volunteer Calgary’s Become a Volunteer Hero campaign. 

 Volunteers work continuously to provide essential services to the community. Celebrating volunteers and volunteerism should be a continuous, year-round event that should start but not end on International Volunteer Day.

For more about IVD,  visit the www.worldvolunteerweb.org.

Sometimes we get too caught up in the holiday festivities that we forget the essence of this time of year. At the heart of it all, holidays are a time to celebrate all that we are grateful for – good health, good fortune, and our family and friends.

One of the best ways to celebrate and express appreciation and gratitude for all that we have is to share these blessings with others in the community who may not be as fortunate as we are.

This year, help make the holiday season a special time for all Calgarians. There are plenty of little things that you can do to make a big difference in somebody else’s life. There’s no better time than this to let your generosity shine.

Here are a few ideas of what you can do to help out over the holidays.

1. Lend a hand at a homeless shelter. 

MUSTARD SEED. Help Calgarians in need have a wonderful time this holiday season! There are TONS of opportunities to help out at the Mustard Seed. Provide festive entertainment, make cards, prepare sandwiches, serve meals, pack holiday hampers – and more! Click here for a list of things you can do to help out!

DROP IN CENTRE. Help keep Calgarians out of the cold this winter. Lend a hand at the Drop-In Centre. Click here for ways to volunteer.

2. Wrap presents to help raise funds.

MEALS ON WHEELS. Help Calgary Meals on Wheels raise funds for meal service programs for seniors, disabled, elementary school kids, and working homeless. Various gift-wrapping shifts from December 8 – 24. Click here for more information.

 CALGARY FAMILY SERVICES. Are you looking for a meaningful teambuilding Christmas opportunity with your co-workers? All proceeds will go to the Calgary Family Services’ Nurture Yourself Program that teaches valuable techniques in empowering individuals and further developing their self esteem. This opportunity is available from December 1 – 24. Click here for more information.

 CYSTIC FIBROSIS CANADA. If you have a talent for giftwrapping and enjoy working with people for a good cause, Cystic Fibrosis Canada will be setting up booths for their “Wrapping for a Cure” event from December 3 – 24. This is a fun and easy way to give some of your time and can include friends and family! The gift wrap has three Calgary locations where volunteers wrap gifts in exchange for a donation to the CF Foundation. Click here for more information.

3. Participate in holiday events.  

HERTAGE PARK’s Once upon a Christmas. Each year, the Heritage Park is transformed to bring Christmas circa 1910 on the Prairies. The goal is to provide a festive experience with children’s crafts and activities, gingerbread decorating, retail, hospitality, and Santa and his reindeer. Volunteers are vital to the success of this event. Once Upon a Christmas runs for five weekends, beginning November 19 to December 18. Click here for more information.

CALGARY ZOO. Volunteering at the Calgary Zoo during Zoolights is a holiday tradition for many Calgarians – why not make it one of your new traditions? By participating in this major Calgary Zoo Special Event through hosting warm crackling fires or burning off the extra piece of shortbread in our Penguin Plunge Kids Zone, there is something for everyone! Various positions available throughout the event from November 24 – January 7, 2012. Click here to get involved.

4. Adopt a family.  

CALGARY URBAN PROJECT SOCIETY. Yes, it is that time again!! Adopt a struggling family at Christmas so that they may have a fun time filled with the joy of seeing their children open their presents and the smell of Christmas dinner fixings wafting throughout their home. Your participation in the CUPS Adopt-A-Family program makes a great many people happy at a time when situations may seem hopeless, more so this year with the economic downturn. For more information, click here or contact Deanna Holt at 403-671-6564 or deannah@cupscalgary.com

NEIGHBOURLINK. Bring joy to your neighbors in the Calgary community who are struggling to make ends meet this Christmas. NeighbourLink’s Adopt a Family program is a wonderful opportunity for you (and your family) to reach out. Have fun buying a present for each member of the client-family, as well as a gift certificate for groceries and some Christmas treats! Connect with your adopted family and find out what would make their Christmas extra special. Click here for more information.

5. Be a Snow Angel.

 Shovel your neighbours’ walkway and / or driveway and keep the streets safe for everyone. All you have to do to be a Snow Angel is simply adopt an older adult’s sidewalk this winter, and keep it clear. Watch for people in your neighbourhood that could use help removing snow from their sidewalks and driveways and ask if you can lend them a hand.

Alternatively, if you and your neighbours or other members of your community would like to develop a more organized snow clearing program, call the City of Calgary Seniors Services Divisionat 3-1-1.  Read more about being a snow angel here.

6. Shop for others.

SAMARITAN’S PURSE. No time to shop but want to make a child’s Christmas morning happy? Pack shoe boxes online and support the work that Samaritan’s Purse is doing around the world. It’s a quick and meaningful way to do something good! The packed shoeboxes will be given to children in need in a developing country. Select from a variety of gift items for a boy or girl in each designated age group. Personalize each shoe box you pack with a photo and personal note. Click here to pack a shoebox online.

SANTA’S SECRET SERVICE.  Can you help make Christmas merrier for isolated seniors? Santa’s Secret Service’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals 60 years or older who are alone or isolated in the community. Every year, they provide gifts and services for up to 2,500 seniors who may otherwise be overlooked during the holiday season. Click here to see what they need.

NEIGHBOURLINK. Make sure that no child goes without a warm bed and the bare necessities. Have your group collect a crib or cribs and fill them with baby items like, diapers, formula, and baby food. Hold your drive for as long as you want and when the cribs are full donate all the items to NeighbourLink. This is an ideal group (family, employee) volunteering opportunity! Click here to get started.

The above are just a handful of ideas that can get you started.  Hopefully, these will help get the creative juices flowing and get you thinking about the  many ways you can make the season merry for everyone. If all else fails, give the best gift of all — the gift of time.

The options are endless and you can be as creative as you want about how you give of your time. Bake cookies to share, decorate somebody’s tree, sing uplifting Christmas carols,  have a cup of coffee with someone – you can offer up your  time and talents for a good cause, even if that just meant making another person’s day a little bit brighter.

Get into the spirit of giving and add more joy and meaning to your holiday season!

A word of warning: Once you get started volunteering, it can get quite addicting! Start volunteering this season and you just might find yourself volunteering all year round. For hundreds of volunteer opportunities, check out www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca

Happy holiday volunteering!