Each year, Canada celebrates Volunteer Week in April to highlight the contributions of volunteers in organizations like non-profits, charities, and community-owned small businesses.

This year, April 24 - 30 has been designated as National Volunteer Week under the theme “Volunteering is Empathy in Action.”

In this blog, we want to highlight our Reeves College member Ainsley M. and the organization she volunteers with, the YMCA Community Action Network (YCAN).

An initiative of the Canada Service Corps, YCAN is a national program dedicated to engaging leaders from across Canada to address community needs through service projects. This program supports youth and provides them opportunities to identify and work with local service projects that hold meaning to them.

Ainsley M. is a YCAN cohort participant and worked with the Kerby Centre as part of her service project. Her YCAN project was designed to bridge two different age groups together – youth and older adults. Ainsley worked with older adults aged 55+ at Kerby Centre, and completed two rounds of interviews with older adults to initiate conversations in a group setting about life as an older adult.

Ainsley plans to involve Global Intergenerational Week (25 April – 1 May 2022) in this project as well and is working on a blog post to commemorate it.

You might be a good fit for the YCAN program if:

• You are between the ages of 15-30.
• You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada.
• You are passionate about learning new skills, building community connections, and making a difference in your community.

If you are selected for the annual YCAN Intake, you will work on a community project for approximately five months. Each intake group is divided into cohorts.

Get Involved

Does Ainsley’s volunteering effort inspire you to become a volunteer? She is a part of a big community at Reeves College that believes in community empowerment through volunteering.

Many organizations across Canada could use your help and skills to contribute to a good cause. It is never too late to start volunteering! Get involved today.