Volunteer Peterborough's Meet Your Match Volunteer Fair Returns May 6

In celebration of National Volunteer Month, Volunteer Peterborough’s ‘Meet Your Match’ Volunteer Fair is returning to Peterborough Square on May 6.

photo courtesy of volunteer peterborough.

The fair aims to recruit new talent to boost hundreds of non-profits in the region and to create a matchmaking service for organizations to find prospective volunteers who suit each other’s needs, interests and more, according to a press release.

Local non-profits will be set up with booths to showcase their volunteer opportunities and connect with people interested in giving back to the community.

High school students who need to complete their required 40 hours of community service can earn them through any volunteer organization they register with.

Volunteer Peterborough says booth spaces for the event are still available to non-profit organizations for just $150 per day.

All ages are invited to attend the event from noon to 5 p.m.

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Volunteer Peterborough to Honour Local Contributors With United to Thank Volunteers Event During National Volunteer Week

In honour of National Volunteer Week, Volunteer Peterborough is recognizing those who give time to strengthen our community with the United to Thank Volunteers event on April 22 at the Canadian Canoe Museum from 3 to 5 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Volunteer Peterborough.

This event will bring together community leaders, organizations and volunteers to recognize the extraordinary contributions of volunteers across the Peterborough region. Guests will enjoy light refreshments and are invited to take part in a complimentary self-guided tour of the Canadian Canoe Museum during the event.

“Volunteers are the backbone of our community,” said Tyler Chambers, Event Volunteer. “National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to come together and celebrate the incredible impact they make every single day. We are delighted that the United Way of Peterborough & District recognize the importance of celebrating volunteerism and have funded this event with one of its Neighbourhood Grants.”

Volunteer Peterborough is inviting local organizations to nominate their ‘Most Valuable Volunteers’ for recognition as part of the celebration. Nominations can be submitted online or by emailing names to info@volunteerpeterborough.ca.

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Volunteer Peterborough Celebrates International Year of Volunteers With Two Events This Spring

As Peterborough marks the International Year of Volunteers, Volunteer Peterborough is hosting the inaugural United to Thank Volunteers event at the Canadian Canoe Museum and the annual Meet Your Match Volunteer Fair this spring.

The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers. This marks the first time in 25 years that kind souls who give them time are highlighted in this way. Photo courtesy of Volunteer Peterborough.

United to Thank Volunteers is slated for April 22, while the return of the Meet Your Match Volunteer Fair runs on May 6.

Both events aim to recruit new talent to boost hundreds of non-profits in the region, according to a press release.

Volunteer Peterborough is a matchmaking service that pairs prospective volunteers with organizations to suit their needs.

For anyone searching for a role, Volunteer Peterborough hosts drop-in sessions at Venture North from 1 to 3 p.m. every Wednesday There are 185 Peterborough-area non-profits registered with Volunteer Peterborough.

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Volunteer Peterborough Sets Up Shop at Peterborough Public Library

To increase accessibility for helping the community, Volunteer Peterborough announced that they will have a regular presence at the Peterborough Public Library’s main branch starting on Friday.

Ramage has a degree in Humanities. She joined as a volunteer manager in late October of 2023. To date, 1,700 volunteers and 164 organizations interact on Volunteer Peterborough’s online portal. Photo courtesy of Volunteer Peterborough.

Geneviève Ramage, Volunteer Peterborough’s operations coordinator, will be at a desk in the library’s mezzanine every second Friday from 1 to 3 p.m.

This partnership will increase the exposure of the match-making service between prospective volunteers and non-profits that need their help and expertise according to a media release.

It continues to state that in-person consultations accelerate the process by showing the various groups and the opportunities they seek to fill.

“Since launching in the summer of 2023, we have made countless matches from front-line services to boards of directors,” said Lois Tuffin, Chair of Volunteer Peterborough’s Steering Committee. “However, there are still so many people looking for the right role for them. By offering our services in more locations, we reach those who may not have met us yet.”

“The Peterborough Public Library is delighted to be hosting Volunteer Peterborough in our space,” says Mark Stewart, Manager, Library Services, City of Peterborough. “Connecting people and building community are at the heart of both our organizations so this partnership is a great fit.”

Volunteer Peterborough hosts Wednesday afternoon drop-ins from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office. Visitors can book appointments by emailing volunteer@volunteerpeterborough.ca or calling 705-874-0073.

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Those Willing to Lend a Hand Invited to Volunteer Peterborough's Open House

Volunteer Peterborough and District 36 Peterborough of Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTOERO) invites residents to discover meaningful volunteer opportunities at an open house held on March 5, announced on Thursday.

Lois Tuffin (pictured) launching Volunteer Peterborough at Trent University outside Bata Library. Since 1968, RTOERO has been a voice for teachers, school and board administrators, educational support staff and college and university faculty in retirement. Its mission is to improve the lives of its members and other seniors, who often seek rewarding volunteer roles after retirement. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The open house runs from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce’s boardroom at 175 George St. N.

The two groups entered a new partnership and will launch a welcome brochure for residents new to this region or new to volunteering. It outlines the benefits of community work and how to do it.

“Many seniors have the time and inclination to volunteer but don’t know where they can contribute, especially if they’re new to the community,” said Kathryn Reynolds, President, District 36 Peterborough, RTOERO. “Our grant will help Volunteer Peterborough raise awareness. Ultimately, this will strengthen community connections and well-being.”

The most significant current barrier to volunteering is the lack of awareness of which organizations match people’s talents and interests according to Lois Tuffin, Volunteer Peterborough founder.

“We have started to bridge that gap by signing up 1,660 volunteers and 162 organizations,” she said. “However, in a region of 184,000 people, there is still much work to do.”

District 36 has about 1,200 members, serving the City of Peterborough and the surrounding rural areas of Peterborough County.

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Volunteer Peterborough Receives $12,000 Grant From The Commonwell’s L.E.A.F. Program

To help bolster local volunteering efforts, Volunteer Peterborough has received a $12,000 grant from the Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group’s Learning Engagement & Accelerator Fund (L.E.A.F.), announced on Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Volunteerism faces a number of barriers, including general awareness. This program will help to match interested volunteers to opportunities in our community,” says Lois Tuffin, Volunteer Peterborough founder. “By matching the right people and skills to roles we can help build confidence and independence for prospective volunteers while creating lasting benefits for organizations who rely on volunteer support.”

Administered by The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group, the L.E.A.F. program invested $400,000 in grants this year, scaling from previous years.

“We received more than $3.7 million in funding requests this year, highlighting its crucial role in supporting communities,” said Tim Shauf, The Commonwell president. “Our L.E.A.F grants are about caring beyond us and beyond now.”

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Volunteer Peterborough Founder Given Charity Village Impact Award

Lois Tuffin, Volunteer Peterborough founder, has seen her community work pay back dividends as she received Charity Village’s Most Outstanding Individual Impact – Volunteer announced on Tuesday.

olunteer Peterborough founder Lois Tuffin networks with Joseph Hughes of Kids Against Hunger at the Chamber's Love Local Show at Lansdowne Place in September. Since launching in July 2023, VolunteerPeterborough.ca has signed up 1,524 individuals who are seeking volunteer roles and 162 organizations who rely on volunteers. It welcomes postings about non-profits and the roles they have open so volunteers can find this information in one handy location. Photo courtesy of Volunteer Peterborough.

The award recognizes her work to resurrect a match-making service in Volunteer Peterborough to help local non-profits. It celebrates the outstanding impact of a volunteer at a nonprofit or charity.

“I nominated Lois to shine a spotlight on her work with Volunteer Peterborough,” said Hannah Routly, subcommitte group member. “In just over a year, Lois and a fulsome team created a much-needed way to match volunteers with critical roles in our community. I hope this award shines light on this vital initiative and encourages others to support this work.”

Tuffin had received several nominations from Jennifer DeBues, executive director of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough; Jayne Culbert, co-ordinator of Age-friendly Peterborough and Volunteer Peterborough’s operations co-ordinator Genevieve Ramage.

“In the past year in particular, we’ve seen how much people want to help and how willing they are to act when given an outlet,” said Tuffin. “It’s gratifying to see our team come together to create this volunteer movement.”

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Volunteer Peterborough Receives $3,250 Donation From RTOERO to Help Spread Volunteer Opportunities Through New Welcome Brochures

District 36 Peterborough of Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTOERO) has donated $3,250 to Volunteer Peterborough to help connect residents with meaningful volunteer opportunities in a cheque presentation at the Peterborough and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce on Monday morning.

(From left to right) Kathryn Reynolds, Pat Smith, Annette Thomson, Hilda Jolley and Lois Tuffin. District 36 has about 1,300 members, serving the City of Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funds will be used to design, print and launch welcome brochures for new residents in the region.

“As soon as people arrive in Peterborough, they're going to be handed a piece of paper that shows, 'here's how you can get introduced to your community and here's how you can contribute,’” said Lois Tuffin, Volunteer Peterborough founder. “It just saves everybody a lot of time and it's also going to help a lot of non-profits get new blood and new talent so we can do more as a community.”

The welcome brochure initiative will kick off with a launch event for realtors and other professionals who frequently engage with newcomers. The idea is to ensure the brochures effectively reach those most benefit from community involvement.

District 36 funding is part of RTOERO's annual community grants program. Since 1968, the organization has been comprised of teachers, school and board administrators, educational support staff, and college and university faculty in retirement.

“We find throughout the community what needs to happen and sometimes it's through word of mouth,” said Kathryn Reynolds, RTOERO president, District 36 Peterborough.

Districts apply for grants each year to support community projects. In 2024, RTOERO funded 31 projects for a total of $122,252.

Reynolds says that retirees and seniors often have extra time on their hands and volunteering both helps the community and keeps everyone busy.

“Many seniors have the time and inclination to volunteer, but don't know where they can contribute, especially if they're new to the community,” she explained. “Our grant will help Volunteer Peterborough raise awareness. Ultimately, this will strengthen community connections and well-being.”

Each year, a RTOERO member committee assesses each grant submission's merits. Projects touch on everything from environmental sustainability to healthy and accessible communities according to a press release. Since the inception of the community grants program 24 years ago, almost $2.1 million has been donated to more than 600 programs and projects.

“Our non-profits are vital lifelines for so many services in this community. It's hard to even fathom how many meals get delivered, how many people who are lonely get visited and arts programs thrive,” explained Tuffin. “Volunteers are the lifeblood behind all of that and they add a huge capacity to our community.”

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Meet Your Volunteer Matches With New Features and Shows

By Lois Tuffin

Already, we see a change in the volunteer landscape as more people step forward to help organizations who have sought new champions for their causes.

Volunteer Paula Greenwood shares her passion for connecting people while talking with a student at Trent University’s Volunteer Expo on Wednesday (Sept. 11). Photo by Genevieve Ramage

Since we launched VolunteerPeterborough.ca last year, an increasing number of people have jumped into working with charities that matter to them. Their enthusiasm has spread to their friends and Volunteer Peterborough continues to make their searches easier.

We felt the same energy at Trent University’s Volunteer Expo on Wednesday as students sought new interactions. At our table, many groups shared their success stories. For instance, PARN’s manager stated that half of her volunteers signed up due to her posting on our website.

Starting this month, we have added extra features to our online presence when non-profits buy certain memberships. For example, volunteer managers can now filter the list of 1,357 registered volunteers by interest and skill. From there, they simply send out messages within the platform to connect with people ready to help.

This saves them hours of time by reaching a targeted group of interested individuals. Sure, you can post to social media but only our site has the perfect audience.

Also, when new jobs get posted, email alerts go out to any volunteer who aligns with its criteria. This is offered to anyone with an enhanced or premium membership. You can get this for $25 a month and get great results.

Non-profits can still register on VolunteerPeterborough.ca without buying in. You can create a profile of your organization, then post opportunities for the best results. Think of us like Indeed where you describe roles you need to fill.

Volunteers will also discover new features when they log in. A list of opportunities that match their skills and interests will await them right in their profiles. That simplifies their ability to discover new postings without searching for them.

For those who prefer in-person connections, we have great news! Volunteer Peterborough invites residents and non-profit groups to attend two new Meet Your Match Volunteer Fairs.

After hosting a wildly successful event in the city, we decided to branch out into Cavan and Selwyn Townships. This pair of event aims to introduce more people to organizations that operate close to home and to open their eyes to how they can make a difference.

The first event takes place at the Bridgenorth Community Hall, 836 Charles Street, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18. Next, we head out to the Cavan Community Centre from 3 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Dozens of organizations have been invited to set up booths to share details about how to get involved in their causes. In both cases, visitors can drop in for free after school, before dinner or after work.

This project is generously funded by Ontario Power Generation (OPG)’s Power for Change Project. Our organization thrives on harnessing the power of individuals to make their communities better, so this is a perfect fit.

We are grateful to have OPG’s support so we can support more organizations who rely on volunteers to run their programs in Lakefield, Bridgenorth, Ennismore, Millbrook, Cavan, Bailieboro, Fraserville, Ida, Mount Pleasant, Springville and anywhere in between.

Any non-profit within the Townships is welcome to buy a booth at either event, which includes dinner. To book one today, email volunteer@volunteerpeterborough.ca.

These fairs build on the momentum created by our 160-plus agencies – with more welcome to join the movement. Watch for additional shows in other locations in 2025.

Thank you to everyone who has signed on as a supporter as we get rolling. It takes a village!

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