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Become a Volunteer

“Never doubt that a small group of committed, thoughtful individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that has.”
Margaret Mead

Why Participate?

Volunteer and help protect Orillia and the World from Climate Change.

Thank you for considering joining Sustainable Orillia as a volunteer. Your participation as a volunteer provides three crucial benefits to our movement:

First of all, it expands the movement. Your personal participation provides more might, greater recognition and support for our overarching goal – which is essentially to save the planet, starting with Orillia.

Secondly, you help ensure that things get done. Projects, programs and messages get delivered. By giving some of your time to a sector committee or to a project or event, you are playing a vital role in getting our message out and expanding our reach across the community.

And thirdly, it’s the right thing to do. This is a critical cause, one that has impact for everyone – now and into the future. If you want to avoid the encroaching consequences of climate change, then please get involved. Ultimately, everyone’s participation will be needed.

Participating can be as simple as signing a petition or writing letters to your local government representatives – letting them know how important this cause is to you and your family.

Or you may choose to get more involved – take a more hands-on role, perhaps on a sector team, or offer your time, services and talent to the Board. There is a wide range of volunteering options listed below.

For more information on any of the opportunities or to let us know how you would like to share your time and talents with us, please click on the link and fill in the form below.

Volunteer registration form
Group of volunteer forming huddles in park

How You Can Participate

In addition to playing a key role in helping Sustainable Orillia expand this critical movement across our community, volunteering for Sustainable Orillia is an opportunity to learn more, first-hand, about the climate change crisis and to participate in doing your bit with like-minded neighbours and friends. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to welcoming you to our Sustainable Orillia Team.

Sustainable Orillia welcomes volunteers for the following activities, among others:

  • Participation on Sector Committees
  • Project Development (design and implementation of projects)
  • Research (including attending seminars/webinars)
  • Representation – attending functions and partner-events on behalf of Sustainable Orillia
  • Organizing and/or providing support for events
  • Fundraising
  • Grant applications – writing and research
  • Social Media and Communications work – writers, media savvy and technical skills needed
  • Information Technology
  • Graphic Design

If you have an area of expertise, a special talent , a good idea or some new information on addressing the climate crisis that you feel would be helpful to the sustainability movement in Orillia, please contact us.

We want to hear from you and look forward to working with you on this critical challenge.

Volunteer registration form

By doing something – don’t do nothing. Every person and every action matters in this crisis.
Visit the Sustainable Orillia website at ‘www.sustainableorillia.ca’ and see what attracts your interest. Tell Sustainable Orillia about that interest, either directly to a current Sustainable Orillia member, or by email to info@sustainableorillia.ca.

How much time you give towards Sustainable Orillia is entirely up to you. We know most people have demands on their time – so we value both your time and contributions very much. There is a place on the sign-up form to indicate both your interest and your estimate of how much time you can–or are prepared to—give. We also know that can change from time-to-time. Just let us know.
Yes. Please indicate your preference on the sign-up form. We all do better work when it’s an area we know and enjoy. There may also be times when you may be asked if you are interested in helping with other projects or activities.
Sustainable Orillia has six sector committees as part of its operating structure. Each sector is led by a Chair and has a dedicated team that plans and prioritizes the sector’s activities. Teams meet regularly (for example, some sectors meet once a month) and the Chairs are ex-officio members of Sustainable Orillia’s board – attending regular meetings, collaborating with other teams, etc. There are times of the year—for example, during Sustainable Orillia Month—when sectors are busier, often hosting educational and promotional events.
  • The six sectors are:
    Infrastructure & Energy Sustainable
  • Agriculture and Natural Environment
  • Goods & Services
  • Education
  • Arts & Culture
  • Health & Well-Being

Please visit the sector pages for more details on each. Sector participation is the surest route to getting directly involved in project work – and please keep in mind, some sector knowledge, training and/or experience will be important.

If you have experience or an interest in any of these sectors, please contact info@sustaniableorillia.ca to explore further.

The Sustainable Orillia Youth Council (SOYC) is an active committee of secondary and post-secondary students from the three local high schools, Georgian College and Lakehead University. The SOYC is ALWAYS looking for more members. If you are a high school or post-secondary student and wish to get involved, find more information and a sign-up on the Youth Council page.

Please contact info@sustainableorillia.ca if you have a particular interest, skill or experience that you are prepared to share with Sustainable Orillia. We look forward to hearing from you.

Yes. All Sustainable Orillia needs to know is that you are interested, what you are interested in helping with, and how best to contact you. We will follow up from there.

This web-page has a list of volunteering options and will from time-to-time feature specific opportunities. You may also contact info@sustainableorillia.ca for current information and a contact referral.

Good question. ‘Members’ are members – they have made a financial donation to Sustainable Orillia and consequently are deemed ‘members’. ‘Members’ may also be volunteers in that they may make a donation of both their time and money.

‘Volunteers’ are not asked or required to make a financial donation to Sustainable Orillia. They are active in ‘making things happen.’ However, the majority of our volunteers are members and specifically, Sector Chairs and Board of Directors must be ‘member.’ Individual donations can be for whatever amount you want and there is no minimum.

There are a number of ways to submit/share your suggestions and ideas with Sustainable Orillia. Using e-mail, send a note to info@sustainableorillia.ca or contact any of our board members or sector chairs directly. Someone will get back to you as quickly as we can.

No.Sustainable Orillia is an incorporated not-for-profit organization.

Yes. The well-being and safety of all our volunteers is paramount and there are policies in place that speak directly to that. Review Sustainable Orillia’s Health & Safety policy and review Sustainable Orillia’s Anti-Harassment policy.

Volunteers' Stories