Volunteering in Canada
A small thank-you to everyone in Thunder Bay who gives their time.
A country that shows up
Look around any Canadian town and you will find volunteers. They coach the kids' teams, stack the shelves at the food bank, drive a neighbour to an appointment, ring the bell at Christmas, serve the community meal and stay behind to fold the chairs. Much of what makes Canada feel like home is done by people who were not asked and were not paid.
The numbers say the same thing. In Statistics Canada's most recent survey, about one in three Canadians aged 15 and over gave time through a group or organization, around 1.2 billion hours in a year. Counting the help people give directly, such as shovelling a neighbour's walk or minding someone's children, close to three in four gave time in some way. The 2023 rates are a little lower than in 2018, which is one more reason every hour is welcome. (Statistics Canada, June 2025)
Thunder Bay has its own long tradition of this kind of quiet service, and members of the Nepali community are part of it. Many of our members already give time to the groups on this page and to others like them. We are proud of that, and grateful to the neighbours who welcomed us into it.
Sewa, at home in Canada
Most of us grew up with the idea of sewa (सेवा), which means service given freely, without keeping score. We saw it at weddings, festivals, temples and funerals, where nobody needed an invitation to help. Nepal has a long tradition of organized service too, from the old guthi community trusts to paropakar (helping others) groups and the Nepal Red Cross, built on neighbours giving time for neighbours.
Canadians call it volunteering. Whatever the word, it is the same good habit: see something that needs doing and lend a hand. Bringing that habit to our new home is one way we say thank you to it.
Where many people start
For a lot of Canadians, volunteering begins in a place of worship. Churches, temples, mosques and gurdwaras run meal programs, clothing and food drives, visiting teams and youth groups, often with nothing but volunteer hands. The Salvation Army is a familiar example, with its Christmas kettles, food bank, soup van and holiday dinners in Thunder Bay.
If you belong to a congregation, there is very likely something that would welcome your help. If you do not, the groups below are a good place to begin.
Local groups that welcome volunteers
This is a short list, not a complete one. Roles, ages and screening vary, so please check with each group directly.
Volunteer Thunder Bay
The local volunteer centre. It helps match your interests and schedule to opportunities, and runs a youth program for ages 11 to 24. A good first stop.
City of Thunder Bay
Volunteers help with community events, recreation and aquatics programs, summer camps and more. Youth can start with a training course.
Shelter House
Kitchen help, serving meals, sorting and loading supplies, and the holiday meals that many families return to each year.
Regional Food Distribution Association
A food bank for food banks across the region. Volunteers pack food, help in the warehouse and collect donations during Harvest for Hunger.
The Salvation Army
Christmas kettles, the food bank, the soup van, student nutrition and community dinners. Seasonal help is always needed.
Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre
Friendly visiting, telephone check-ins, the front desk, gift shop and library. A lovely fit for people who enjoy conversation.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
One-to-one mentoring for children and youth. It asks for a longer commitment and a screening process, and many mentors say it is worth it.
Thunder Bay Museum
Help with the collection, events and visitors, and learn the city's story along the way.
Your own neighbourhood
Schools, community centres, sports clubs, hospitals, libraries, seniors' residences and neighbours down the street. Some of the best volunteering has no name on it.
Have a few hours to spare?
If you can spare some time for the community, we would love to hear from you. There is nothing to sign up for. Just write to us and ask for the volunteer coordinator, and someone will be in touch when a need matches what you can offer. That might be an hour at a NEST event, a skill such as cooking, music, photography or translation, or a nudge toward one of the groups above.
Whatever you choose, thank you. It matters more than you may think.
