Volunteering in Canada!

Source: Statistics Canada, 1998

Key highlights from the recent National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating are:

• The economic value of volunteer work in Canada is estimated at $16.3 billion annually
• 7.5 million Canadians volunteered with a charitable group last year
• 31.4% of Canadians volunteer
• Volunteers contribute 1.1 billion hours annually
• Volunteer work amounts to the equivalent of 578,000 full-time jobs
• On average, volunteers are contributing fewer hours annually, mainly due to work and family pressures
• More young people are volunteering
• 65% of volunteers have a job
• The average time worked per volunteer is 149 hours annually

National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week took place from April 18-24, 1999. During this week, Canada's 7.5 million volunteers were honored for their contributions.

Community Literacy of Ontario was pleased to have three board members honored for their dedicated service to CLO. Lindsay Kennedy, Vicki Trottier and Sheila Vlachos received five-year awards at the 1999 Ontario Volunteer Awards. These awards are sponsored by 2 the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation. Lindsay, Vicki and 2 Sheila, thank you so much for sharing your time and talents with CLO!

During National Volunteer Week, the Minister of Education and Training, David Johnson, expressed his deep appreciation for the "invaluable work of literacy volunteers within Ontario's education and training system".

Ourvoice - Newsletter of Community Literacy of Ontario