Human Resources Committee on Dec. 4th, 2023

[Dr. Megan Conway]

I think we need to understand what the picture of volunteerism looks like across diverse demographics. We have very little data or evidence that speaks to what the models of participation for diverse ethnocultural communities look like. For instance, I've been informed that, across indigenous languages, there is not a word for “volunteering”. However, we know that indigenous communities and individuals in indigenous communities participate significantly.

I think there's a way in which we could be developing diverse models that are much more future-focused around volunteerism and participation and that will serve our current context, rather than the context of 50 or 60 years ago.

I think back to my grandmother, who was a hospital auxiliary volunteer. She did tremendous work in the community and raised significant funds, but that generation of volunteers has sadly aged out. We need to think about new models of participation that are going to be more resonant and durable for the long term.

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Thank you.

What should be the main criterion for federal government programming to encourage intergenerational volunteering?

[Dr. Megan Conway]

The World Health Organization has identified a number of criteria for effective, high-impact intergenerational volunteering programs. Some of the criteria include things like involving participants in the design of those programs, making them inclusive, having them be universal and basing them on the concept of friendship, which I think is a very interesting concept these days when we think about how disconnected and polarized we have become. It's about recognizing that friendship and the notion of relational connection are really critical.

Having them be durable and over the long term, with a significant investment in their sustainability, I think, is critical. As I have indicated, individuals age out and may no longer have the capacity to really invest in that kind of work. Thinking about principles of equality is also important in the design of those kinds of programs.

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

You mentioned—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Van Bynen.

Ms. Chabot, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Good day, everyone.

I'd like to thank the witnesses for joining us.

My first question is for Mr. Moss.

First of all, I'd like to congratulate you. I think you have given a fair account on behalf of all the people who volunteer, both young and old, in terms of both know-how and interpersonal skills.

Our study is not so much about the benefits of volunteering, but about how we can promote and encourage it. So my question to you is the following: do you have any suggestions in that regard?

[Trevor Moss]

What we're seeing is, number one, don't be afraid to ask. That's the biggest thing we are finding in reference to the intergenerational gap. We are so thankful for our seniors.

The other thing we are finding is that when volunteers, no matter what age, come into our doors, one of the biggest things we are realizing is that we are expressing our thanks. It's not just a project. It's not just a task. It's about whoever's coming in, especially youth and young adults. There are huge studies out there about the isolation piece. Our goal is to create this community, this culture, that actually gives back to them as well. What we're seeing is that they're starting to press in a little more.

I'm not saying it's not challenging. I'm not saying that they're flooding our doors. We are making certain that they almost feel like its a place called home, where they're valued and appreciated.

The other thing we are trying to do, and we mentioned it, is in the area of technology. We're really trying to create that through social media platforms, where they're being encouraged to come in and to understand what their impact means and that they do have something to give and make a difference.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Thank you very much.

Ms. Conway, I had the pleasure of meeting one of Volunteer Canada's members. You sent a letter to the committee outlining your recommendations. Essentially, your recommendations are in line with what we've heard here: namely, to collect better data on volunteering and to set up campaigns to encourage volunteering. Thank you for your views. I also thank you for your commitment. It is essential.

We've seen that young people do volunteer work, but not in the same way as seniors or retirees. They do it almost full-time, because they have the time to give, so to speak.

There are hundreds of organizations in my riding, and many of them rely on volunteers.

You're right in saying that it's more difficult these days for volunteers. Is there a crisis? How can we look at things differently? Things have certainly changed. Young people are getting involved in specific causes, but not full-time. What role can the Canadian government play in this regard?

[Dr. Megan Conway]

There are a number of interconnected roles that the government might want to play.

One of the things we've learned in our research is that Canadians have a deep desire to participate in their communities, but many of them lack the understanding or awareness of how to do so.

There is a network of volunteer centres across the country. Those volunteer centres are deeply underfunded and lack the infrastructure needed to do their critical work in their communities. They, indeed, help amplify and communicate what volunteering opportunities exist across the community. One area of investment would be to reinvest in volunteer centres and strengthen that network nationally.

Secondly, the government could support the development and enhancement of white label tools or resources that could be redeployed for different organizations in the community and that would support recognition, recruitment and re-attracting volunteers to specific causes in the community.

Thirdly, the government might invest in gathering better data about what the picture of volunteering looks like across communities and by diverse demographics. We work closely with Statistics Canada, for instance. While there is an effort there to work across and gather data from diverse ethnocultural communities, I believe there's much more that could be done.

The other piece that I would identify is that charities and non-profits, which are highly dependent on volunteer infrastructure, lack core and sustainable funding to do their work effectively. Volunteer managers were the first positions that were cut during the pandemic. Those positions have not returned in those organizations. That requires an investment in strengthening the charitable and non-profit sector across the country.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Do I have any time left, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

You have 30 seconds.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Thank you.

I'll give you an example. In Quebec, we have the Fédération des centres d'action bénévole du Québec, which is a federation of volunteer centres. It has set up a website called jebenevole.ca, meaning “I volunteer”. Volunteering is being promoted in all kinds of fields.

Canada-wide, what support can be provided to Quebec and the provinces, more specifically? I have to say that at the federal level, this seems more remote to me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We have time for a short answer.

[Dr. Megan Conway]

To give you a short answer, I know some provincial jurisdictions are investigating this. The provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland, for instance, are exploring ways of doing this. I think we're ending up with a bit of a fragmented province-by-province approach. I think there is a leadership role here to elevate the issue nationally.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame Chabot.

Ms. Zarrillo, go ahead for six minutes.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to get right to some questions around what the government can do in relation to programs they're already running. I'll ask both witnesses this.

Mr. Moss, we can start with you.

New Horizons is really focused on seniors. Is there a way to modify that program to get some intergenerational connections?

The Canada Service Corps is very much focused on youth. Could we do more on the government side to help bring seniors into that program?

Then the other one is on volunteer awards. I'm interested in some thoughts about how these programs or other current programs could be modified to make them a little bit more inclusive when it comes to intergenerational....

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Ms. Zarrillo, could you lift your mic a bit? The interpreters....

Okay.

Go ahead, Mr. Moss.

[Trevor Moss]

I think some of the programs, and even the grant funding that you mentioned, are critical to organizations, especially not-for-profits like us. What we're experiencing is that, as you're fulfilling your mandate, the problem with not-for-profits is that we have to write grants all the time. Doing that sucks up time and energy. We also have to do reports. I would love to see this streamlined right across nationally, so that there is a very clear understanding of where we can go to get those resources. We're still willing, of course, to apply for the funding. I think it's important to keep those and to actually add more in.

I'll give you an example. We have over 30,000 volunteer hours. We've equated that with an amount of money that is over a million dollars. If we could put some of that money into the infrastructure to connect to youth, the middle-aged and seniors, that would be such an amazing give-back to organizations, the country and people. I would encourage you to do that continually.

Also, be creative with our younger generation as to how this unfolds, maybe through summer jobs and grants. That's another idea, even though it's not volunteerism. The summer grants program is an amazing thing, but it's only seven weeks. It should be for the full summer. That would help impact as well. Maybe it could be a bit of both, with work and volunteerism, so that students could get both.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

That's great. Thank you so much.

Ms. Conway, go ahead.

[Dr. Megan Conway]

Thank you.

I think there are a number of things that Volunteer Canada has done. Historically, we've worked with Canada Service Corps and New Horizons, for instance.

We've recently received three-year funding from an anonymous donor to establish a strategy to bring older adults back to volunteering and to develop an intergenerational volunteerism hub in Canada. It's similar to Generations United in the United States, for example. There are models in other jurisdictions that I think are high impact and evidence-based. They are doing this work effectively and addressing well the loneliness gap and the participation crisis we're seeing in communities.

Something I would also say government needs to consider is the capacity challenges that exist across charities and non-profits. Applying episodically for funding is great, but it means that there are often dips in funding or lack of continuity. Thinking about the ways and the ability for the government to really strengthen volunteerism and how we can become a leading-edge country that really invests in supporting people to participate is mission-critical for the government.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you so much.

Mr. Moss, I want to go back to your comment about the bus passes and some comments about food insecurity.

I wonder if there is an opportunity for the federal government to support this approach of giving out bus passes to allow for transportation or of having a meal program or funding to entice volunteers to come because a meal is served.

[Trevor Moss]

Yes, the bus passes, as we're seeing, are ongoing with our seniors and even younger volunteers, because the cost of transportation can be a barrier. I mentioned, of course, our clients. You could even put some of those extra funding pieces into it. I think that's an amazing idea that would help with that.

I'm sorry, but I forget the second part of your question.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

A lot of times, having a meal or food available entices volunteers.

Is there an opportunity for the federal government to be involved more in that part of organizations—to entice volunteers to a meal?

[Trevor Moss]

It's interesting because they don't have a lot of money, but they're giving their time.

We tried to have a volunteer whose role was to cook meals for our volunteers in the food bank. The number one thing that came back was a resounding “thank you”.

I actually love that idea that there would be sustainable funding to say thanks to our volunteers. I think that would help push them more towards not-for-profits to give back. We're doing a simple thank you, but it's also helping them because they may be struggling as well.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Could I ask Ms. Conway the same thing?