That came out, and it was wonderful. That came out quite a few years ago, right across the country, and then provinces started opting out. Then, within provinces, schools have opted out, and now, in B.C., it's translated into work experience.
My whole issue with that is that it's required. As a teacher, I was getting kids who were, on June 1, calling me up and saying, “Ms. MacKenzie, can I come to your class for eight hours? I'm short eight hours of my volunteering time.” I'd say, “Well, I didn't know that you wanted to be a teacher,” and they'd say, “Well, I don't; I just need the time.” That's not a way to engender volunteerism of the heart, so that it will go on and be sustainable. That's like getting the recommendation done and checking it off the list.
I think it's a great opportunity to start that discussion, but the bottom line is that I think you have to have those relationships between younger and older people in the community. That is what's going to bring people back to wanting to be volunteers.