Interested in hosting an event or activity in South Markham? Apply for a $1,000 Quick Action Grant and we could help you in funding your idea! Note that grants will be available until all funds have been distributed so do not wait, and start something new for your neighbourhood today!
TCCSA’s Youth Connections Committee (YCC) is facilitating this community event showcasing Indigenous history, art, and culture, while also having interactive and educational activities, with raffle prizes for participants! It is important to acknowledge and celebrate the Indigenous heritage in part of reconciliation, as we are all settlers in their land.
For inquiries and to register, please email rcatarroja@tccsa.org OR acheng@tccsa.org. For Newcomers, PR card or landing paper required for registration. Chinese translations available upon request.
JOIN THE EMPATHY SQUAD!
Gather Oral Histories To Foster Empathy And Build Your Podcasting Skills.
Check out the full program details at https://www.fixtpoint.com/empathysquad-apply
Want to learn more before applying? Register for an information session on Zoom to familiarize yourself with the Empathy Squad, its session format, and its facilitators.
Wednesday, November 24th: 6PM – 7PM ET. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85286830688
Thursday, November 25th: 6PM – 7PM ET. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83797970992
In today’s unprecedented environment, with the world in a State of Emergency, there are always communities and individuals ready and willing to help. In a pandemic, this becomes even more challenging when we cannot physically get together. Communities, organizations and individuals are all responsible to be diligent at Social Distancing. This is taking ACTION! This is making a difference!
There are new and emerging ways that individuals can contribute and an increasing need for support now, and in the near future, to ensure the health of our communities, charities and non-profits. As many organizations work through how to protect their communities safely and responsibly, we all need to remain patient and understanding. There are numerous resources available at Volunteer Canada https://volunteer.ca for both organizations and volunteers.
Volunteer Markham is here to help connect you to needed support! Please review the following list of ways to make a difference locally!
SCOUTS CANADA is still scouting and currently recruiting for Group Leaders! Please review their website at https://www.scouts.ca/volunteer/overview.html and/or email daisy.gao@scouts.ca for more information on how to volunteer.
Markham Cares Food Drive: Donate food items at any Markham Fire Station or at Longos, No Frills, Fresh Co, Whole Food Market. For more information click on https://www.markham.ca/wps/portal/home
Canada Sews – York Region: This wonderful community initiative in Markham has grown to support all of York Region. On April 21, 2020 8,000 ladies and gents across Canada have sewn more than 20,000 face masks, headbands, scrub caps and scrub bags for frontline workers, shelters, seniors and First Nations communities. Volunteers are sewing, delivering, donating materials and helping to administer to help our community stay as safe as possible. If you would like to help or are a frontline worker in need of any of these items please email canadasews.markham@gmail.com . For more information click on https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadasewsmarkham/
CHATS: We know seniors are experiencing new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but CHATS is here to help. CHATS have adapted some of their existing supports and have come up with some new ways to help. Urgently needs Personal Protective Equipment. Call 905-713-6596 to learn more about Telephone Socials, Telephone Security Checks and Visits, Meals on Wheels, Supports for Caregivers and how you can help. Please consider donating to CHATS. CHATS is in urgent need for Personal Protection Equipment for their front line workers. http://www.chats.on.ca
KIDS Help Phone needs you! You can practice social distancing and still ensure that you are helping kids when kids need someone. For three decades, young people have been reaching out to Kids Help Phone for the support they need. In 2018, in partnership with Crisis Text Line, Kids Help Phone launched the first ever 24/7, free, nationwide texting service. Through Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help Phone, young people can chat confidentially with trained, volunteer Crisis Responders. Learn how to volunteer and/or support Kids Help Phone now at https://kidshelpphone.ca/get-involved/participate/call-volunteers-crisis-text-line/
Markham Stouffville Hospital: Urgently needs Personal Protective Equipment . Click https://www.helpmsh.ca/ for more information (including how to create or support an online fundraiser).
Mon Sheong Foundation: Urgently needs Personal Protective Equipment (Level 2 Masks, masks with face shields, washable gowns, disposable gowns). Visit http://www.monsheong.org for various ways of giving or email samanthaho@monsheong.org.
Nanny Angel Network: Volunteers Needed. Volunteer support has been moved to a virtual opportunity to help mothers with cancer and their children. Email:
volunteer@nannyangelnetwork.com to learn more or to help.
Yellow Brick House: Emergency Shelter is remaining operational as an essential service. Please visit https://www.yellowbrickhouse.org/ and review their “Wish List”. All donated items must be new.
Please remember, there are many ways to give!
You can donate financially to a charity of choice at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/
You can donate blood. Learn more at http://www.blood.ca
You can write letters or draw pictures for seniors or health care workers! Once completed you could snap a picture and email it to mirja.raita@volunteermarkham.ca
Currently, there is an emerging request for sewers to create “at home” face masks (not to be substituted for the PPE requirements for front line workers) for individual use. For more information on how to make these masks or where you can donate them please contact mirja.raita@volunteermarkham.ca
You NEED to stay safe, stay informed and stay connected!
Together we will get through this!
With the holiday spirit still lingering in the air, 2020 is shaping up to be a perfect year for volunteering. Perhaps your New Year’s resolution is to make more friends, help others, or get more involved in the community. Volunteering is the perfect opportunity for you to stick to those resolutions.
Let’s take a look at some common New Year’s resolutions, and how volunteering can help you achieve them.
Volunteering is one of the best ways to make new friends and build connections. Working together with other volunteers allows you to bond over a shared experience. As a volunteer, you will be working with other volunteers who may share your similar interests and aspirations. For those who are new to Markham, volunteering is a great way to introduce yourself to the community and meet new people.
As a volunteer who is positively impacting the Markham community, it’s natural to feel a sense of accomplishment. Volunteers may gain a sense of pride and boosted self-esteem after a rewarding day of helping others. By making yourself available to volunteer opportunities, you are making it known that you want to be a helpful member of the community. This increased sense of confidence will surely help you for your future goals in 2020 and beyond!
Modern society has resulted in more people moving less. Whether you are working at a desk all day or studying at the library, people have generally become less active. While not all volunteer positions are physically demanding, the extra steps or tasks might just be what you need to get moving again. Older adults who find themselves moving less would greatly benefit from volunteering (although volunteering is right for any age).
It seems like we live in a world where even entry-level positions require previous experience. Those looking to break into a new or different career field should consider volunteering in order to get this valuable industry experience and build networks. More generally, volunteering can help bolster your resume with several transferable skills which may include: teamwork, time management, and organization.
2019 was fun, but you want to take 2020 to the next level. Volunteering is a great way to try something new and change up your routine. Finding that perfect volunteer opportunity can be an enlightening moment. There are many benefits for volunteering, but at the end of the day, you wouldn’t be volunteering unless it was something you really wanted to do – something that you thought was fun!
Happy 2020, and happy volunteering!
If you’re ready to start volunteering, but don’t know where to begin, find your next volunteer opportunity with Volunteer Markham. VM makes getting involved with your community a lot easier. Head over to our current listings and find the perfect placement today.
My name is Rubaina and I am ecstatic to serve as the Chair of Change The World Markham CTWMarkham) for the 2019-2020 year. If you have not heard of CTWMarkham, we are a youth executive team under the Volunteer Markham. Basically, we handle all things volunteerism, from creating our own events, to promoting a wide variety of others’ in the community. More importantly, we want to make sure ALL youth in Markham are connected to meaningful opportunities and educated about community involvement. We are building our team now and we want YOU! (No experience necessary)
High school can be VERY overwhelming. Suddenly, you are supposed to be involved in extracurriculars, take on leadership roles and gain community hours, all while trying to maintain a social life, good mental health, and keep up with academics. I couldn’t believe it. This is why this blog is something I wish I had throughout my high school years.
This blog is a part of CTWMarkham’s newest initiative to bring forward meaningful opportunities and volunteer subjects for students to read about. If you are worried about any of those things above, this is a MUST READ blog for you.
I will be writing on this blog every month. As a Grade 12 student at Markville Secondary School, I can totally relate to many things you may be interested in. Feel free to reach out to me at any time to discuss anything on Facebook or Linkedin(just search my name).
My Message to You
If you are reading this and you know what you love and have a passion for making a change – great. If you have YET TO FIND that one thing that you really just LOVE doing, stay tuned! You might just find it here. My goal is to get you “volinspired”!
I was the latter. I always knew I wanted to do SOMETHING but I never knew what this was or how I could find it. Moreover, I was afraid to approach new opportunities and always underestimated my abilities.
The secret recipe to solving your “uninspiredness”? Trying new things. The minute you step out of your comfort zone and do something you’re afraid of, you begin to grow in ways you couldn’t imagine. Your opportunities start to grow as well.
Trying things is great; I myself participated in numerous clubs, volunteer events, and jobs. I didn’t like all of them, but at least I was gaining experience. Though you will not commit to everything you try, learn from each experience, build connections along the way, and then apply all these things to DO SOMETHING AMAZING. And trust me, you WILL find that thing.
Volunteering, specifically, is a truly unique and rewarding experience. Not only do you become a better person through learning how to help others, but you become a more well rounded and inquisitive learner. You can work, play sports, music, or study, but nothing compares to giving back to the community. Especially in a world where people are increasingly dialed in to their personal day-to-day, it is nice to step out of that bubble and help others. This is why I encourage you all to VOLUNTEER!
So, How Can You Start Volunteering?
My first time volunteering, in grade 9, began when I saw a posting on Facebook for a Halloween event “Spooktacular”. This was a short community event taking place closes by. I had no idea how volunteering worked, how I should go about it, and if I would be a good fit for the job.
However, I knew I needed to complete my community hours sooner or later! So, I grabbed a couple of friends, signed up, and before I knew it, I was having a blast setting up a haunted hours, face painting, and more! It was such a simple experience, but it gave me so much confidence. Not only did I learn to fill out that daunting volunteer form your high school guidance department gives you, but I met some great friends that I still talk to today. That one opportunity actually allowed me to gain a resume experience for future part time jobs and leadership opportunities.
Signing up for a small, short-term opportunity with your friends is an amazing way to ease into things and get your feet off the ground. I am still always on the lookout for any new opportunities, so do not be afraid to get out there and try new things – It is just a great learning experience, and tons of fun!
These are some suggestions to help you get started:
First Time Volunteers
I Just Want to Jump In Now
Lastly, these are some extra opportunities and good links! Many of these organizations host great volunteer or community events. A great way to make sure you are not missing out is by staying connected through their social media.
Some of our event partners:
Really great youth volunteer clubs to look into:
In future posts, I will be discussing and promoting more specific opportunities and topics. Please feel free to message me with any specific volunteer ideas you have, requests for future blog posts, or highlighting some cool volunteering that’s going on in Markham and I would be more than happy to write about them. I look forward to helping you achieve your volunteering goals for the year.
Until next time,
Rubaina Singla
Chair, Change the World Markham
Stay connected with Change The World Markham:
https://www.yrp.ca/en/services/Police-Record-Check-Reform-Act.asp
What is the Police Record Check Reform Act?
The Police Record Check Reform Act was enacted on November 1, 2018. This new legislation ensures a clear, consistent and comprehensive set of standards that govern how police record checks are conducted and disclosed across the province.
The new legislation has standardized the three types of police record checks that can be conducted, while limiting and standardizing the information that is authorized for disclosure. This applies to all record-check providers in Ontario when conducting checks for employment and volunteer positions.
| New Name | |
| Police Criminal Record Check | Criminal Record Check |
| Police Information Check | Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check |
| Police Vulnerable Sector Check | Vulnerable Sector Check |
One of the most significant changes to police record checks in Ontario is the disclosure of youth records. Youth records are only permitted to be disclosed in two circumstances:
Previously, police were able to release a police criminal record check containing youth records directly to the applicant, who in turn would provide the check to the organization to which they were applying. Under the new act, only federal, provincial and municipal government agencies will receive youth records, as police cannot disclose the existence of or any of the information contained within a youth record to non-government agencies. These agencies can no longer request youth records from applicants.
Only government agencies may receive youth records. Government agencies include:
Non government agencies include:
Copyright © 2022 Volunteer Markham. All Rights Reserved