VolunteerConnector

This month is National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize and honour the histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada.

It is also a time for reflection — to acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonization and deepen our understanding of truth, reconciliation, and our shared responsibility in building more equitable communities.

This month, we encourage our community to learn through Indigenous voices and experiences by:
• Reading books by Indigenous authors
• Supporting Indigenous artists, creators, and businesses
• Attending local events and community gatherings
• Learning about treaties, residential schools, and Indigenous histories
• Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21

Reconciliation is not a one-time conversation, but an ongoing commitment to learning, listening, and action.

🌙 Eid Mubarak!

Today marks Eid al-Adha, and as communities come together to celebrate, we extend our warmest wishes to everyone observing this meaningful occasion, including the many volunteers, partners, staff, and community members within our own organization who are celebrating.

Eid al-Adha is a time of reflection, generosity, compassion, and connection, values that closely reflect the spirit of volunteerism and community care.

May this celebration bring peace, joy, and togetherness to you and your loved ones.

Meet the Facilitator: Nitu Purna

We’re excited to introduce Nitu Purna, Equity and Community Impact Specialist at Volunteer Calgary and facilitator of the Equity in Volunteer Engagement Program: Equity in Action Cohorts.

Through The Equity Commons, Nitu supports nonprofits and volunteer leaders in building more equitable, inclusive, and belonging-centered approaches to volunteer engagement.

Grounded in equity-focused nonprofit practice and lived experience as a newcomer, Nitu’s work focuses on helping organizations move from awareness to practical action by examining barriers to participation, strengthening inclusive engagement practices, and creating spaces where volunteers feel valued and connected.

This summer, Nitu will lead the Equity in Volunteer Engagement Program: Equity in Action Cohorts — a 4-session hybrid workshop series designed for Volunteer Managers, nonprofit leaders, and community engagement professionals.

Participants will explore:
• Belonging and dignity in volunteer engagement
• Barriers to participation and access
• Equity-based communication
• Rethinking “cultural fit” in volunteer spaces

Two cohort options are available:
• Cohort 1 – Online Emphasis
• Cohort 2 – In-Person Emphasis

Cost: $50 or Pay What You Can

Learn more and register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-equity-commons-equity-in-volunteer-engagement-4839541

Volunteer Calgary is excited to share a new partnership with Capacity Canada to bring the Open Hearth initiative to Calgary.

Open Hearth is a national initiative focused on strengthening equitable leadership in the nonprofit sector, with a focus on supporting women and non-binary people, particularly those from underrepresented communities, through mentorship and organizational culture change.

Together, we’ll be working to support Calgary’s nonprofit community in:

Advancing inclusive leadership practices
Expanding mentorship opportunities for emerging leaders
Strengthening organizational cultures rooted in belonging and equity

We invite nonprofit leaders, HR/volunteer engagement professionals, and community organizations to learn more at an upcoming information session:

June 2, 2026
12:00–1:00 PM MST

👉 Learn more: https://capacitycanada.ca/open-hearth/ and read about the Calgary partnership here: https://www.volunteerconnector.org/news/2026/5/19/capacity-canada-and-volunteer-calgary-partner-to-launch-open-hearth-in-calgary
🔗 Register for our info session: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/open-hearth-information-session-launching-in-calgary-tickets-1989617101309

We look forward to exploring how we can grow more equitable leadership pathways together in Calgary.

Looking for a meaningful volunteer leadership opportunity?

We’re recruiting passionate individuals from across Canada to join our Board and Committees. Help strengthen volunteerism nationwide while supporting organizations working in areas like equity, food security, anti-racism, and community wellbeing.

Current opportunities include:
• Governance & Nomination Committee (2 positions)
• Finance & Audit Committee (1 position)

This is an opportunity to contribute your skills, grow your leadership experience, and help shape the future of volunteerism across Canada.

📅 Applications close June 1, 2026

Learn more about our organization at: https://www.volunteerconnector.org/

See link in bio for more details!

Do you know an exceptional volunteer making a real difference in Alberta?

Nominations are now open for the Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards, presented by the YourAlberta (Government of Alberta), recognizing youth, adults, and seniors whose volunteer efforts strengthen communities across the province.

These awards honour individuals who support non-profits, contribute to community development, and help build more inclusive, barrier-free communities.

Nominations close: June 30, 2026

Categories include:
• Youth (up to 24)
• Adults (25–64)
• Seniors (65+)
• Breaking Barriers (inclusion & equity leadership)

Recipients are recognized at a provincial ceremony around International Volunteer Day (December 5) and receive an engraved award, certificate, and public recognition.

If someone comes to mind, take a moment to recognize their impact.

👉 Learn more & nominate here: https://www.alberta.ca/stars-of-alberta-volunteer-awards

Are you a volunteer manager, nonprofit leader, or community engagement professional working to build more inclusive and equitable volunteer practices?

We’re excited to launch the Equity in Volunteer Engagement Program: Equity in Action Cohorts through The Equity Commons at Volunteer Calgary.

This 4-session hybrid workshop series will explore:
• Belonging and dignity in volunteer engagement
• Barriers to participation and access
• Equity-based communication
• Rethinking “cultural fit” in volunteer spaces

Two cohort options are available (participants select ONE cohort only):
• Cohort 1 – Online Emphasis
• Cohort 2 – In-Person Emphasis

Cost: $50 or Pay What You Can!

This is not traditional training or a webinar. It’s a small-group, practice-based learning experience grounded in reflection, dialogue, and real-world application.

Registration is now open: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-equity-commons-equity-in-volunteer-engagement-4839541?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=odclsxcollection

We’re Hiring!

We’re looking for an Outreach & Project Coordinator to support nonprofits, strengthen volunteer engagement, and help deliver impactful programs across the sector.

Ready to make an impact? Apply today.

Learn more and apply through the link in our bio.

After an incredible National Volunteer Week, we are continuing to recognize the impact of volunteers across our city.

Over the weekend, we were proud to support a free community event hosted by the Health and Social Research Society (HSRS): Volunteer Voices and Community Engagement Day.

From powerful stories to meaningful connections, the event brought together individuals passionate about supporting seniors and diverse communities. It was inspiring to hear volunteers share their experiences and reflect on the importance of community work.

We were there to share VolunteerConnector with attendees and help connect more people to meaningful volunteer opportunities.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a meaningful event.

Interested in having us present VolunteerConnector at your next event? Contact [email protected] or visit volunteerconnector.org.

How to Set and Hold Healthy Boundaries

Join us for a hands-on workshop focused on building clarity, confidence, and practical skills for setting and maintaining healthy boundaries.

📅 Wednesday, May 20
🕑 2:00–4:00 PM MDT
📍 Room 3-16B, Central Calgary Public Library

We’ll explore:
• Clarity around your needs, values, and challenges
• Communication tools to set boundaries without over-explaining
• Practical strategies to hold boundaries in everyday life

Brought to you in collaboration with Volunteer Calgary and The Ally Co., in partnership with The Co.

🔗 Learn more & register: https://events.humanitix.com/how-to-set-and-hold-healthy-boundaries

How to Set and Hold Healthy Boundaries Join us for a hands-on workshop to learn how to clarify, communicate and practice healthy boundary setting.