Finding a fulfilling volunteer position can take some time, just like seeking paid work does, but it will be well worth the effort to find volunteer opportunities where you can engage your time, talents and treasures!

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Mahatma Gandhi

Places and ideas to find age-friendly volunteer opportunities:

  • Organizations you already know and have an interest in. If there is a specific organization that you want to get involved with, contact them directly and ask to speak with the manager or coordinator of volunteer resources.
  • Start by searching the opportunities on this website, over 500 currently available! Go to our Search Opportunities page and click on the filter for Adults 55+ if it isn’t already selected. Also click on Distance and you can add in your postal code along with the distance you want to search from your postal code using the kilometre slider. Interested only in virtual opportunities? Click on virtual!

If NextStageVolunteering.com doesn’t have what you are looking for, here’s a few other places to check out:

  • Our main site, Volunteer Success, has some helpful resources on the “How to Find Volunteer Opportunities Online” page found HERE.
  • Contact your local Volunteer Centre. There are more than 200 Volunteer Centres across Canada. Volunteer Centres collect information from organizations about their volunteer needs and help people identify agencies that have openings. Call Volunteer Canada at 1-800-670-0401 or visit www.volunteer.ca on the web for the volunteer centre nearest you. Or click HERE for the directory of Volunteer Centres across Canada. See some of the larger Ontario Volunteer Centres listed here:
    • If you are in Toronto search on Volunteer Toronto HERE
    • If you are in Ottawa search Volunteer Ottawa HERE.
    • If you are in Kingston search Volunteer Kingston HERE.
    • If you are in Thunder Bay search on Volunteer Thunder Bay HERE.
  • The Ontario government’s Volunteering and Community Engagement list of organizations that engage volunteers found HERE.
  • Talk with friends and family — let people know you are keen to volunteer and ask if anyone has any connections or ideas that might be a good fit for you — who knows, they may be delighted to recruit you to their cause.
  • Use Google* on a computer, and type in a few different things like: “age-friendly volunteer opportunities Ontario,” “older adult volunteering Ontario,” “volunteering for seniors Ontario.” The more ways you say it in Google the better your search. Have some fun exploring the many options through Google — you may be amazed how much you’ll discover.
  • Senior Toronto has a list volunteer opportunities specifically for older adults, found HERE.
  • Go to CharityVillage — a Canadian resource for many things including volunteering — found HERE. You can use the CharityVillage search feature and type in, “age-friendly volunteer opportunities” and see what comes up.
  • The Canadian Association of Retired Person (CARP) chapters operate independently, with volunteer boards responsible for recruiting new members, developing engaging programs and activities and promoting local and national advocacy platforms. CARP also helps connect members to volunteer opportunities outside the organization. Find CARP HERE.
  • The LIFE Institute, in Toronto, “Become a Volunteer” found HERE or phone Volunteer Services at 416 979-5000 ext. 554681
  • The Council on Aging of Ottawa found HERE.
  • Long-term care home volunteer found HERE. Seniors Services and Long-Term Care operates 10 long-term care homes across the City of Toronto. Each has a Coordinator, Volunteer Services who is ready to meet with you to help you find a volunteer program that is right for you.
  • Circle of Care Sinai Health in Toronto found HERE.
  • A Friendly Voice is always looking for volunteers. Through warm, friendly conversations, volunteers support and encourage callers to engage with their community. A Friendly Voice is found HERE.
  • The Canadian Red Cross, engages many volunteers across Canada, found HERE.
  • Information London lists volunteer opportunities HERE.
  • Age-friendly Peterborough lists volunteer opportunities found HERE.
  • Toronto Central Health Line lists organizations you could contact to ask about volunteering HERE.

These are but a few places and ways to find age-friendly volunteering.

Your experience, wisdom, and time are the most valuable things you can offer.

A suggestion to keep in mind: don’t give up. Volunteering opportunities are always being added and updated so search frequently if needed — what you may not discover today you may very well find tomorrow.

The pursuit for fulfilling volunteer opportunities is educational — while searching you’ll learn about the many options available which will help you narrow down what you’re looking for and what will fit with you. Enjoy the search!

 Some helpful resources for you on our website: