National Volunteer Week

April 27 - May 3 2008

Cake-Give Away at Save-On Food Sunday April 15 2007

National Volunteer Week is a special time set aside annually in April to honour volunteers for the time and energy they contribute across our country.

How did the Week begin?
National Volunteer Week was first proclaimed in 1943. In Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver, Women's Voluntary Services organized special events to draw the public's attention to the vital contribution women made to the war effort on the home front.

In the late 1960s, the idea of a designated week to honor volunteers was revived, and the focus was broadened to include all community volunteers. With local volunteers centres taking the lead, this special week grew in importance during the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1990, the third week in April was proclaimed National Volunteer Week in all communities across the country.