"Don’t underestimate people’s desire to do good! A year ago we were re-entering a lockdown and so much felt overwhelming and unknown. For example, we were not sure how we were going to run our Christmas programming with so many restrictions! But time and time again, our volunteers continued to surprise us with their dedication and willingness to support us. So, if I travelled back in time, to one year ago, I would have advised or told myself: “breathe… everything will work out!”

AS SOMEONE WORKING IN VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, HOW DOES TAVA HELP YOU?

I love attending TAVA’s annual conference! It is a great opportunity to learn from so many different professionals, and I always find the variety of sessions so beneficial. TAVA has certainly helped me grow professionally and given me a better understanding of networking. 

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO EXPLORE/ ENTER VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AS A PROFESSION? 

I love meeting new people! In this role, you are constantly interacting with new people who have different backgrounds and incredible stories. It really gives you a great opportunity to engage so many people. I was also motivated to enter this profession because it has allowed me to gain a better understanding of the community my organization serves, and the importance of the services we provide. 

WORKING IN VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES?

Retention! We usually have quite a few individuals motivated to volunteer with us. However, keeping them engaged and motivated to continue volunteering after a few months is always a challenge. To combat this, we do our best to engage our volunteers in new projects; and continually ask them for feedback on their volunteering needs.  

IN THE PAST YEAR, WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE PROFESSIONAL PROJECT AND WHY?

As with almost everyone else, the COVID 19 Pandemic created massive complications around our jobs and the services our organization could provide. However, there were inspiring moments though. For example, we were still able to provide our annual toy market for our community members. While we did have to pivot to a curbside service model, we were still able to provide toys for over 850 children. While definitely a challenge, it was an honour to be able to provide this service to our community and get to know some available volunteers who provided us support during that difficult time. 

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL BACK IN TIME TO ONE YEAR AGO, WHAT VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF?

Don’t underestimate people’s desire to do good! A year ago we were re-entering a lockdown and so much felt overwhelming and unknown. For example, we were not sure how we were going to run our Christmas programming with so many restrictions! But time and time again, our volunteers continued to surprise us with their dedication and willingness to support us. So, if I travelled back in time, to one year ago, I would have advised or told myself: “breathe… everything will work out!”

WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING, HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR  TIME?

Biking, running, hiking… anything and everything in the great outdoors!