Volunteers
Volunteering is a wonderful way to share your enthusiasm and contribute to building an exceptional capital for all Canadians. We’re looking for dynamic volunteers to contribute to our goal of making Canada’s Capital Region a source of national pride and meaning for Canadians.
NCC volunteer programs
Explore each of our five volunteer programs, and find out more about how you can become more active in the Capital.
Gatineau Park
Share your love of the great outdoors by volunteering in Gatineau Park. Our teams of volunteers patrol the trails of Gatineau Park, providing information, first aid and general assistance.
Volunteer opportunities
Winter
Description
- Patrol the ski and/or snowshoe trails
- Serve as information officers, and promote Park rules on trail use
- Provide first aid to people in need of medical assistance
- Offer assistance to visitors who experience problems
- Monitor the conditions of ski and snowshoe trails, and produce patrol reports
Requirements
To be a ski or snowshoe patroller, you must be
- 18 years of age or older
- bilingual (English and French)
- certified in first aid and CPR
- available every second weekend, on Saturdays or Sundays, from 9 am to 5 pm
- have your own means of transportation
Late August to late October
Description
- Patrol the hiking trails and/or the mountain-biking trails
- Serve as information officers, and promote Park rules on trail use
- Provide first aid to people in need of medical assistance
- Offer assistance to bikers who experience mechanical problems
- Monitor the conditions of various trail-related facilities, and produce patrol reports
Requirements
To be a trail patroller, you must be
- 18 years of age or older
- bilingual (English and French)
- certified in first aid and CPR
- available for at least five days, Saturdays or Sundays, from 9 am to 5 pm
- have your own means of transportation
You can also contribute to Gatineau Park by volunteering for the Friends of Gatineau Park.
Mackenzie King Estate
There’s so much to discover at the Mackenzie King Estate. Volunteering opportunities include leading guided tours of the gardens and telling the story of the Estate. If you like the outdoors and are comfortable working with the public, we’d love to have you at the Estate!
Volunteer opportunities
July and August, as well as during Fall Rhapsody
Description
- Dress in period costume
- Meet and interact with visitors
- Provide guided tours of the garden
Requirements
To be a guide-interpreter, you must
- be at least 16 years of age
- be bilingual (English and French)
- have good communication skills
- be available every second weekend, on Saturdays or Sundays, from 1 pm to 4 pm
- have your own means of transportation
Assets
- Knowledge of gardening and horticulture
July and August, as well as during Fall Rhapsody
Description
- Welcome young visitors aged 10 and under at the Kids’ Corner
- Lead groups of children in making crafts and playing games linked to Mackenzie King’s life and the time period during which he lived at the Estate
Requirements
To be a Kid’s Corner facilitator, you must
- be at least 14 years of age
- be bilingual (English and French)
- be available every second weekend, on Saturdays or Sundays, from 1 pm to 4 pm
- have your own means of transportation
Maplelawn Garden
Help maintain Maplelawn Garden, a haven of tranquility and a National Historic Site in Ottawa. Join the Friends of Maplelawn Garden, a group of volunteers who have been preserving and maintaining Maplelawn Garden since 1993.
Volunteer opportunity
April to October
Description
- Work in flower beds, according to the established plan
- Weeding, deadheading, replanting, etc.
On occasion, gardeners may also have the opportunity to offer interpretation and guided tours of the garden, if they wish to do so.
Requirements
To be a gardener, you must
- be at least 16 years of age
- have some knowledge of gardening or be willing to learn
- be available on Sundays
Assets
- Knowledge of the history and horticulture of the garden
- Good communication skills
Mud Lake
Located on the south shore of the Ottawa River east of Britannia Bay, Mud Lake is one of the most ecologically important natural habitats in the urban part of Canada’s Capital Region.
We’re always looking for more volunteers and partners to become involved in the Mud Lake vegetation management project.
Volunteer opportunity
May, June and September
Description
- Physically remove the pre-identified plant species by pulling and digging in selected areas (summers 2016 and 2017).
- Plant herbaceous plant, shrub and/or tree species to contribute to the restoration of prioritized areas (summer 2017).
Assets
- Knowledge of weeding, planting and so on
- Knowledge of botany
Requirements
- Be available one weekday per month in May, June and September, from 8 am to noon
- Be able to work in difficult conditions (i.e. heat, rain)
- Have your own means of transportation
NOKIA Sunday Bikedays
Every Sunday morning, between the Victoria Day weekend and Labour Day weekend, thousands of outdoor enthusiasts enjoy more than 50 kilometres of scenic parkways in the heart of the Capital and in Gatineau Park, which are closed to motor vehicles and open for cyclists, in-line skaters, runners and walkers. Volunteers are the heart of NOKIA Sunday Bikedays.
Volunteer opportunity
Description
- Ensure the safety of cyclists at closed intersections
- Install barricades and traffic cones in designated areas, and remove them at the end of the activity
- Provide information to motorists and direct them to other streets
Requirements
To be a traffic intersection monitor, you must
- be at least 16 years of age or be accompanied by an adult
- be bilingual (English and French)
- be available for at least four Sundays, from 8 am to 1 pm
Description
- Patrol parkways by bike
- Provide first aid
- Provide technical support for minor repairs (repair tires, inflate tires, make minor adjustments of the derailleur, chain and so on)
Requirements
To be a bike patroller, you must
- be at least 18 years of age
- be bilingual (English and French)
- be available for at least four Sundays, from 8 am to 1 pm
- have a valid first aid and CPR certificate
For more information
Call the NCC Volunteer Centre
at 613-239-5373.