Volunteers are very important to us at Baycrest. They help us deliver top-quality care and innovation in almost every area on campus.

Every volunteer role is based on your interests and skills, and we do our best to make it a rewarding experience for you.

There are many benefits of volunteering, including:

• Earning high school volunteer hours
• Gaining experience
• Trying out a potential future career path
• Meeting new people
• Supporting your physical health by staying active

We welcome all volunteers and will do our best to accommodate your needs.

I have been volunteering here at Baycrest since I retired 15 years ago. I was originally a volunteer here as a teenager, back when we had to wear the candy striper uniform! It is amazing to meet so many wonderful people who want to give back to our community.”
– Rochelle Goodman, Baycrest volunteer

I have volunteered at Baycrest since 2014 in several departments, and now I facilitate three weekly music appreciation groups that spark memories and joy in the participants. Although I have spent my life in the music industry and public broadcasting, sharing music with Baycrest residents is my most meaningful lifetime experience.”

– Charles Solomon, Baycrest volunteer

Volunteer opportunities

Here are some of the ways you can get involved.

Centre for Health Information
Welcome visitors and help them find trusted health information in brochures, books and online.

Eating assistance
Help clients with eating or by greeting them in the dining room. You will get specialized training in eating assistance.

Baycrest Foundation
Support our foundation by volunteering in the office to help with a variety of fundraising and administrative tasks.

Friendly visitors
Spend one-on-one time with hospital patients or long-term care residents. You can share stories, play games or enjoy the art around Baycrest.

Musicians
Please share your talent if you sing or play an instrument. Our clients love music.

Pet therapy
Pets can bring joy to our patients and long-term care residents. If you and your pet are certified by St. John’s Ambulance or Therapeutic Paws of Canada, you can volunteer with your pet.

Program escorts
Help clients get to and from different programs and spend time talking with them. You can also help with set-up and getting clients to their seat.

Research
Gain valuable experience in an academic hospital setting by helping one of our many research teams in a variety of ways.

How to become a volunteer

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer. Even a few hours of your time can make a big difference for our clients.

Before you start, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 13 years old to volunteer on your own (without a parent or guardian)
• Commit to volunteering for at least six months
• Speak and understand English

Knowing another language like Yiddish, Russian, Hebrew or Polish is a bonus, but it is not required.

Returning volunteers

If you have volunteered at Baycrest before and want to know about current opportunities, please contact the volunteer office.