Volunteering

Why Volunteer

Volunteering is a fun and engaging way to give back to your community! People of all ages and abilities can volunteer with the City of Markham.

 Volunteering gives:

• A sense of community and involvement
• Physical and mental exercise
• Experience and skills development
• A chance to meet new people and make new friends and contacts
• A chance to learn more about different ages, abilities and cultures
• Hours that can be used for high school diploma requirements, scholarships and awards.

 Volunteers are vital to the success of our events and programs. With your help, we can give our residents and visitors the best experiences possible!

 Are you ready to become a volunteer?

Your Role as a Volunteer

General Responsibilities

As a volunteer with the City of Markham, you will:

• Foster a positive learning environment 
• Complete your tasks on time
• Have the needed certifications and training before you start
• Keep track of your shifts and hours and online profile.
• Tell your supervisor about any upcoming absences. Be sure to do so in advance so that the City can find someone to fill your role.
• Know about your position and do your job as well as you can
• Work with City of Markham staff and other volunteers
• Allow your supervisor and/or instructor to help you with difficult situations

Values and Code of Conduct

We want our volunteers to show creativity and resourcefulness. Markham is a vibrant and diverse city. We can use our skills, resources, and imagination of our residents, to solve any problem!

As a volunteer, you must:

• Show respect, dignity, and professionalism
• Be a positive role model
• Uphold our mission, values, and strategic priorities
• Uphold and implement all departmental policies and procedures
• Dress appropriately and follow your role’s specific dress code
• Help make a positive working environment
• Keep things confidential
• Respect the privacy of others

Do not:

• Criticize other volunteers, City of Markham staff, participants, or services
• Use profane, insulting, or offensive language
• Volunteer under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or banned substances. Our facilities are smoke free.
• Give drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products to volunteers, participants, or guests. 

Step 1: Create a Volunteer Account Online & Add Departments to Your Profile

Choose a category that interests you and fill in the application form. This will let you to view and sign up for that department's opportunities. Once you make your account, you can also apply to more departments from the links below.

You will see only opportunities offered by the departments you have chosen, so feel free to add many to expand your experience!

Click a department link below to start!

City Special Events

Participate in City events, such as Markham Cycling Day, Doors Open Markham, Milliken Children's Festival & Markham Elections.

Culture

Be creative! Help others express themselves by supporting programs and events at Flato Markham Theatre, Markham Museum, and Varley Art Gallery.

Markham Public Library

Help promote learning with library events and creative activities.

Recreation

Express your passion for sport and recreation by helping people of all ages and abilities participate in our programs and camps at our community centres.

Aquatics

Share your love of swimming. Help our instructors with swim lessons.

Step 2: Attend an Interview

Once you have created an account and joined a department, sign up for an interview.  

Upcoming interview sessions are being added regularly by all departments can be found here.

Look under, 'Interviews and Training Sessions' in the Opportunities tab. Or you can also see a complete list of interviews for all departments in 'Public Opportunities'.

You are able to join an interview session in any department, with the exception of Aquatics, which has an exclusive interview and training process that involves being in the pool.

You will need only one interview, no matter how many departments you join.

You may interview again, if you would like to change your ranking, after getting more volunteer experience over a season, or more. 

Step 3: Provide a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC)

You will need a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC), also called a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) or Criminal Records Check to volunteer with the City of Markham. You will need to renew this police check every two years.

Do this step AFTER you have created an account and have been accepted in the interview.

How to get a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC)

York Region Residents

Follow the instructions on the York Regional Police website.

If you are under 18 years of age, you must go in person, to get your Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).

You will need:

1. Completed VSC application;
2. A valid student card; a reference letter from the City of Markham;  
3. Two pieces of valid government identification (include one photo ID)

Please contact the York Regional Police (YRP) Customer Service Unit to schedule an appointment. You can book an appointment online, or call 1-866-876-5423 extension 7655.

A reference letter can be obtained by sending a request to volunteering@markham.ca with your full, legal name, age and city address. Please follow this step, after you have set up your account, and completed the interview.

York Regional Police will charge $34 if you bring a Volunteering Request letter or valid student card.

Adults 18 years of age or older may go in person, or apply online.

YRP Headquarters
47 Don Hillock Drive 
Aurora, Ontario, L4G 7C6 

1.866.876.5423 extension 7655

Living Outside of York Region

If living in Toronto, please check the process on the Toronto Police Services website, for getting a Vulnerable Sector Check.

Email us your full, legal name, age and city of residence for the application.

For any other city, you may check with your local police department, or email us for instructions on how to get a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) or Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS).

How to submit your VSC 

Before submitting your Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC), please ensure you have already set up a volunteer account. See Step 1 for detailed instructions.

We need to see your original VSC. It must be dated within the last 120 days. You will keep your original VSC.

Those who have received an online VSC with a QR Code (adults), may submit it in person, or email the VSC to volunteering@markham.ca.

Step 4: Complete your General Orientation Workshop and AODA training online

Required training:

General Orientation Workshop

Review the General Orientation Workshop and complete the quiz. 

This training covers the City of Markham Volunteer Manual [PDF] which is required for all City of Markham volunteers.

Important points:

• Online training will take about 20 minutes;
• Review the online video and then complete the quiz (be sure to already have a volunteer account set up);
• You need to take this training every two years.

If you are unable to view the online training module, you may review the PDF version of the training module [PDF].

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Training

Review the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) training and complete the quiz.

Important points:

• Online training will take about 20 minutes;
• Review the online video and then complete the quiz (be sure to already have a volunteer account set up);
• You need to take this training every two years.

If you are unable to view the online training module, you may review the PDF version [PDF] and complete the quiz.

Optional:

Special Needs Training

There is an additional training if you want to volunteer for Special Need/Adapted programs. We often need volunteer support to help with participants who need extra help because of a disability. In addition to the general orientation, please review the following manuals and complete the short quiz. Be sure to have a volunteer account before doing the quiz.

• Why do we Adapt Programs [PDF]
• Quiz (Inclusion Training validation)