Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers support our patients, families, staff and programs in a variety of areas. Both year round weekly placements and 1-3 month summer opportunities are available.
Complex Continuing Care Unit
Mon Sun, 8-11 a.m., 10 a.m. 1:00p.m. or 4:00 (4:30) 7:00 p.m.Volunteers provide invaluable support on our Complex Continuing Care nursing units. They assist patients at mealtimes, visit with and help patients in a variety of ways and provide general support to the care team. Most importantly, the time volunteers spend with patients adds to the quality of their lives in a friendly, compassionate and supportive environment.
Palliative Care Unit
Working alongside staff, volunteers play an important role in promoting the highest quality of life for terminally ill patients, their families and friends. The time, care and support our volunteers bring to the unit creates a friendly, comfortable and compassionate environment for our palliative care patients. The volunteer assignment on this unit is both challenging and rewarding. Please speak with us for further information on the PCU program and our current needs. This role requires a minimum commitment of one year.Slow Paced Rehabilitation
Working alongside our rehabilitation staff, volunteers provide support with both group and individual programs. This role will be of particular interest to individuals who have an interest in physiotherapy or occupational therapy. Volunteers have the opportunity to work directly with patients (within the guidelines of the role and tasks assigned by the supervising therapist) and also help with some administrative and project activities.Spiritual Care Services
Thursday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noonPortering: Assist with transporting patients in wheelchairs to and from chapel services this is a weekly role
Pianist: play hymns at the weekly Sunday and Thursday chapel services
Resource Centre
Mon Fri, 10 a.m. 1:00p.m. or 1:00 4:00 p.m.Volunteers assist patients, families and staff in accessing information and perform support functions to help maintain our journal and reference book collections. Depending on skill sets and interests, volunteers may also assist staff with literature searches and special projects.
Administrative Support
Time varies depending on current needs generally a 3 hour shiftThis volunteer role provides clerical and administrative support to health centre staff. Good communication and organizational skills and a comfort level with administrative tasks and computers are requirements for this role. A limited number of opportunities are available.
Toronto Grace Health Centre Foundation
Mon Fri, 10 a.m. 1:00p.m. or 1:00 4:00 p.m.Volunteers assist with administrative activities, coordination, fundraising, research and special events.
Arts at the Grace
Flexible ScheduleThe vision of the 'Arts at the Grace' initiative is to develop creative arts programs to enrich the environment and lives of our patients and their families. We are looking for creative individuals to participate in concerts, art shows or assist with the coordination and recruitment of creative artists from the community.
Concert Series assist with coordination of concert series or host a concert
Art Shows assist with coordination of the shows or host an art show
Landscaping/Gardening Program (June October) assist with the planning, maintenance of two outdoor gardens at the health centre.
Leadership, Training & Special Events
Flexible Schedule, please speak with us for further information on our current needs.We encourage and support opportunities for volunteers to take on leadership roles within our volunteer program. Opportunities vary throughout the year and may include involvement with training initiatives, recognition activities, special events, project work and program development.
Therapeutic Recreation
10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 4:00 p.m.Volunteers work alongside staff assisting patients on a one-to-one basis and in group programs to support a variety of leisure activities (which may include art/crafts, reading & games). Therapeutic Recreation Programs support meaningful activities and increased socialization for patients.
Mealtime Program
The goal of this program is to create a more inviting and social environment for patients during mealtime, to maximize independence and to support the health, nutrition and well being of patients. Working alongside staff, volunteers assist with setting up at mealtime, creating an inviting environment and assisting patients on a one-to-one basis. Students who have an interest in nutrition may have an opportunity to take a leadership role with this program. Time commitment 8:00 9:00 a.m. or 11:45 am 1:00 p.m. or 12:00 noon 1:15 p.m. or 5 - 6:15 p.m. Weekdays: 1 3 shifts per week depending on availability.Patient Outings
Monthly 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. (day of the week varies a flexible schedule is required)For many of our patients, Toronto Grace Health Centre becomes their home. Our monthly outings provide the opportunity for a group of patients (accompanied by staff and volunteers) to spend a day or afternoon on an outing participating in activities in the local and surrounding community.
Gardening Program - Therapeutic Recreation (Summer only)
Do you have a green thumb, looking for a garden to putter in?We are looking for avid gardeners or individuals with landscaping/design experience to help with the planting and maintaining of two outdoor gardens at the hospital. A weekly commitment from mid May through October is required. Shift time is flexible (morning, afternoon or evening for approximately 1 hour)
The garden program is part of our Arts at the Grace initiative. The vision of this initiative is to develop and organize creative programs to enrich the environment and lives of our patients and their families. Our first garden was introduced in 2003 and transformed a small area adjacent to our parking lot into a pleasant and welcoming place for patients, visitors and hospital staff. The garden has been enthusiastically received and has now become a yearly project.
Pet Therapy
Mon Sunday, 1:30-2:30 p.m. or in the late afternoon/early eveningPet Therapy volunteers visit at the health centre on a weekly basis with their canine friends. This program provides our patients with opportunities to enjoy interaction and companionship with an animal. Pet Therapy teams must complete a pet therapy assessment and receive certification to be accepted to the program. Please contact us for information on our pet therapy program.
High School Co-op Education Programme
Due to the nature of the role and setting, we are only able to accommodate students who are participating in a semestered program. Morning, afternoon and full day placements are available
The High School Co-op Program provides an opportunity to learn about a health care setting; explore career interests; work with patients; develop communication skills and gain valuable work experience. Our goal is to provide a great fit for both students and our program areas. Our setting would be of particular interest to students who are interested in exploring a career in nursing, social work, geriatrics, therapeutic recreation, or who like to gain experience working with patients. We are looking for students who are motivated, have good communication skills, enjoy working as part of a team and are always striving for excellence in their work. We have a limited number of co-op opportunities at the Grace, therefore students interested in applying should do so as early as possible at the beginning of each co-op semester.
Summer Leadership Role
We are currently recruiting volunteers for a leadership role with our summer program. This role provides students with an opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience and to help support a successful and rewarding experience for our summer volunteers.Volunteers in this role will assist with training, evaluation, recognition and administrative activities. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, maturity, creativity and some leadership experience are important qualities for this role.
If you would like further information about this role and the commitment required, please contact Michael Fliess at (416) 925-2251 x.256.
Summer Volunteer Program
The Toronto Grace Hospital is currently recruiting volunteers for our Summer Volunteer Program. Student volunteers provide invaluable support at the hospital and help to fulfill our mission of providing the highest quality of life for our complex continuing care patients.The summer program runs during the months of May, June, July and August. Students must be 16 years of age or older and be available to make a minimum commitment of 60 hours of service. Most placements are Monday through Friday during the daytime.
Scheduling options may include:
1 month commitment : a.m. or p.m. shift Monday - Friday
2 month commitment : 3 or more shifts per week (a.m. or p.m.)
3 month commitment : 2 or more shifts per week (a.m. or p.m.)
Summer volunteers must be available on the same day and time each week. Most shifts are two or three hours in duration (some placements may accommodate a one hour shift)
The summer volunteer role provides students the opportunity to learn about a health care setting, work directly with patients, fulfill school requirements for volunteer participation and make a valuable contribution to patient care at Toronto Grace.
Volunteers can make a difference for our patients by lending a hand at mealtimes, visiting one-to-one with patients or assisting with recreational activities. Volunteers assist in numerous areas throughout the hospital including Patient Care Units, Therapeutic Recreation Programs, Resource Centre, Foundation, Garden Program, Special Projects, Administration and Leadership Activities.
The summer volunteer role provides students the opportunity to learn about a health care setting, work directly with patients, fulfill school requirements for volunteer participation and make a valuable contribution to patient care at Toronto Grace.
Volunteers can make a difference for our patients by lending a hand at mealtimes, visiting one-to-one with patients or assisting with recreational activities. Volunteers assist in numerous areas throughout the hospital including Patient Care Units, Therapeutic Recreation Programs, Resource Centre, Foundation, Garden Program, Special Projects, Administration and Leadership Activities.
Time Commitment
- A minimum commitment of six months attending on a weekly basis (for our year round program). The Palliative Care volunteer role requires a minimum commitment of one year. Our Summer Volunteer Program requires a minimum commitment of 60 hours.
- You must be available on the same day and time each week for most roles
- Generally shifts are three hours in duration
- The mealtime program (which requires a weekly commitment of approximately one hour) is an ideal program for individuals or groups who are interested in volunteering but have a limited time availability