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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, April 15, 2010 · 26 National Volunteer Week April 18 - 24, 2010 VOLUNTEERS GROW COMMUNITY Statistics Canada reports on volunteering in Canada Distribution of volunteers and proportion of total volunteer hours contributed, by annual hours volun- Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, Canada, Ontario, Halton Region, 2007 teered, volunteers aged 15 and over, Canada, 2007 Canadians continue to show their generosity by donating time and money to their communities. According to the latest Canada Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 20071 , almost 12.5 million Canadians, or 46% of the population aged 15 and over volunteered their time through a charitable or non-profit organization. There are many ways an individual can contribute one's time to the community on behalf of a group or an organization. This includes any unpaid help one provides to schools, religious groups, sports or community agencies and associations. Examples of volunteer work include: canvassing, fundraising, board/committee membership, teaching/mentoring, organizing/supervising an event, providing health care and support, serving and delivering food/goods, volunteer driving, etc. In Halton Region, over two-thirds (67%) of the population aged 15 and over volunteered their time through an agency, a group or an organization. Halton's volunteering rate is higher than both the provincial (47.3%) and national (46%) averages. Volunteers spent an average of 165 hours (about 3 hours per week) in the 12-month reference period preceding the survey (September-December 2006 to SeptemberDecember 2007). Halton's average annual volunteer hours are similar to the provincial (164 hours) and national (166 hours) averages. However, as pointed out in the National survey, the bulk of the support came from a narrow segment of the population. About 10% of volunteers accounted for 54% of the total volunteer hours, which is approximately 421 hours a year. On the other hand, half of the volunteers contributed between 1 to 56 hours. In Halton, the volunteers collectively contributed over 38 million hours in the 12 month reference period. The number of volunteer hours when converted into employment is equivalent to 20,232 full time yearround jobs (assuming 40 hours of work per week for 48 weeks). In an attempt to determine the economic contribution of Halton volunteers, a hourly wage of $24.05 (average hourly wage in health care and social assistance industry for Ontario - December 2007)2 was used. This represents a contribution to the economy of about $1 billion. 1 Statistics Canada, Canada Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 2007 2 Statistics Canada, Employment, earnings and hours, December 2007, Catalogue No. 72-002 In appreciation of Your caring makes our volunteers all the difference www.ianandersonhouse.com Thank You Volunteers, thanks for being part of something BIG! You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give. Halton Museum Foundation Directors & Volunteers Dial 311 or 905-875-2200 ext. 25 1-866-442-5866 ext.7935/25 More than 700 children in our community benefitted from your support. To get involved contact: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton 464 Morden Road, Oakville (905) 339.2355 www.bbbshalton.ca www.halton.ca/museum