National Volunteer Week 2023 (April 16-22): Let's Celebrate Volunteers
Published Monday, April 24, 2023
From April 16 to 22, 2023, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation are celebrating volunteers during National Volunteer Week (NVW).
Volunteer Canada’s theme for this year’s National Volunteer Week theme is Volunteering Weaves Us Together. This highlights the role that volunteering has in “the strength and vibrancy of our communities through the interconnected actions we take to support one another. These diverse forms of sharing our time, talent and energy strengthen the fabric of our community.”
Just as each individual thread makes weaving stronger, every volunteer’s experience, perspective, and abilities add to our collective resilience. Woven together from coast to coast to coast, volunteering reinforces our ability to grow, thrive, and create change within our community, province, and country.
Knowing our volunteer contributions are valued and meaningful creates a greater sense of purpose and dedication. From offering a listening ear to an in-patient, or a cup of tea to someone undergoing chemotherapy treatment to providing a friendly welcome and wayfinding information at the main entrance, each volunteer’s action impacts our community’s overall wellness, now and for future generations.
Volunteers contribute in countless ways to support Patient and Family Centred Care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, as Hospital and Foundation Volunteers and Patient Family Advisors (PFAs).
During National Volunteer Week 2023, we have asked staff to submit their messages of thanks for a specific volunteer or the whole team, and several senior leaders of our Hospital will be shadowing a few volunteers to get to know them better and to see firsthand the impact volunteers have everyday on the experience of patients and families.
Would you like to learn more about becoming a volunteer?
Volunteers at the Hospital contribute to Patient and Family Centred Care everyday in patient-facing roles on in-patient units. Other volunteers support out-patients through hospitality roles and transport. There are also volunteers who provide administrative office support. Others help in reception and greeting roles. There are also volunteers assisting with fundraising through Seasons Gift Shop. Volunteers even share their gifts and talents of music and gardening. Visit www.tbrhsc.net and go to the section ‘Join our Team’ to apply online and find more information about volunteering at the Hospital, or e-mail volunteering@tbh.net or call 684-6266.
Patient Family Advisors volunteer to share their valuable insights and first-hand knowledge of how the Hospital’s services impact patients. Patient Family Advisors help us meet the needs and priorities of our patients, families and community. They have direct input and influence the policies, programs and practices that shape the care and services that people receive. Visit the website www.tbrhsc.net and go to the section ‘Join our Team’ to find more information or contact: (807) 684-7322 or e-mail: PFCC@tbh.net.
Volunteers are also critical to the success of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. They help make a healthier Northwestern Ontario by providing administrative assistance, assisting with special events, and selling raffle tickets at various locations throughout the region. Volunteers can help make a healthier Northwestern Ontario by assisting with one of our many special events or selling raffle tickets at various locations throughout the region, to name just a few opportunities.
To sign up as a volunteer with us, call us at 345-4673 or email volunteers@healthsciencesfoundation.ca.
Volunteers are the backbone of any organization, and they are an essential link to the community. We value what they do to make the patient experience better.
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week 2023, we want to thank all of the volunteers who help make a difference for patients and families.
During National Volunteer Week 2023, we celebrate our collective impact. Through our kindness, generosity and commitment to volunteering, we weave our lives together.
During National Volunteer Week, and all year long, we say THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!