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How You Can Get Involved

Volunteer Opportunities

What Do Emergency Volunteers Do?
ESS volunteers assist their communities in many ways, including:

  • Providing essential services at a reception centre during an emergency or disaster
  • Providing educational session to groups, businesses, schools on emergency preparedness
  • VolunteerRecruiting and training more volunteers
  • Assisting in radio communication
  • Providing translation services
  • Providing emotional support to people in need following a disaster
  • Identifying potential food, clothing, lodging, pet care etc sites
  • Participating in meetings, training sessions and exercises
Benefits of Volunteering
  • Opportunity to meet new people
  • Learn or develop new skills
  • Receive specialized training and education
  • Build self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Feel needed and valued
  • Helping the community at a time of need
  • Making a difference in someone's life
  • Opportunity to travel to other areas during a disaster (ie Interior Wild Fires)
  • Complete volunteer hours

What if I'm Not Sure What I Can Contribute?
Don't worry, there's something for everyone in our ESS program. You can meet and greet, help people with forms, help find resources, care for pets, learn about amateur radio, organize files, serve food, provide emotional support, run messages and much more. We need people of all ages and skill sets. We suggest that you get involved and see what interests you. All we ask is that you get some basic training, attend meetings and participate in exercises before an emergency or disaster occurs. Join the ESS Team and help make a difference!

What kind of Liability Protection is Provided to Volunteers?
Registered Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) volunteers have three levels of liability insurance:

  1. Exemption from civial liability (unless grossly negligent)
  2. 2 million provincial liability insurance
  3. Good Samaritan Act

When does WCB Cover a Volunteer?
Emergency Social Service Volunteers are covered under the Worker's Compensation Act.  Volunteers are covered under four categories:

  1. Operational tasks
  2. Training tasks
  3. Demonstrations
  4. Public education and display

See PEP for more information.

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