Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering provides unique and fulfilling work experiences that may help you decide if Therapeutic Recreation is the field for you. You will gain a good sense of the industry with all the exciting challenges and rewards that go with it. You also get to see and experience the role recreation plays in meeting the needs of older people or people with disabilities.
Admission to a Therapeutic Recreation program requires participants to have 45 hours of volunteer or paid experience, which must meet the following requirements.
- In order to make the experience meaningful in that way, we ask that your hours involve working with older adults (seniors) in any setting OR with people of any age group as long as they have a disability.
- We also require that the hours spent with those people involve direct or indirect provision of recreation services. This means that you can either be involved in leading recreational programs or experiences OR you can be involved as an assistant of the leader of a recreation program or experience.
- Finally, we require that your 45 hours be supervised by an individual who will be prepared to evaluate your experience on a form that will be provided. Ideally, your supervisor would have training in Therapeutic Recreation, or in Recreation in general, however, as long as the supervisor is employed in the recreational department or unit or is the Administrator and has had the opportunity to observe you, that will suffice.
- Finally, the 45 hours must have been completed within the year prior to the April 1 deadline for admission. Volunteer experience completed prior to one year may be submitted towards preferential admission.
So, for example, if you have experience spending time one-to-one with an Autistic child and the time you spend involves making meals, transportation and going to the mall or park, we would recommend that you pursue 45 hours in another way or setting. Although your experience here will help you overall, it will not give you the sense for the field of therapeutic recreation that we believe you would benefit from. If, on the other hand, you have assisted in the recreation or activities department of an intermediate care facility or a mental health clubhouse, that will work just fine. Any setting, which offers recreation services to older adults or to people with disabilities, should work.
Volunteer Sites
It would not be possible to list all the potential agencies that would be acceptable. However, typically they would fall into one of these categories: health, social service and recreation agencies including hospitals, long term care facilities for older adults, youth assessment centers, rehabilitation settings, group homes, mental health settings, adult day centres, rehabilitation centres, correctional facilities, municipal recreation centres and agencies working with people with developmental disabilities.
If you're wondering where in your community you could get that experience, we suggest a visit to your local library (or internet) and a look at "The Red Book". The Red Book is a Directory of health and social services in the lower mainland, including addresses and phone numbers. The Red Book is online at http://www2.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/DBs/Redbook/htmlPgs/home.html. Another good website is www.govolunteer.ca. Click on "Browse by Activity" and go to the Sports and Recreation listings.
Before volunteering with an organization, check their volunteer requirements. Many agencies ask volunteers to commit to 6 months and/or 75 hours of volunteering. Some agencies will not fill out the volunteer reference form until you complete the required time. Ask the volunteer coordinator if he/she will fill out the form by the April 1st deadline even if you haven't completed their required commitment.
When you apply for a volunteer position, please tell the Volunteer Coordinator that you are volunteering in order to meet the entrance requirements for the Douglas College Therapeutic Recreation Program. The coordinator will ensure that the volunteer work you are assigned to meets the requirement.
Listed below are some of the agencies that are currently providing volunteer opportunities that are suitable for entry into the Therapeutic Recreation Program:
- Burnaby
- Delta / Surrey / Langley
- Fraser Valley
- Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows
- North Vancouver / West Vancouver
- Port Moody / Coquitlam / Port Coquitlam
- Richmond
- Vancouver
Burnaby
| George Derby Centre | ||
|
Long term care facility providing care to 300 veterans of the Armed Forces. Three open units and two special care units for residents with dementia. The Therapeutic Recreation department includes recreation, artworks, music therapy, pastoral care and volunteer services. | ||
| Web: | www.georgederbycentre.ca | |
| Address: | 7550 Cumberland Street, Burnaby | |
| Contact: | Marilyn Magid, Coordinator of Volunteer Services: 604-527-4455 or marilyn@georgederbycentre.ca | |
| St. Michael's Centre | ||
| Residential care for seniors. Also offers compassionate and holistic hospice care for people who have a terminal illness. The Therapies Department delivers over 50 programs to assist residents to maintain or improve their state of health and live life to its fullest. | ||
| Web: | www.stmichaels.bc.ca | |
| Address: | 7451 Sussex Avenue, Burnaby | |
| Contact: | Rose Vidas, Director of Volunteer Services: 604-434-1323, local 134 or rvidas@stmichaels.bc.ca | |
Delta / Surrey / Langley
| Guildford Seniors Village | ||
|
Guildford Seniors Village is home to 89 residents with varying care needs. We have three separate units including one Special Care Unit. We offer a variety of large group, small group and one-on-one programs. | ||
| Web: | www.retirementconcepts.com/care/guildford.html | |
| Address: | 14568 104 Avenue, Surrey | |
| Contact: | Morag Alvernaz, Manager of Recreation and Volunteer Services: 604-582-0808, local 203 or malvernaz@retirementconcepts.com | |
| Evergreen Cottages | ||
|
Residential care for adults with brain injuries, Huntington's chorea, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. The Activities Department provides various programming ranging from sports, board games, mental aerobics, information sessions to outings/excursions. | ||
| Web: | www.evergreen-cottages.com | |
| Address: | 15660 84 Avenue, Surrey | |
| Contact: | Jason Villanueva, Recreation Coordinator: 604-597-7906 or jason.villanueva@evergreen-cottages.com | |
| Kinsman Place Lodge | ||
|
Non-profit 144 bed complex care home. Most residents are seniors, but we have a small group of young adults. Recreation programs are offered 7 days a week and some evenings. | ||
| Web: | www.kinsmenplace.org | |
| Address: | 13333 Old Yale Road, Surrey | |
| Contact: | Leisa Bannerman, Director of Recreation and Volunteer Services: 604-588-0445 or lbannerman@kinsmenplace.org | |
Fraser Valley
| MSA General Hospital - Extended Care | ||
|
We are a 125 bed extended care facility with a team approach to quality of life. Combined music, rehabilitation and recreation therapy programming. Recreation programming is available six days a week. | ||
| Web: | www.fraserhealth.ca | |
| Address: | 2179 McCallum Road, Abbotsford | |
| Contact: | Darlene Knudson - Volunteer Services: 604-851-3010 or darlene.knudson@fraserhealth.ca Note: Ask to volunteer with Karen Hohn, Recreation Therapist | |
Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows
| Ridge Meadows Hospital - Baillie House | ||
|
Residential care for seniors. We provide therapeutic recreation services to 175 seniors with various disabilities. | ||
| Web: | www.fraserhealth.ca | |
| Address: | 11666 Laity St., Maple Ridge | |
| Contact: | Ridge Meadows Hospital Volunteer Coordinator: 604-466-7911 or rmh.volunteerservices@fraserhealth.ca Note: Ask to volunteer as a residential aide volunteer under the supervision of Jade Tomlinson | |
North Vancouver / West Vancouver
| Kiwanis Care Centre | ||
|
Complex care facility with 192 residents, primarily, but not limited to seniors. There are limited mental health opportunities available. | ||
| Web: | not available | |
| Address: | 2444 Burr Place, North Vancouver | |
| Contact: | Genevieve Gubbles, Recreation Therapist: 604-924-8357 or genevieve.gubbels@vch.ca | |
Port Moody / Coquitlam / Port Coquitlam
| Hawthorne Care Centre | ||
|
Hawthorne provides a wide range of services to seniors, from low income housing to long term residential care for those seniors with complex care needs. All the recreation therapists are Douglas College graduates. | ||
| Web: | www.hawthornecare.com | |
| Address: | 2111 Hawthorne Ave, Port Coquitlam | |
| Contact: | Vicki Robertson, acting Manager of Volunteer Services and Community Partnerships: 604-468-5037 or vrobertson@hawthornecare.com | |
| Riverview Hospital | ||
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Riverview Hospital provides highly specialized mental health services to the most challenging mentally ill adults in BC. Recreation services provides a variety of therapeutic recreation and leisure programs designed for the individual's needs and interests. | ||
| Web: | www.bcmha.ca | |
| Address: | 2601 Lougheed Highway, Coquitlam | |
| Contact: | Donna Benuisis, Recreation Therapist - Profession Practice Leader Recreation and Creative Arts: 604-524-7606 or dbeniusis@bcmhs.bc.ca | |
Richmond
| Rosewood Manor | ||
|
Rosewood Manor is a non-profit care home licensed for 151 Complex Care residents including a 35 bed dementia care unit and one respite bed. The Recreation Department provides a variety of individual and group programs designed to meet the social, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the Residents. | ||
| Web: | www.rosewoodmanor.org | |
| Address: | 6260 Blundell Road, Richmond | |
| Contact: | Megan Kinghorn, Recreation and Volunteer Manager 604-271-3590 (local 122) or mkinghorn@rosewoodmanor.org | |
Vancouver
| Adanac Park Lodge | ||
|
Residential care facility with 72 residents. Average age of residents is mid 70's and many have mental health issues. The Leisure and Volunteer Services Department provides a wide variety of programs to meet the needs and interests of our residents. | ||
| Web: | www.littlemountaincare.org | |
| Address: | 851 Boundary Road, Vancouver | |
| Contact: |
Leslie Beleski, Leisure and Volunteer Services Manager: | |
| Developmental Disabilities Association - Leisure Challenge Program | ||
|
After school community based leisure and recreation program for youth ages 13 to 19 with developmental disabilities. Focus of the program is to teach life and social skills through recreation. | ||
| Web: | www.develop.bc.ca | |
| Address: | 2083 East 37 Avenue, Vancouver | |
| Contact: |
Jackie Lanz, Program Coordinator: | |
| Dr. Peter Centre | ||
|
Dr. Peter Centre provides a Day Health Program and a 24 bed residence to people living with HIV. Goal is to provide care to those most at risk of deteriorating health. | ||
| Web: | www.drpetercentre.ca | |
| Address: | 1110 Comox Street, Vancouver | |
| Contact: |
Contact: Carolyn Ryan, Volunteer Coordinator: | |
| The Gathering Place | ||
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Serves the diverse and disadvantaged population of the downtown core which includes HIV, HEP C, homelessness, poverty, drug addiction, and mental health issues. Recreation programs meet the needs of this population to enhance their health and wellness. | ||
| Web: | http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/gatheringplace/index.htm | |
| Address: | 609 Helmcken Street, Vancouver | |
| Contact: |
Contact: Valerie Ferrar, Recreation Programmer: | |
| George Pearson Centre | ||
|
George Pearson Centre provides services to meet the long-term rehabilitation needs of individuals with severe physical disabilities in a residential living environment. Residents are adults with an average age of 45 to 50. Primary disabilities include spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy and ALS. Recreation Therapy staff that provide programs at GPC are both at the degree and diploma levels in TR. | ||
| Web: | http://www.vch.ca/volunteers/opportunities.htm#gpc | |
| Address: | 700 West 57 Avenue, Vancouver | |
| Contact: |
Barb Boman, Coordinator, Volunteer Resources: | |
| Little Moutain Place | ||
|
Residential care facility with 116 residents. Provides specialized services for the visually impaired, the frail elderly, and residents with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias. Therapeutic Recreation Programs are offered based upon residents' needs; they have a specific goal and purpose, they assist in bringing meaning and satisfaction to one's life and they help to maintain physical and emotional well being. | ||
| Web: | www.littlemountaincare.org | |
| Address: | 330 East 36 Avenue, Vancouver | |
| Contact: |
Leslie Beleski, Leisure and Volunteer Services Manager: | |