Volunteer Blog

Every year the AC Hub honours and shows appreciation to student volunteers by recognizing the time and effort donated to Algonquin College, Ottawa/Perth/Pembroke and global communities.

The selection committee reviewed nominations of 12 remarkable students. Although a challenging decision, in the end, the committee identified amazing recipients for each of the following areas:

• Community Impact Award
• Dedication and Involvement Award
• Outstanding Leadership Award
• Volunteer of the Year

For the first time ever, the official 2019 – 2020 student volunteer award recipients are announced online in the video below. Please join the entire College community as we celebrate the profound impact these students have made this past year by using the hashtag #ACVolunteerAwards!

“When we say Light is just the beginning… we mean it. Until yesterday, this family used kerosene lamps in their home. After our group in Guatemala installed a solar system, they will have clean energy and better health conditions as they move away from toxic sources of lighting”
– Light Up the World

Giving back in Guatemala

The AC Hub provides opportunities for students to become engaged global citizens by organizing Global Projects, service-learning trips for students, recent alumni, staff, and faculty from the Ottawa, Perth, and Pembroke campuses.

This year, a team of 7 eager volunteers travelled to the region of Todos Santos in Guatemala from February 22 – March 1, 2020. The team partnered with Light Up the World to install renewable solar power energy systems, giving local families access to clean energy and empowerment.

Over a trip duration of 9 days, this Global Projects team completed 6 home solar power installations for families in need. Providing a clean and sustainable source of energy is just the beginning. Access to electricity for one family means a ripple effect for the entire community. Access to electricity means families can boil water for sanitization, use a computer to gain information about the world, and that children no longer have to complete homework by the light of kerosene lamps which are toxic to their health.

Coming full-circle and empowering others

This trip has provided locals of Todos Santos with three pillars of volunteerism: the gift of time, a skillset, and financial means. Students donated their time to participate in the installation process and to get to know the community. . The locals are then trained on how to maintain the solar power systems to close the knowledge gap. This prolongs the life of the solar system, empowers the community to take ownership of their system, which makes the project come full-circle and truly sustainable. Prior to the trip, students fundraised to help offset the cost of the solar systems. Financially, this trip worked out to roughly one solar system donated by each participant. All three of these components together create a deep impact in the global community and a life-changing experience for our AC community during and long after this trip.

Expand your horizons with Global Projects

Interested in travelling to new heights with the AC Hub? Each year, Global Projects teams share a unique experience with fellow students from a variety of academic and cultural backgrounds, skillsets, and personalities. Regardless of where you’re from or where you’re going, participating in Global Projects will challenge your perceptions, offer authentic cultural experiences, and take you to places you’ve never been before!

Leading up to the team’s departure, participants attend various leadership and team-building activities to help create a sense of cohesion between the group members, prompt self-reflection and leadership development.

On this trip, the team received hands-on training for each step of the installation process, so that they were prepared for the tasks ahead. This inclusive approach means that participants from any academic background can participate in a trip like this, and each person may experience the trip through their own personal lens.

Unfortunately, applications for the 2019-2020 Global Projects have closed. If you’re interested in learning more about future opportunities, please complete the General Interest Form so that you can be contacted when details become available for the 2020 – 2021 destinations or visit the Global Projects website to learn more!

Global Projects General Interest Form

Have you ever wondered how to present your non-academic experiences to future employers or a graduate program selection committee? Enter: The Co-Curricular Record (CCR).

The CCR is a resource offered to all Algonquin College students as a way to record involvement in student leadership development, co-curricular activities, and community service opportunities.
Continue reading →

The chilly weather of November didn’t stop our #ACVolunteers from giving their time and spreading the warmth to our community by volunteering with the Snowsuit Fund, Classroom Gardens, Santa 4 Seniors, and more!

Check out the highlights below!

Snowsuit Fund

As temperatures drop, many are in need of winter essentials including snowsuits, which can be costly.

The Snowsuit Fund strives to provide community-based support to families in need with integrity, empathy, compassion and sensitivity. The Snowsuit Fund acts as a catalyst for the provision of warm snowsuits for the less fortunate youth of the National Capital Region.

The Snowsuit Fund Depot could not be as effective as they are if it were not for the tremendous effort made by volunteers. The Snowsuit Fund Depot operates with a skeleton crew of seasonal employees, plus one full-time general manager. During the six months of the year in which the Depot is open to serve clients (September – February), volunteers of all ages and walks of life are required in order to help ensure the smooth operation of the snowsuit distribution process. Every season, more than 500 volunteers put in roughly 4,300 volunteer hours to help out. In the 2018-2019 season, 15,964 snowsuits were distributed to children in need.

At this sold-out Community Project with The Snowsuit Fund, volunteers served clients, as well as stocked and organized snowsuits in the warehouse.

Classroom Gardens

Classroom Gardens is a new pilot project that brings indoor gardening into elementary and secondary classrooms across all four Ottawa school boards. Throughout the school year, even through the cold winter months, these students are growing plants from seeds, learning about plant life-cycles, nutrition, and entrepreneurship. Most importantly, students have the opportunity to eat the food they’ve grown, which is a proven way to get kids excited about eating healthy, fresh vegetables.

Our student volunteers worked with the Ottawa Network For Education and local schools to bring indoor gardening to classrooms, by building vermiculture classroom gardens!

Santa 4 Seniors

The Santa 4 Seniors campaign is a partnership between Bruyère, The Good Companions Seniors’ Centre, and Tea & Toast. This initiative reaches out to local seniors and develops partnerships within the Ottawa community to address the unmet needs of senior citizens. The goal of Seniors 4 Santas is to bring a smile to a senior this holiday season!

Volunteers helped set up the Santa 4 Seniors fundraising at The Good Companions. The purpose of this event is to ensure that isolated seniors across Ottawa receive a gift at Christmas this year.

Volunteer with us at #ACDay1 Winter 2020!

We are getting ready to welcome new students during AC Day 1 for the Winter Term, and we need your help!
 We are looking for volunteers to support us in a variety of areas – from set-up to greeters to food pop-ups. Give a warm welcome to Winter students, show them what Algonquin College is all about, and share your expertise!

Volunteering at AC Day 1 is recognized under the Co-Curricular Record, and volunteers will be invited to an appreciation event after AC Day 1.

Sign up now!

Interested in volunteering? Check out upcoming Community Projects!

In October, our #ACVolunteers made the most of the Fall Mid-Term Break by volunteering at our sold-out Indigenous-focused Community Projects. Earlier in October, the AC Hub also hosted the first session of the Student Leadership Program (SLP) 3.0 workshop. Continue reading →