Volunteers..in canada...

[tallprince]

what xactly does this mean..? is it doing some social service for experience ....?
How do the volunteers get paid.... or do they get paid at all if any...
How long has to one do this to get a job...?

[Baloo]

I assume that you are talking about volunteering in Canadian society.

Volunteering is about doing something as a social act.
Volunteers do not usually get paid.
There is no guarantee of a job, no matter how much volunteer work you do.

Typical volunteering in Ottawa

http://www.volunteerottawa.ca/vo-clean/index.php?/eng/

[wilson]

what xactly does this mean..? is it doing some social service for experience ....?
How do the volunteers get paid.... or do they get paid at all if any...
How long has to one do this to get a job...?

As per my understanding Volunteers are doing a free service to the public without getting any remuneration from the organisations where do they serve. I have seen in  the hospitals in Ontario there are volunteers doing lot of help to the patients by providing all the guidance in the out patients departments and emergency care, helping the patients with wheel chairs, taking the patients on wheelchair for investigations to Radiology, lab and other areas as and when required. I noticed that most of the volunteers are seniors and retired persons. Perhaps they are satisfied with their retirement benefits and does like to serve people.

[tallprince]

Thanx Baloo & wilson

[Pippin]

I worked as a Public Health Nurse and we often had volunteers to help us.  Sometimes they would help organize the children for immunization clinics by fetching 5 or 6 from a classroom, keeping them calm, and giving them the consent forms signed by their parents that the nurse had previously checked.  Or they might weigh little babies at breast feeding clinics or helping with seniors at Flu Clinics.  Other volunteer jobs might be going to schools to help children with one on one reading or working in hospital shops selling sweets and treats for the patients; taking the book cart from ward to ward; escorting newly admitted patients to their wards.  You might work at the Community Recreation Centre in the sports area and often they reward you with a free membership.  Most volunteer jobs are not paid (except perhaps for a small amount to reimburse you for car expenses if you have to drive people to appointments, etc.)  The thing about Volunteer work is that it makes life better for everyone.  You provide the extras that many organizations/programmes cannot afford these days.  In return, you meet all sorts of people, you network and improve your English skills, if necessary.  You learn more about the way Canadians live and work and socialize.  Canada is very big on VOLUNTEERISM and the people who donate their time are appreciated.  Schools and groups like Guides and Scouts promote volunteering opportunities for children. 

[qorax]

I worked as a Public Health Nurse and we often had volunteers to help us.  Sometimes they would help organize the children for immunization clinics by fetching 5 or 6 from a classroom, keeping them calm, and giving them the consent forms signed by their parents that the nurse had previously checked.  Or they might weigh little babies at breast feeding clinics or helping with seniors at Flu Clinics.  Other volunteer jobs might be going to schools to help children with one on one reading or working in hospital shops selling sweets and treats for the patients; taking the book cart from ward to ward; escorting newly admitted patients to their wards.  You might work at the Community Recreation Centre in the sports area and often they reward you with a free membership.  Most volunteer jobs are not paid (except perhaps for a small amount to reimburse you for car expenses if you have to drive people to appointments, etc.)  The thing about Volunteer work is that it makes life better for everyone.  You provide the extras that many organizations/programmes cannot afford these days.  In return, you meet all sorts of people, you network and improve your English skills, if necessary.  You learn more about the way Canadians live and work and socialize.  Canada is very big on VOLUNTEERISM and the people who donate their time are appreciated.  Schools and groups like Guides and Scouts promote volunteering opportunities for children. 

Very well said...
Besides, 'volunteering' helps u obtain the [all important] 'Canadian Experience' too. This referral letter is treated 'at par' to a 'paid' experience letter.

Qorax