You Can Make a Difference
Volunteers are an integral part of our circle of care, supporting programs and services to ensure patients and families receive quality end-of-life care and support. It takes a special person with strong skills and abilities to become a hospice volunteer, and we’re lucky to have such a dedicated team of them.
Over 300 volunteers work with patients and families, and staff, across departments. Volunteers can be found on the inpatient unit, in our community program, and with our bereavement program. Volunteers are also active in non-clinical areas such as our fundraising events, our Rooftop Garden, and office administration. Volunteers share their skills in patient care, companionship, complementary therapies (e.g. reiki, healing touch), administration, and more.
For more information, email us or call Volunteer Services for more information at 250-370-8727.
VOLUNTEER spotlight
Magee Miller
Magee has been volunteering with Victoria Hospice for over a year and shares her story on why she got involved, what Hospice means to her, and what volunteering has taught her.
How to Apply
To maintain the high quality of our volunteer program, we place a great deal of care and attention on volunteer intake, training, and ongoing support.
If you are interested, the first step is to attend an information session. These require no registration, just show up! There you can fill out a volunteer application, which is followed by a personal interview with Hospice staff at a later date.
If accepted, you will be asked (at no cost), to complete a 36-hour training course in-full. All volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and follow all PPE (personal protective equipment) requirements. We also strongly recommend the annual flu vaccine (any volunteer who has not had the flu vaccine must remain masked at all times while on site during flu season: December – April).
For more information, please email us or call Volunteer Services for more information at 250-370-8727.
Information Sessions
Learn more about volunteering at Victoria Hospice at our information sessions, held in the Woodward Room, Begbie Hall at the Royal Jubilee Hospital:
Upcoming Information Sessions
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the decision to postpone volunteer information sessions for the time being. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to offering these sessions when it is safe to resume.
Opportunities
Victoria Hospice relies upon many dedicated volunteers sharing their time and diverse skills in the following areas:
Clinical Volunteer Roles
- Unit Volunteers
Caring and compassionate individuals enhance the quality of care to patients and their families on our 17-bed unit at Richmond Pavilion. Screening and training required.
- Community Volunteers
Experienced volunteers visit patients’ homes to give caring support to patients and their families. Advanced screening and training required.
- Bereavement Volunteers
Effective listeners aid recently bereaved clients through scheduled telephone and in-person contacts as well as support groups. Advanced screening and training required.
- Complementary Therapy
Skilled individuals certified in therapeutic touch, Reiki, and other healing modalities share their talents with patients, families and hospice staff on the unit and in the community. Advanced screening and training required.
- Life Stories
Trained volunteers interview hospice patients and record their memories and special thoughts. Advanced screening and training required.
- Spiritual Care Companion
Sensitive and skilled volunteers accompany patients and family in the spiritual work of approaching death and bereavement. Advanced screening and training required.
Non-Clinical Volunteer Roles
- Office Admin
Dedicated clerical workers support selected departments with typing, phoning, photocopying, data entry, mailing, library maintenance, and/or other office services.
- Special Events
Energetic and enthusiastic team players assist with our annual awareness-raising and fundraising events such as Celebrate-a-Life, Hike for Hospice, Cycle of Life Tour, and Teeny Tiny Garden Tour.
- Gardeners
Skilled gardeners maintain our special rooftop garden on the 4th floor of Richmond Pavilion.
- Music on the Unit
Musicians (guitar, harp, violin) play gentle ‘background’ music, late afternoon, in our family lounge.
Bedside Singers
Benefits
Music can be comforting and uplifting, bringing back wonderful memories. Volunteer Bedside Singers at Victoria Hospice provide this comfort, singing a cappella in teams of two for patients, their families, and loved ones.
The expectations for becoming a Bedside Singer are the ability to stay on-key, singing in a warm lullaby tone while blending voices. Evening practices are on the second and last Wednesday of each month and music is provided for practice. It’s not necessary to have professional training, as most songs can be learned through repetition. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the volunteer office by calling 250-370-8727 or email us.
We invite you to watch this video to learn more.