Volunteer Appreciation Week
By Alisa Hashimoto (Program Manager) and Participant Advisory Committee Member
This year, April 19-25 is National Volunteer Week in Canada — a chance to recognize the extraordinary contribution volunteers make to the quality of life in our country. Here at BCBWP, we have just thanked our own volunteers with the message you see below. We want to share this tribute with you, with everyone who cares about the Program, because we all benefit from our volunteers’ skills, dedication and human warmth.
Letter to Volunteers
Volunteer Recognition Week is a timely moment to recognize something that takes place all year long: your contribution to the BC Brain Wellness Program. You and your volunteer colleagues make this Program what it is today. You are — literally — essential to how we deliver our programs. Without your skills and your dedication, we could not sustain the level of capacity, quality and safety that our participants rely on.
Your impact is felt in every aspect of our work.
You know your own role well, but you may not know the scope and strength of our volunteer community as a whole.
Volunteers: to date, over 300; currently active, 97 — mostly UBC undergraduate students studying neuroscience, kinesiology, nutrition and biology
Hours: typically 1-3 classes/week for each volunteer, which can add up to over 2,500 hours/year — essential, high-quality hours, at no financial cost to the Program
Roles: mostly online, but also in-person and behind the scenes
Online group class support: volunteers monitor participant safety, flag any emergencies, provide technical support, and engage with participants in a range of classes, everything from exercise to art to nutrition to dance
In-person: volunteers offer specialized support in our in-person classes and workshops, directly engaging with participants, building their confidence and pleasure, and fostering intergenerational connection
Behind the scenes: volunteers who participants rarely meet, but whose contributions enrich their experience — e.g. blog writing, video editing, research data collection, or service through our Participant Advisory Committee
Volunteer opportunities: skills development and work experience, e.g. engagement with individuals with chronic neurological conditions, their care partners and older adults in general; interaction with instructors experienced in the field of brain health; educational and professional development opportunities through volunteer meetings and webinars
Now you know why we say you are essential to the Program!
These statistics are impressive, but your impact goes beyond anything that numbers and data can measure. My own position here, as Program Manager, keeps me very close to the human impact of your contribution.
Your warmth plays a vital role in creating a welcoming and engaging environment for participants. Your familiar face brings comfort and connection; their feedback tells us they value getting to know you a bit, and enjoy the friendly interaction. Our instructors are as grateful for your presence as the participants. Your skills and reliability mean they can relax and focus on their own role, knowing you are there, and you will keep participants safe and supported.
Volunteer Recognition Week is a six-day event. Our own recognition of your impact is year-round. Thank you! Your generosity, compassion and commitment are the foundation of our Program. We are deeply grateful for everything you do.