Volunteer Canada’s “Value of Volunteering Wheel” illustrates the multifaceted ways in which volunteering positively affects all aspects of a community.
Volunteering allows businesses to attract new talent, neighbourhoods to become more cohesive, and individuals to develop new skills.
Yet despite the many advantages of volunteerism, new research shows a concerning trend afoot.
Every five years, Statistics Canada collects data through its Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating. The 2023 results, published in June 2025, show that the number of Canadian volunteers dropped 12 per cent between 2013 and 2023, while overall volunteer hours logged also declined during that period.
In 2018, Canadians contributed five billion hours of formal and informal volunteering, compared with only 4.1 billion hours in 2023. This 18 per cent drop equates to a loss of roughly 451,000 full-time jobs, according to Volunteer Canada.
This contrasts with the period between 2004 and 2013, during which both charitable donations and volunteerism remained stable.
“The data doesn’t signal a shift — it signals a breakdown,” says Joanne McKiernan, executive director of Volunteer Toronto, on the organization’s website. “Canadians are stretched thin — financially, emotionally, and with their time. When both types of volunteerism and charitable giving decline together, it signals a fraying social fabric.
“If we want people to keep showing up for their communities, we need to show up for them,” McKiernan adds. “Volunteerism doesn’t just happen — it requires investment, infrastructure, and intention. Without it, we risk volunteer labour shortages across the sector and rising social isolation in the years ahead.”
Award-winning volunteer engagement professional Jessica Pang-Parks points to several contributing factors. As life has become more expensive, the demographic of people who can afford to volunteer has declined in several ways. There are fewer single-income households, many delay retirement due to mounting costs, and young adults cannot afford to invest time beyond school or work.
“The pool of willing volunteers is shifting, but the decline also reflects something deeper: a long-standing disinvestment in the infrastructure that enables volunteerism,” writes Cara Eaton, senior director of strategy and growth at Volunteer Toronto, in a recent op-ed.
“At one time, Ontario had 30 volunteer centres; now there are only 15, many closing because of unstable or insufficient funding.”
During the pandemic, half of volunteer management roles were eliminated or reduced. The sector has not fully recovered. Many Canadians may want to volunteer, but when they reach out to an organization, they do not hear back. A 2025 Volunteer Toronto survey of 90 volunteers showed that this happens 24 per cent of the time.
High volunteer rates are consistently associated with stronger social networks, higher capacity to support vulnerable populations, and increased community resilience during times of crisis — core components of a healthy city.
Locally, Jessica Barbuto, executive director of Mapleridge Recreation Centre, has also seen a change in how people prefer to contribute.
“There is a strong trend toward short-term, time-limited, and project-based volunteering, rather than long-term role commitments,” she says.
Peterborough has more than 480 non-profits in the region that depend on volunteers, and at least 35 organizations with dedicated staff to support volunteers.
GreenUP is one of those, having recently secured funding for full-time staff capacity to support and grow volunteer programs and build community connections. Volunteer Peterborough, a neighbourhood hub for volunteer opportunities that is part of the Canadian Volunteer Centre Network, has offered a rallying point for local organizations that also rely on volunteering.
Amplifying those opportunities to GreenUP’s audience and beyond supports the growth of a larger volunteer culture that residents can benefit from.
Here are just a few of many ways in which residents can contribute to a stronger Peterborough:
- The Peterborough Humane Society cultivates a space where compassion for animals and their well-being is part of everyday life. Volunteer opportunities range from dishes and laundry to dog walking, cat socializing, sorting donations, greeting visitors, and lending a hand at events.
- Community Care Peterborough provides a variety of essential services to seniors and adults with physical challenges that empower them to live at home with dignity. Volunteer opportunities include delivering meals, helping people get to their medical appointments, and having friendly visits.
- Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region helps families build strength, stability, and independence through affordable home ownership. Volunteer opportunities include helping with tool maintenance and inventory at the Peterborough Tool Library, processing donations and customer service at the ReStore, and administrative support in the office.
Through a robust network of volunteers, Peterborough can become more proactive, resilient, and united.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at GreenUP, complete a volunteer application form or register to join an upcoming in-person volunteer information session at greenup.on.ca/volunteer.
