If you’re looking to get involved with geriatric health within the Montreal community, then look no further! Check out our list of volunteering opportunities and get in contact with us if you want further information or have any questions or concerns.
If you are interested in any of our sites, feel free to contact our VP Volunteer Coordinator, Grace, at mcgillgeriatrichealth@ssmu.ca and she will provide contact information for each site!
Volunteer Sites:
- Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre
- Jewish Eldercare
- MUHC
- CIUSSS West Central Montreal
- St. Andrew’s, Father Dowd and Henri Bradet Residential Centers, St. Margaret’s Residential Center and St. Margaret Day Center, and CLSC Benny Farm
- Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre
- Château Westmount
- L’Abri en Ville
- The Yellow Door
- Entraide Bénévole Métro (EBM)
1. Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre
Location: 5795 Caldwell, Montreal, (Quebec) H4W 1W3
The list below highlights some opportunities at Donald Berman Maimonides, more will be added. If any of these placements interest you, please check out the Volunteer Registration Form
Placements will include:
- Welcome volunteer
- Dining Assistance (feeding residents- training provided)
- Resident / caregiver
- Satisfaction Survey
- 1-on -1 games with residents
- Mobile Library Volunteer
- Saturday Afternoon Bingo
- Breakfast Club
- Art therapy
- Bead Buddies group (Art Therapy)
- Readers (Read to residents, 1x per weak for up to 2 hours)
- Volunteer Visiting (Buddy program)
- Rehab (these placements will be finalized by the end of this week)
- Pet Visiting (If you have a lovable pet, you can visit together in residents’ rooms minimum 1x weekly 1-2 hours)
- Dental Clinics (1 morning 1x a month)
- Assisting residents at mealtime (1-2 hours per meal at least 2x weekly, training provided)
- Administer Resident Experience Survey using interview skills and technology (flexible days and times, training provided)
- Assist Rehab Educator with Exercise programs
- Data entry for wheelchair database throughout the CIUSSS West Central Montreal
- Bring residents to Synagogue Services
If you have placement specific questions you can contact Patti Derstenfeld, the volunteer services coordinator of Donald Berman Maimonides at patti.derstenfeld@ssss.gouv.qc.ca or 514-483-2121 ext 2213.
2. Jewish Eldercare
Location: 5725 Victoria Avenue, Montreal, QC H3W 3H6
Approx. Time Commitment: A minimum commitment of 1-2 hours a week for a minimum of 3 months (breaks for holidays and reading week are not a problem)
Placements will include:
- Recreational activities (ie bingo, bowling, painting, movie, wordgame, Oneg Shabatt, etc)
- Visits of residents (individual or at large)
- Dental clinic (clerical)
- Speech therapy
Please email Yousra: yousra.nadege.andre.ccomtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca directly for more details or ask her to schedule a 15 to 30 min Teams meeting to discuss your options!
3. MUHC
Locations:
- The Glen site by Vendôme station
- The Montreal General Hospital site
Approx. Time Commitment: 50 hours over the entire course of volunteering (can be spread out) – with a weekly shift of 3-4 hours
The MUHC are currently needing volunteers in the following programs:
- Coffee cart (volunteers visit patients on the medical floor offering coffee & tea)
- Comfort cart (volunteers offer items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc to the patients on the floor)
- Volunteer at the Wayfinding program (providing directions/information at the front entrances)
- Volunteer at Clinic programs (direct patients within an assigned clinic)
Interested volunteers:
- Must fill out this application form:
- Must be fully vaccinated (3 doses)
- Must speak English and know some basic French
- If you are interested in volunteering at the MGH, send the application to: volunteers.mgh@muhc.mcgill.ca
- If you are interested in volunteering at the RVH (GLEN SITE), send application to: rvh.volunteers@muhc.mcgill.ca
- Interested applicants will be contacted for an interview and be placed in a program to have an orientation as well as training
4. CIUSSS West Central Montreal
Locations:
Catherine Booth Rehabilitation Hospital (for orthopedic patients)
- 4375, avenue Montclair, Montréal, Québec, H4B 2J5
CLSC René-Cassin (home support services to isolated seniors and palliative care surveys)
- 5800 Cavendish Blvd, Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec H4W 2T5
Richardson Rehabilitation Hospital (for stroke patients)
- 5425 Av. Bessborough, Montréal, QC H4V 2S7
- orientation as well as training
5. St. Andrew’s, Father Dowd and Henri Bradet Residential Centers, St. Margaret’s Residential Center and St. Margaret Day Center, and CLSC Benny Farm
Locations:
- St. Andrew’s: 3350 Cavendish Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1N5
- Father Dowd and Henri Bradet: 6565 Chem. Hudson, Montréal, QC H3S 2T7
- St. Margaret’s: 50 Av. Hillside, Westmount, QC H3Z 3E4
- CLSC Benny Farm: 6484 Monkland Ave, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1H3
The centers mentioned above need volunteers in the following programs:
Recreation Program Assistance (all sites, varied days and times):
- Bingo, art and music programs
- Sporting and wellness programs
- Breakfast Clubs (6h-9h) once per month
- Special Events (varied)
Feeding/Mealtime Assistance:
- Specialized training provided.
- Different meal times starting daily at: 8h30; 11h30; and 16h30 (based on your availability)
Personal Support Shoppers (NEW)- approximately once per month, various sites:
- Assist residents in CHSLD who are without family support, to select needed personal items such as toiletries and clothing preferences (i.e. style, color etc.) from a business website. Volunteers will need to be able to interact 1:1 with residents, have some computer skills (ability to surf websites, forward links, send emails), and collaborate with other professional team members such as nurses, PABs, social worker or other administration staff).
Tuck Shop Workers (Mini store):
- (Father Dowd site) Saturdays, Mondays or Thursdays 2-4 PM
St. Margaret’s Day Center Volunteering (weekdays only):
- Daily program assistance weekday mornings and/or afternoons. 10h-13h or 12h-15h (Recreation programs, help serve lunch etc.)
- Virtual Inclusion Program home assistance (Day Center) Mondays; Wednesdays or Fridays (11h OR 13h30). One-on-one home visits with a volunteer to create a link between the client and the Day Center team through the use of iPads. The volunteer’s goal is to make at least one home visit with a client per week for a maximum of one hour. If availability should allow for more visits, we would be happy to accommodate another client on the same day.
- *For more program information, call Lisa Lacasse directly at: 514-484-7878, ext. 67005
CLSC Benny Farm:
- Welcome Aide Volunteers (CLSC clinic, NDG) weekdays only
- Mornings (8h30h to 11h)–Volunteers needed to greet and direct CLSC visitors through the automated registration process for the Blood and Medical clinics upon arrival. Functional bilingualism (English and French) is important.
Friendly Visiting English-speaking, some French (afternoons, early evenings):
- Some extra languages sought at various sites: Greek, Arabic, Italian, Turkish, Farsi etc.
- Specialized Indigenous Visiting Program (FD; HB) specifically volunteers of Inuit or Cree heritage
Please email Wendy Foster (the administrative volunteers procedures specialist) at: wfoster@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Volunteers will require an interview and orientation. They must be vaccinated for covid with at least 2 doses (proof required), and must also supply a photo of themselves (selfie-type) in front of a plain white or light-colored background for their ID card. They must be willing to commit to at least 3-6 months of weekly or bi-weekly volunteer work (breaks can be taken for exam times etc.)
6. Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre
Location: 870 Sq. Richmond, Montréal, QC H3J 1V7
All volunteers must meet the following criteria:
- Submit to a criminal background check
- Minimum 3-month commitment, 2 hours per week
Individual Volunteering Opportunities:
- After School Tutors (Monday to Thursday, 3pm to 6pm)
- Recreation Animators (Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm)
- Early Childhood & Families Department (Monday to Thursday, 9:15am to 12pm)
- Adult Development Department (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm)
- Kitchen (Monday to Friday, 1pm to 6pm)
- Children’s Library (Monday to Friday, 3pm to 6pm)
- Weekend Programming (Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm)
- Events (BBQs, Fundraisers, Bazaars, etc)
heir ID card. They must be willing to commit to at least 3-6 months of weekly or bi-weekly volunteer work (breaks can be taken for exam times etc.)
7. Château Westmount
Location: 4860 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O Westmount, Quebec, Canada H3Z 3G2
Château Westmount is looking for volunteers from 10am to 11:30am and/or from 2pm to 4pm weekdays and on Sundays. Their clientele is low functioning seniors, and their goal is to give the best quality of life possible.
During the week, Château Westmount has hosts a variety of activities for the seniors: Yoga, documentary, mass, physical games, art club (twice a month on Monday afternoons), bingo, and concerts
Volunteers are also asked to assist with the following: Serving snacks, aiding residents to drink or eat, move tables and chairs as needed, assist in keeping recreation room neat and tidy, etc.
Volunteers need to fill out the application form and will have to complete a criminal background check. Please email your completed application form to Ms. Kim: Loisirs@chateauwestmount.ca
8. L’Abri en Ville
L’Abri en Ville is looking for committed individuals to join our volunteer community and support our residents who are aged 60 +. We are a community organization that supports adults living with stable mental illness by providing long-term housing, community engagement, and social support. Many of our residents have lived with us for over 15 years. The ten apartments we manage are in various locations in Montreal, each housing three people who live as roommates and are supported by volunteers and an apartment coordinator. Volunteering opportunities depend on your availability, interest, and skills. You could choose to support three residents in one of our apartments or to help one individual resident develop specific skills, engage in community activities, or explore their interests. To learn more, attend our upcoming virtual volunteer information session. Please email us at info@labrienville.org or call 514-932-2199 ext. 221 to receive the ZOOM link to join the information session.
9. The Yellow Door
GENERATIONS PROGRAM: The Generations Program aims to help seniors in one or more service areas with the goal of fostering intergenerational relationships through: (1) Friendly Visits; (2) Accompaniments; (3) Friendly Errands; (4) Help with Technology; and (5) Friendly Calls. Click here to learn more about becoming a Generations volunteer.
WELLNESS GROUPS: Our wellness groups need volunteers to plan sessions with the coordinator, set up supplies, welcome new/existing participants, facilitate discussion, offer guidance/skills/lessons, and clean up at the end of the activities. Click here to learn more about our current Wellness Group volunteer needs.
TECH CAFÉ: The YD Tech Café runs biweekly, and is a space where seniors can come to ask questions about technology and gain new digital literacy skills. The Tech Café pairs volunteers with a senior and also offers workshops on topics relevant to seniors, so volunteers may assist workshop participants throughout the workshops. Click here to learn more about becoming a Tech Café volunteer!
CULTURAL ROULANT: The Cultural Roulant (aka the Roulant) seeks to decrease boredom and loneliness of isolated and/or low-income seniors, through opportunities to socialize with youth volunteers (i.e., playing game, creating art, etc.) and through borrowing items to take home (books, dvds, etc). The Roulant will take place in the common room at various senior housing units across downtown. Click here to learn more about becoming a Cultural Roulant volunteer!
December Special Volunteering Opportunities
Our upcoming holiday events promise joy and festivities, and you can join us in the following festive opportunities:
Volunteer for Calls – Now until December 5: Spread the holiday spirit by making calls to invite our members. Whether from the comfort of your home or our office, we’ll provide you with a script and a contact list.
Holiday Concert: Mark your calendars for December 6 (1 to 5 PM) and join us for our Holiday Concert. Volunteers are needed for various tasks, including accompanying members, event setup, participant welcome, serving drinks and food, and cleanup.
Volunteer for Meal Deliveries – Assist with meal deliveries on December 14, anytime between 1-5 PM. Choose your preferred time slot, with a minimum commitment of 1.5 hours. Volunteers can pick up meal bags at the YD for delivery or be assigned to an area to meet with a driver. We particularly need volunteers with cars or access to Communauto (mileage and gas expenses will be reimbursed). Walking or biking volunteers are also welcome and will be organized into pairs or trios.
As a token of appreciation, all volunteers helping will receive a complimentary meal.
To volunteer, Email Rocio: generations@yellowdoor.org
10. Entraide Bénévole Métro (EBM)
Entraide Bénévole Métro (EBM) is a non-profit organization that offers physical and emotional support to seniors experiencing temporary or permanent loss of autonomy within the downtown and Westmount area.
Their primary services include friendly visits, grocery shopping, and medical or banking accompaniments. According to your schedule, they ask for a minimum commitment of two months and a minimum volunteer time of two hours per week. Services can be performed on a weekly or as-needed (flexible) basis. Volunteering through EBM is non-supervised. Their services are conducted on-location at the client’s home and may include accompaniment to a clinic, hospital, bank, store, etc. Once assigned a task, volunteers are expected to manage their time and communication with the client(s). They encourage regular communication with their volunteer coordinators as necessary.
Bilingualism is an asset, but not necessary, as is knowing other languages beyond English or French. They welcome any skills relevant to working with seniors or helpful in improving the everyday lives of their clients. Note: EBM services do not include cooking, cleaning, or anything related to hygiene.
EBM has recently introduced a Tech Help service. This involves helping their clients with questions related to computers, laptops, tablets, and cell phones. Volunteers with any background related to the above and knowledge related to technology and accessibility may indicate their interest when applying.
To become a volunteer with EBM, please complete their Volunteer Application Form: https://form.jotform.com/232655461822255
As part of the application form, you must provide two (2) references and two (2) valid pieces of photo ID (for purposes of SPVM background check). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. They will schedule an orientation after receiving your completed form and contacting your references.
For more information, you can check out their website: https://ebmservices.org or contact them by email or phone: ebmmetro@vif.com,
514-939-9575
Office address: 1801 de Maisonneuve ouest #750 Montréal, Qc H3H 1J9