News
at the VBM

A new season is getting underway at the VBM! With new projects, opportunities to connect and ways to get involved, the months ahead promise to be busy. Through the voices of our team, discover what will be shaping the VBM’s fall and the many ways we’re helping volunteer action grow across Montreal.

Pride is an opportunity to celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and reaffirm our commitment to creating inclusive volunteer spaces. At the VBM, we believe that everyone deserves to find their place, contribute in their own way, and be welcomed with respect. A reflection to explore.

With 30 years of experience developing and delivering volunteer engagement training, the VBM is unveiling a renewed training program for Fall 2026 to better address today’s volunteer engagement realities and support the individuals and organizations who bring volunteer engagement to life. The program includes The Essentials series and one training session from The Extras series.

On June 17, 2026, the VBM held its Annual General Meeting under the theme “A Springboard for Volunteer Action – Strengthening Our Organization, Advancing the Movement.” Discover the highlights of the meeting, the organization's key achievements over the past year, its 2026–2027 priorities, and the results of the Board of Directors elections.

Summer transforms Montreal into a vibrant city where opportunities to get involved are multiplying. From outdoor activities to family initiatives and the excitement of major cultural events, summer volunteering takes many forms and offers everyone ways to engage that suit them. Discover why summer is the perfect time to have fun... and get involved!

The 60th anniversary of Meals on Wheels in Quebec is an opportunity to celebrate a network that began in Montreal and has become essential for seniors and people with reduced autonomy. Supported by thousands of volunteers, this movement embodies a living form of solidarity, rooted in mutual support and dignity. The VBM, which contributed to its creation, continues today its commitment to artisanal Meals on Wheels. An inspiring story to discover.

From May 4 to 10, 2026, the VBM highlights Mental Health Week, led by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), under the theme “Come together. Stronger connections, better mental health.” This week highlights the importance of human relationships for collective well-being and the essential role of volunteering in building lasting social connections.

The VBM and its member organizations play an essential role in community life. Every day, they respond to growing needs related to food insecurity, homelessness, mental health, isolation, and many forms of precarity. Yet this fundamental work rests on organizations facing increasing pressure: insufficient funding, growing expectations around impact and accountability, difficulties attracting and retaining qualified staff, and a reliance on volunteerism that is increasingly shaped by economic realities.