News
at the VBM

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. 

As part of Volunteer Week 2026, VBM invites readers to see volunteering differently. Through a series of myths and realities, this article highlights a form of engagement that is more inclusive, more diverse, and more accessible than many people think.

From April 19 to 25, 2026, Volunteer Week shines a light on the strength of volunteer engagement under the theme “Mission: Volunteerism!”. On this occasion, VBM joins the collective momentum to celebrate volunteers, highlight their essential contribution, and recognize the spirit of solidarity that brings our communities together.

March 8 is also a time to celebrate women who built lasting institutions of solidarity. The VBM (CABM) was born from that impulse: a story shaped by women, a vision of organized mutual aid, and a human core that still holds today.

For March 8, the VBM (CABM) continues a reflection on volunteering as a lever for social justice. How can volunteering strengthen women’s rights without relying, once again, on women’s time, mental load, and invisible work?