Igniting Volunteerism in Montréal, a Naturally Caring City

In 2026, the world will celebrate the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Across Canada, our national partner will lead the “Ignite Volunteerism” campaign to bring civic engagement back to the heart of community life.

At the Volunteer Bureau of Montreal (VBM, also known as CABM in French), we want to make this movement our own, in a Montréal way, with our unique, inclusive, multicultural and deeply human flavour.

A once-in-a-generation opportunity

The International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, is an invitation to:

• Recognize the immense contribution of volunteers in addressing social, economic and environmental challenges.

• Revitalize structured volunteering, which has been seriously affected by the pandemic and by changes in how we live, work and connect.

Across Canada, the “Ignite Volunteerism” campaign will aim to revive civic participation, rebuild volunteer infrastructure and spotlight inspiring stories of people engaged from coast to coast to coast.

In Montréal, we already have thousands of these stories. In 2026, we want them to shine even brighter.

What does “igniting volunteerism” mean in Montréal

Montréal is a city of contrasts and strong social ties. Many languages are spoken here, people live very different realities and carry diverse identities. Igniting volunteerism here means taking all of that into account.

1. Reweaving connections, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

The pandemic, the rising cost of living, isolation and social tensions have all left their mark. Volunteers play a key role in:

• breaking the isolation of seniors;

• supporting newcomers as they navigate systems and services;

• providing meals, listening and human presence;

• bringing life back into shared spaces through local projects.
   

In 2026, VBM will put a special focus on volunteering that reweaves local connections and contributes, day after day, to collective well-being in Montréal.

2. Recognizing all forms of engagement

When we think of “volunteering”, we sometimes picture only very formal roles in well-established organizations. But Montréal’s reality is much richer:

• informal mutual aid between neighbours;

• involvement in a school committee, tenants’ association or co-op;

• participation in local environmental initiatives;

• corporate and skills-based volunteering, when someone offers their professional expertise to a nonprofit;

• short-term help at cultural, sports or community events.

In the spirit of the International Year of Volunteers, we want to value this diversity of engagement, from informal gestures to structured roles, because each of these contributions transforms the city in its own way.

3. Making volunteering a genuine lever for inclusion

For VBM, igniting volunteerism does not mean “filling volunteer slots” at any cost. It means truly opening the door, especially for people who still face barriers:

• language barriers;

• disabilities or mental health challenges;

• financial or transportation constraints;

• racism, ableism and systemic discrimination;

• lack of knowledge of Montréal’s community sector.

Turning volunteering into a lever for inclusion means adapting roles, schedules and practices so that more people can take part, at their own pace, according to their strengths and what they enjoy.

In 2026, VBM will continue working so that anyone who wants to get involved can find a place that feels right, regardless of origin, immigration status, age, gender or life situation.

Volunteering at the heart of sustainable development… here too

• Find your role: not sure what would fit you? Our advisors can help you orient your choice.

• Team/company engagement: our Work at Heart (Cœur au travail) program supports activities tailored to the real needs of nonprofits.

• Just want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our newsletters and follow our channels, that’s already a kind gesture toward the community network.

The International Year of Volunteers explicitly highlights the link between volunteering and sustainable development.

In Montréal, that link is visible everywhere:

• in meals-on-wheels services and community meals that fight food insecurity;
• in organizations that defend housing rights or support people experiencing homelessness;
• in projects that protect urban natural spaces or reduce waste;
• in initiatives that foster civic participation and local democracy.

Igniting volunteerism therefore also means strengthening our communities’ capacity to face crises, to care for the planet and for people, and to build neighbourhoods that are fairer and more supportive.

How VBM will take part in this movement in 2026

Throughout 2026, the Volunteer Bureau of Montreal aims to:

• highlight Montréal volunteer stories, from all neighbourhoods and generations;
• support organizations that are adapting their practices to welcome volunteers from diverse backgrounds;
• accompany businesses and professionals who want to combine work and social engagement;
• make the first step easier for people who are still hesitant, through our matching and support services;
• take part in national and international conversations so that Montréal’s reality is reflected in broader directions for volunteering.

Above all, VBM will use this International Year as an opportunity to broaden its own horizons. We want to grow our practices and services in light of:

• the experiences of people who have come to make Montréal their home,
• and the many ways people around the world are reimagining civic participation.

This year, which is especially favourable to international connections, will allow us to strengthen volunteering as a living, dynamic force, to learn from others and to reach out to one another, while remaining true to our mission: valuing, connecting and supporting volunteer engagement.

Several concrete initiatives will be announced throughout the year, always with the same guiding thread: strengthening the impact of volunteering in Montréal.