Volunteer at KHSC

At Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), our volunteers are valued members of the health-care team, making a real difference in the lives of our patients and their families. By offering support, guidance and comfort, volunteers help create a more positive and welcoming experience for everyone who walks through our doors.

Whether it’s providing a reassuring presence, offering directions, calling patients with appointment reminders or assisting them after a procedure, or raising funds our volunteers play a vital role in enhancing patient care. Our volunteers’ kindness, dedication and generosity relieve stress, anxiety and uncertainty—one interaction at a time.

Want to make a difference? Explore how to become a volunteer, time commitments and the application process. Whether you're a first-time volunteer or a returning one, we’re excited to hear from you!

Join our team and be part of something truly rewarding!

Becoming a volunteer

We welcome applications from community members 16 years of age and older who are looking for a rewarding way to give back.

As a volunteer, you’ll be assigned roles that match your skills, interests and availability, ensuring a meaningful experience for both you and the patients and families we serve. In return, you’ll gain valuable experience, meet new people and become part of a compassionate team dedicated to making a difference.

If you’re ready to embark on this meaningful journey, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note: Volunteer applications for students are currently on hold due to an overwhelming response. Please check back in March 17, 2025 for updates on volunteer opportunities for high school and post-secondary students in the spring, summer and fall, and details on how to apply.

Expected time commitment

The weekly commitment varies from one to four hours, depending on the needs of the unit, department or service where you volunteer.

We offer weekday, evening and weekend shifts and ask for a minimum commitment of one shift per week for six months. With both fixed and flexible schedules available, we’re happy to discuss options for snowbirds, cottagers, travellers or anyone with unique scheduling needs.

We understand that volunteers may need to take time away during the winter or summer months. For absences longer than a month, we place volunteers on a leave of absence with an estimated return date. We do our best to accommodate breaks in service and appreciate the time and commitment our volunteers provide.

How to apply

Becoming a KHSC volunteer starts with a simple online application process. If you are 16 or older, click here to complete our application form.

Once your application is submitted, you’ll be invited to a volunteer information session, where you’ll learn more about KHSC, the impact of volunteering and next steps in the intake process, including:

References – Two references are required through our online reference-checking tool.
Police check – A clear police vulnerable sector check completed within three months of your application date.
Health screening – Completion of the KHSC health screening form, including proof of a negative two-step tuberculosis (TB) test and up-to-date immunizations, including COVID-19 vaccination.

If you’d like to attend an information session before submitting an application, click here to email us, and a member of our volunteer services team will be in touch.

A volunteer is pushing a patient in a wheelchair outside the doors of Hotel Dieu Hospital.