Volunteer at KHSC

 Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Some roles may require a higher minimum age.

Applications can be completed online by clicking here.  
If you need support completing your application, please reach out to Volunteer Services (@email or 613-548-2359 ext. 1)

As soon as you hit submit, you will see a pop-up screen thanking you for your application submission. You will also receive an email from Volunteer Services including next steps.
If don't receive an email check your junk mail folder as it may have been sent there.

No prior experience is required, although we take into consideration a volunteer’s experience, skills, and availability when determining their volunteer role. Regardless, training and orientation are provided for every role.

We ask volunteers to commit to one shift per week (1–4 hours) for a minimum of six months.

References: Two references are required through our online reference-checking tool.

Police Check: A police vulnerable sector check completed within three months of your application date. In Ontario, while the Public Hospitals Act does not strictly mandate a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) for all volunteers, the vast majority of hospitals require them as part of their duty of care and standard risk management procedures.

Health Screening: Completion of the KHSC health screening form, including proof of a negative two-step tuberculosis (TB) test and up-to-date immunizations. In Ontario, all individuals carrying out activities in a hospital setting are required to undergo health screening to comply with the Public Hospitals Act (Regulation 965), which mandates communicable disease surveillance. This screening ensures the safety of patients, staff, and the community by reducing the risk of exposure to infections.

We offer weekday, evening, and weekend shifts. In most of our roles you can have the same schedule every week, or a more flexible schedule if needed.

Yes. Volunteers may request a leave of absence for school breaks, travel, or other circumstances.  We’re happy to discuss options for snowbirds, cottagers, travelers or anyone with unique scheduling needs.

Volunteers are eligible for reimbursement for certain application-related expenses after 3 months of consistent volunteer service.  With proof of payment, you can then request reimbursement for the cost of your police check as well as having the health screening form signed by a medical professional.  Health screening expenses covered by OHIP are not reimbursed.

Upon request, KHSC will cover parking or public transit expenses for volunteers while they are completing their shifts.

We do our best to place volunteers in their first‑choice role, but sometimes interests, skills, or availability don’t quite match the hospital’s needs at that moment. If that happens, we’ll share all the current opportunities with you so you can decide how you’d like to move forward.

Volunteer roles do not include the opportunity to observe medical procedures or shadow healthcare professionals (such as doctors, nurses, or physiotherapists).  We cannot accommodate individual requests for roles or opportunities that are not currently available to all KHSC volunteers

The timeline can vary depending on many factors. Once you are invited to continue the application process, you must obtain a police check with a vulnerable sector search, complete KHSC health screening documentation, and provide references. The timing largely depends on how quickly you submit the information and documents, how soon medical appointments can be booked, and when references respond. Typically, the process takes about 3–4 weeks, but it may be shorter or longer depending on each applicant’s individual circumstances. Once all those steps are completed, you will need to do orientation modules and then your role and shifts can be assigned.