Volunteer opportunities fall into one of three general categories across two hospital sites.

Working Directly with Patients

Depending on your interests, skills, and role, working directly with patients may involve: providing diversional activities (playing cards or games, making crafts, reading together, etc.), reminiscing, providing comfort measures, playing music, walking with patients, providing support and respite for families, and more.

Liaison and Information

Volunteers in these roles provide information, directions, and support to patients and visitors at the main entrances to Hotel Dieu Hospital and Kingston General Hospital, as well as in other specialized areas of the hospital such as the Intensive Care Unit.

Supporting Fundraising Activities

Volunteers in these roles are instrumental to the KGH site being a warm and welcoming environment.  They greet customers, facilitate sales, replenish supplies, and provide general information in the KGH site Tuck Shop, Gift Shop, and Café. 

To learn more about the KGH Auxiliary, click here.

Expected time commitment

  • The weekly commitment can vary anywhere from one to four hours depending on the needs of the program
  • We have weekday, evening and weekend options
  • We ask for a minimum commitment of one-shift per week for a minimum of six months
  • We accommodate firm and flexible weekly schedules and are open to discussion with snowbirds, cottagers, travelers, and other schedule alternatives

What happens if I cannot commit to the same day and time each week?

We have a flexible scheduling option for volunteers who find it challenging to commit to the same day and time each week. Volunteers are still expected to commit weekly by visiting the online schedule to pick shifts that match with their availability at the time.

Can I still volunteer if I go away for the winter or summer?

Yes. We appreciate that people have busy lives and we do our best to accommodate breaks in service. For any breaks in service that are longer than a month, the volunteer provides an estimated return date and they are put on a leave of absence.

We attempt to find a temporary replacement for the shift during the volunteer’s break but we can’t guarantee that a volunteer will return to the same program and shift time. If the shift is picked up by another volunteer during the leave, we will work with the returning volunteer to arrange a new placement.