Volunteer

At Osler, more than 1,200 volunteers help provide a welcoming, caring environment for everyone who enters our doors. These special people give of their time and expertise to support patients, visitors and staff at all Osler sites.

If you're interested, we hope you'll consider joining us. There are so many ways to help!

Our community benefits from a diverse group of volunteers:

  • If you are retired, volunteering is a great way to use your skills, experience and talents while keeping active in your community.
  • If you are a student, volunteering is a wonderful way to see how hospitals work and learn about health care as a potential career. It's also a great way to gain workplace experience and to meet others with similar interests.
  • If you are working but have some time during the day, volunteering is a great way to learn more about the hospital while staying in touch with your community.

Recruitment timeline

Prior to submitting your application, we encourage you to review our recruitment timeline, which highlights valuable insights into the requirements and expectations for our selection process. This proactive approach will enhance your understanding of our criteria, positioning you for a more informed and successful application experience.

Volunteer recruitment process:

  1. Application
    Individuals 15 years of age and older can apply. No previous experience required.
  2. Review (one week)
    Applications are carefully reviewed. Successful candidates will be contacted.
  3. Pre-screen (one to two weeks)
    A short phone interview to understand your availability and commitment.
  4. Immunization and references (four to six weeks)
    Mandatory requirements to volunteer.
  5. Interview (one to two weeks)
    Virtual one-on-one interview with a volunteer specialist.
  6. Orientation and police check (two to four weeks)
    Complete an orientation session and documents. Obtain a vulnerable sector check (level 3) if they are over the age of 18.
  7. Training
    Training/shadowing with an experienced volunteer or staff.
  8. Placement
    Regular weekly shift assigned.

Please note, the entire process can take up to three months with immunizations and a vulnerable sector check (level 3) requiring the most time to complete.

Volunteer opportunities

Interested in volunteering? To ensure your safety and wellbeing, strict guidelines are in place and limited roles are available. Learn more and apply today!

Opportunity directory

We offer many different volunteer opportunities. For more information on all volunteer positions at Osler, please visit our opportunity directory.

Specialized volunteer positions

Some of our volunteer positions require specific skills or qualifications:

Musician volunteers play background music to patients, families and visitors, providing an place to rest and relax in a comforting and inviting area. Volunteers will provide musical entertainment in the main lobby or in the Acute Care for the Elderly Unit. If you would like to share your musical talents, we hope you'll consider joining us. We welcome musicians who play the piano, guitar, flute and all wind or string instruments.

The time commitment is a minimum of 60 hours, which may take eight months to complete.

Essential skills, requirements and qualifications:
  • A healing music volunteer placement is typically two hours per week (fixed schedule with flexibility)
  • Must be dependable and committed to scheduled shifts
  • Fluent in English both verbal and written, additional languages may be beneficial
  • Must adhere to all Osler policies
  • Minimum grade six piano level or equivalent experience (for pianists)
  • Must display confidence playing in public
  • Must perform an audition

Please note:

  • Applicants will have a mandatory second interview with department staff and must complete all required documents
To apply:

To apply for this position at Brampton Civic, Etobicoke General or Peel Memorial, submit an application and specify your area of interest.

HELP is an award-winning volunteer program proven to:

  • Enhance senior's physical, emotional and social experience during their hospital stay
  • Prevent patient confusion and progressive weakness

Volunteers are provided with specialized training and have a unique opportunity to work directly with patients. This is for people who prefer close patient contact and who wish to have a more hands-on volunteer experience. The time commitment is a minimum of eight months.

Volunteers must:
  • Be reliable, discreet and empathetic
  • Be diplomatic when talking to patients, families and staff
  • Enjoy and appreciate older people
  • Offer comfort and support to patients and visitors
  • Be dependable and committed to scheduled shifts, or provide alternative availability for absences
  • Have strong listening and communication skills
  • Be fluent in verbal and written English (additional languages may be beneficial)
  • Be able and willing to push patients in wheelchairs
  • Deal appropriately with medical situations (e.g. bleeding, vomiting, etc.)
  • Report any concerns regarding patients to a health care professional

Volunteers are required to complete HELP volunteer training. This includes one full day of class (eight hours) and 16 hours of “shadowing” an experienced volunteer.

Please note:

  • All HELP volunteers must undergo an annual competency review
  • Optional education lectures are available quarterly
  • You must commit to a minimum of one three-hour shift per week for eight months
  • At least 100 hours is required for a reference letter
To apply:

To apply for this position, submit an application and specify your area of interest.

This isn't your typical desk job! It's a great way to learn about the hospital as a whole. Volunteers provide information, customer service, and wayfinding support to patients and visitors throughout the hospital.

This position is suited for volunteers who:

  • Have good people skills
  • Provide excellent customer service
  • Work well independently
  • Like to be busy and active
Essential skills and qualifications

You:

  • Are friendly and outgoing
  • Have excellent communication, problem-solving, interpersonal and public relations skills
  • Are able and willing to cope in a busy, fast-paced environment
  • Demonstrate professional telephone etiquette
  • Are fluent in both verbal and written English (additional languages are beneficial)
  • Have the hearing acuity to answer the phone and respond to inquiries
  • Are physically able to push patients in wheelchairs
  • Can stand and walk for long periods of time
  • Are comfortable with close patient interaction

To be successful in this role, you will need to understand the layout and locations of hospital departments. Training is provided.

To apply:

To apply for this position, submit an application and specify your area of interest.

Our patient and family advisors provide invaluable feedback to inform key hospital decisions and health system solutions.

Learn more and apply to become a patient and family advisor at Osler.

The service excellence call centre is where outbound calls are conducted to discharged patients to capture feedback on their hospital experience. Volunteers are responsible for acting as the voice of the patient by listening, capturing and clearly documenting the feedback provided by patients.

Essential skills, requirements and qualifications:
  • Excellent customer service, communication and interpersonal skills
  • Fluent in English both verbal and written, additional languages may be beneficial
  • Ability to stay tactful in all situations
  • Discreet, empathetic behavior and ability to exercise diplomacy in talking to patients, patient’s family and staff
  • Must be dependable and committed to scheduled shifts or provide alternative availability to substitute absences
  • Zero-tolerance for breach of confidentiality
  • Must adhere to all Osler policies
To apply:

To apply for this position at Brampton Civic, submit an application and specify your area of interest.

Contact Us

Brampton Civic Hospital
2100 Bovaird Drive East,
Brampton, ON L6R 3J7
Phone: 905-494-2120

Etobicoke General Hospital
101 Humber College Boulevard,
Etobicoke, ON M9V 1R8
Phone: 416-747-3400

Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness
20 Lynch Street,
Brampton, ON L6W 2Z8
Phone: 905-494-2120

Reactivation Care Centre
200 Church Street,
Etobicoke, ON M9N 1N8
Phone: 416-243-4390

Withdrawal Management Centre
135 McLaughlin Road South,
Brampton, ON L6Y 2C8
Phone: 905-456-3500

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