Volunteers can request reimbursement for their health review costs once they have completed 15 volunteer hours. Only costs related to TB tests, immunization review/blood work, and documentation are able to be reimbursed - immunizations/vaccines are not eligible for reimbursement. Please send your receipts to volunteers@grhf.ca to apply for reimbursement once you have completed the compulsory hours.

Volunteers should maintain a professional image at all times. Community opportunities may have their own dress requirements, such as outdoor activities or specific events. Clinical volunteers in hospital are expected to wear the volunteer uniform that easily identifies you as a volunteer in the hospital, along with appropriate footwear. You will be provided with the volunteer uniform and ID badge at your first Clinical Volunteer shift.

Grand River Hospital requires all Employees, Vendors and Care Partners/Visitors to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. It is an expectation that all Volunteers are also fully vaccinated.

How much time do you have? For our Community Volunteers, there is no minimum time commitment. We are happy to have you once, twice, or as many times as you are willing to give in support of Grand River Hospital. Volunteer once to support a specific event, or volunteer regularly to support an ongoing process. All of our Volunteers support Grand River Hospital initiatives, and our Clinical Volunteers play a very important role supporting in Hospital programs. Because of this, and the training required to support our Clinical programs, some of our Clinical Volunteer roles do have an expectation, such as once weekly, and we request a minimum 3 month commitment.

Depending on the opportunity, you can volunteer at an event for an hour or for a four hour shift at the Hospital. Each opportunity is unique - we’ll find a fit that works for your availability.

Because our volunteers are so important to our programs, it’s critical that all volunteers attend their scheduled shifts or assignments. However, if you are ill, please stay home and contact one of our Volunteer Engagement Managers and/or the program manager of the program you have been placed with to let them know you will not be able to volunteer. If you have been exposed to Covid-19 or are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 please do not come to your volunteer assignment. 

Our volunteers enjoy free parking at both Grand River Hospital Locations, our Main Campus in downtown Kitchener and Freeport Campus.

Unfortunately, job shadowing and observerships are not permitted and do not come under the scope of volunteering.

Kitchener-Waterloo Main Site Located at 835 King Street West in Kitchener, the KW Main Campus of Grand River Hospital is the primary location of acute care and Volunteer programs for the Hospital. Volunteer Opportunities at the Main Campus include areas of care in Pediatrics/Childrens Emergency, Mental Health, Medical Imaging, Renal, Medicine Units and Day Surgery.

Freeport Hospital Located at 3570 King Street East in Kitchener, Freeport Hospital Volunteer opportunities include supporting Waterloo Wellington Breast Centre, Pain Clinic, Palliative Care and Long Term Rehabilitation Units.

Cancer Centre Also located at 835 King Street West in Kitchener, the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre is a full service cancer treatment Centre providing inpatient and outpatient treatments. Volunteer opportunities are focused on providing supportive patient care in the main entrance, in the chemo and radiation treatment areas as well as various research areas such as genetics.

If you are having trouble registering, please watch the video below or contact volunteers@grhf.ca for support. 

Yes we can provide you a letter on official letter head indicating we are looking for you to volunteer. Please click here to start a Vulnerable Sector Letter request.

Community volunteers can be onboarded quickly, in some cases as soon as the next day, depending on the opportunity and need. Some community volunteer opportunities will require the completion of training modules on privacy, personal protective equipment (PPE) and/or hand hygiene, in which case onboarding can usually be completed within a few days to a week.

Clinical volunteers, those volunteering in our hospital locations, are required to submit a Vulnerable Sector Check, immunization records and other health checks like a 2-step TB test. Hospital training on privacy, PPE and hand hygiene are also required. Because of these requirements, onboarding for clinical volunteers can take anywhere from 8 - 10 weeks. Clinical volunteers can take on community volunteer assignments while waiting for their clinical placement to become finalized.