Volunteer Programs and Locations

Year Round -

Kilgour Site:

• Aquatics
  • Aquatics and swim programs are offered 7 days a week to the general community as well as our inpatient population who participate 3 times a week.
  • Schedule – evenings and weekends
  • Minimum age – 14 or 15 years with either Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross certification

• Music and the Arts
  • These programs offer a wide range of art and music programs for children and youth with disabilities and their siblings, up to the age of 18 years.
  • Schedule – evenings and weekends
  • Minimum age – 16 years

• Pet Visiting
  • As of Fall 2022, Holland Bloorview has begun an agreement with an organization called One Health Partners (OHP) in support of the Pet Visiting program. OHP has an assessment process for dogs and handlers.
    • Interested volunteer candidates will first be assessed as an OHP volunteer, and then added to Holland Bloorview’s volunteer team once the OHP volunteer onboarding is successfully completed.
    • OHP-Holland Bloorview dual volunteers are responsible for all typical requirements for Holland Bloorview client program volunteers (requirements for handlers include Vulnerable Sector Screening, tuberculosis screening and immunization record, orientation and introductory training, etc.).
    • OHP has a general interest survey to start the assessment process for their Therapy Dog program at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrjZJ6283En9fCev9_X6wyV1aQxP4WUsa_RMgqahczwqhjgA/viewform
    • For more information about One Health Partners, please email info@onehealthpartners.org
  • Schedule – evenings and weekends
  • Minimum age – 17 years

• Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy & Speech Language Pathology
  • Waitlist only program. Volunteers are required to complete 75 hours of service in another program area at Holland Bloorview and also be in good standing with a strong evaluation to be placed in these programs.
  • Schedule – varied
  • Minimum age – 18 years

• Robotics 
  • The program opens new opportunities for kids to engage in a ground breaking robotic LEGO experience. Through the program, children and youth will develop and refine decision-making and socialization skills, all while making friends.
  • Schedule – evenings and weekends
  • Minimum age – 15 years with FIRST Robotics experience

• Ronald McDonald Playroom
  • The Ronald McDonald playroom provides an engaging and supportive environment for outpatients and their siblings visiting Holland Bloorview.
  • Schedule – Monday to Friday day time
  • Minimum age – 16 years

• Therapeutic Recreation and Therapeutic Playroom
  • Therapeutic Recreation offers a variety of programs for clients that volunteers can find placements in: the Brain Injury Rehab Team unit (BIRT), Specialized Orthopaedic & Developmental Rehab unit (SODR) and the Complex Continuing Care unit (CCC).
  • Schedule – 7 days a week, morning, afternoons and evenings
  • Minimum age – 17 years

• Transitions, Recreation and Life Skills
  • Offering various programs such as life skills development and adapted recreation.
  • Schedule - Life skills programs run sporadically and availability varies from year to year. During the school year, programs run in evening or weekends. During the summer, the programs run in a camp style format, full days Mondays through Fridays.
  • Typically minimum age is 18 for the three programs

School Year Only –

Kilgour Site:

• Bloorview School
  • Just like typical Schools, the Bloorview school is only open Monday- Friday during the day. A single volunteer shift is either a morning or afternoon.
  • Minimum age – 16 years

Other Sites:

• Nursery School
  • Holland Bloorview Nursery Schools support children aged two to five years, with neurological and/or physical disabilities, including developmental delays, speech and language delays, and visual or auditory impairment.
  • Schedule – Monday to Friday during the day. A single volunteer shift is either morning or afternoon.
  • Locations – Scarborough site (Warden & Lawrence) and Play and Learn site (Bathurst & Eglinton)
  • Minimum age – 16 years

Summer Only –

Kilgour Site:

• Spiral Garden
  • Spiral Garden is an integrated outdoor art, garden and play program for children ages 6 to 18 with and without disabilities. Volunteers assist with a variety of creative arts activities in an integrated setting. The majority of activities take place in our outdoor space.
  • Schedule – full day sessions in July & August
  • Minimum age – 16 years

March Break Only –

Kilgour Site:

• Creative Arts March Break Respite Camp
  • This is an arts- and recreation-based day camp that serves children and youth 4-18 years old with complex physical disabilities and developmental delays.
  • Schedule – full day sessions
  • Minimum age – 16 years