The CBC recently launched a campaign, called Champions of Change, to celebrate Canada’s volunteers. It’s an initiative that aims to award Canada’s most outstanding volunteers. It was launched by Connect with Mark Kelley and Outpost magazine.
I chatted with Mark this afternoon about the initiative, and what attracted him to it.
Mark Kelley: I had a strong attraction to this because I grew up in a house of volunteers and both of my parents were lifelong volunteers and I knew no other life.
My mother, despite the fact that she was raising four kids, was always volunteering. She was incredibly active throughout her life. She never took a paying job, once she was married. But she worked every day of her life as a volunteer.
And my father worked as a volunteer literally till the day he died. He died in the place where he had been volunteering for seven years, which was a palliative care centre.
So I have always been inspired both by my parents and the example that they set.
So when I was approached to discuss this idea of volunteers, for me it was a natural fit.
And I’m also a strong proponent of the idea of volunteering. I volunteer as much as I can in my own life because of what my parents have done, and because of the need that I see all around me.
There are so many organizations desperate for volunteers. And I try to combine my volunteering with my children. So I volunteer to coach teams or volunteer for things in their schools so I don’t have to choose between my kids and volunteering. I wrap them up together.
I think that’s what we have to do as volunteers. We don’t have to look at volunteering as some sort of burden or necessity. It’s actually something you can do where you really explore something that you want to do outside of your professional life.
I think our problem is that all too often we look at volunteering as something that takes away my time. But in fact it can be so enriching to be a volunteer on a sideline that you feel very strongly about.
And it can be an hour a week or an hour a month, you just have to have that feeling that at some point, somebody has to step up and get involved.
How are your kids reacting this project?
Mark Kelley: I’ve talked to them about the importance of volunteering. And I had this experience where one day – I get home at 9:45 every night and I’m tucking my oldest son into bed – and I said: ‘how was your day today?’
He said ‘it was great’
I said: ‘what did you do?’
‘We made sandwiches for the homeless. And took them to Dundas Square.’
And I just about feel off the bed.
Because I didn’t encourage him to get involved. I knew nothing about this until he’d gone out and done it. It’s this volunteer project that they’re having in some Toronto schools.
So I thought in terms of life going full circle, and I love how this was being passed down from my parents to my kids.
And what I really want to do, whether it’s with my own family, but obviously, more importantly throughout the country, is to really put the emphasis on volunteers. Because volunteers traditionally are not people who ever seek the spotlight. Typically they’re just people who go out there to help quietly.
And I want to do two things through this project. First, to say thank you, by shinning a little light on them for the work that they do, and ask nothing in return. And secondly, I want to show that volunteers are us. They’re everyday Canadians. They’re not super-heroes. They’re everyday Canadians who have busy lives, but still find time within those busy lives, to go out there and make a difference.
And what I want to is to demystify the notion that they are super-people and inspire people to do more. The question is not why, but why not.
To learn more about the initiative, or to nominate a Champion of Change, visit the website.
Andy Barrie wakes up fellow campers at his first hosting job at summer camp. Photo via 
