Volunteer

Screening ensures the highest standards for clients and volunteers:

• Application submission

• Criminal Record Check

• Reference Checks

• Interview & Site Tour

• Thorough orientation and interactive training

• Ongoing support and education

• Challenging and rewarding assignments

• Appreciation of your unique skills and talents

Find volunteer opportunities across the Interior Health region. Volunteers are present in many health-care programs and services, including:

• Community Care
• Hospital
• Long-term Care
• Public Health
• Substance Use Services

For all East Kootenay volunteer inquires please contact EKHVolunteers@interiorhealth.ca.

• Assistance with recreational activities such as bingo, floor curling, dice games, card group, board games or simply sharing your unique talents and skills with residents

• Friendly Visitor- one on one conversations, reading, walks, games, manicures

• Assisting on outings - shopping, picnics, community events

• Pet therapy visits through St. Johns Ambulance with your certified pet

• Serving refreshments in main lounge area / meal club assistance / tea party gatherings and various special events

• Entertainment / musicians

• For further information please contact Margot at margot.wright@interiorhealth.ca

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Adult Day Services – socialize with seniors, engage in hands-on activities or share your unique talents and skills
• Friendly Visitors – provide companionship to housebound older adults and respite for their caregivers
• Drivers - provide transportation to medical appointments, banking and grocery shopping
• Meal Delivery – Deliver meals to Adult Day Service programs and individuals with mobility issues
• Shop by Phone – contact clients each week via phone and/or shop for clients’ groceries.
• Child & Baby Clinics – greet parents and assist with weighing and measuring
• Prenatal Packages – assembling information packages that are given to expectant mothers
• Toy Cleaning – clean and sanitize toys used at clinics
• Renal Dialysis Unit - To provide visiting, companionship, play games, watch movies, and interact with patients undergoing treatment. 

Applying to volunteer

• Volunteer Application Form (This is the file path to the PDF file)
• Criminal Record Check (Please copy the access code TYFCPFTFTP)
• For further information and to contact us directly, please email COKCommunityVolunteerServices@interiorhealth.ca or call us at 250-980-1558. 

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Patient visitation programs - one-to-one, making friendly conversation and providing support.  
• Information desks - welcome and guide people, provide direction, and assist with deliveries. 
• Medical unit support, outpatient escort, mail delivery, and various other programs. 

Applying to volunteer   

• Volunteer Application Form
• Please contact us directly at KelownaKGHVolunteerServices@interiorhealth.ca or call 250-862-4492 or 250-862-4497 for further assistance.
• Criminal Record Check (please copy the access code A2U28W9KXC)

Type of volunteer opportunities

The following opportunities are available for Brookhaven Care Centre, Cottonwoods Care Centre, David Lloyd Jones Home and Three Links Manor:

• Recreational activities: art, crafts, bingo, games, entertainment, happy hour/social events, manicures
• Visiting: one-to-one friendly conversation, reading, games
• Outings: restaurants, picnics, malls, farmer’s market, casinos
• Entertainers: solo or group
• Spiritual care visits
• Pet visitation: registration with Caring Canines Kelowna or St. John Ambulance Dog Program is required
• Gift shop (Cottonwoods or Three Links Manor)

Applying to volunteer

We have completed our spring volunteer intake at this time, and will be accepting new applications again in September 2025.

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Visiting – One-to-one making friendly conversation/reading/word games with patients including palliative care
• Information Desks – welcome and guide people, provide direction and assist with deliveries.
• Retail – on site Auxiliary Gift Shop
• Cancer Clinic – interact with patients and visitors, serve prepared lunch/snacks
• Diagnostic clinic support – assist/direct patients and assist clinic staff
• Courier/Mail delivery and various other programs
• Pet Visitation – visit with patients with your SJA certified dog
• Youth Volunteers – high school students aged 15-18

Applying to volunteer

• Volunteer Application Form
• Youth healthcare volunteer program information package
• Please contact us directly at vjhvolunteerservices@interiorhealth.ca or call 250-558-1364 for further assistance.
• Criminal R​ec​ord Check (please copy the access code BR6PRXGRES)

Types of volunteer opportunities

• Recreation Programs - Art/painting, games, bingo, entertainment, happy hour/social events, manicures
• Outings - Restaurants, picnics
• Spiritual care - Visits
• Companions for appointments or shopping
• Visiting - One-on-one friendly conversation, reading, games, computer assistance
• Entertainers - Solo or group
• Gardening - Seasonal
• Pet visitation - Registered with a recognized pet therapy organization
• Youth volunteers ages 15-18 (Polson)

Facilities you can volunteer at

• Polson Extended Care

• Noric House

• Gateby Care Centre

Applying to volunteer

• Volunteer application form

• Please contact us directly at vjhvolunteerservices@interiorhealth.ca or call 250-558-1364 for further assistance.

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Information desks – welcome and guide people, provide direction and assist with deliveries.

• Retail – sell items in an on-site Gift Shop.

• Meal delivery – deliver meals to individuals with mobility issues

• Clinic desk – welcome and help with patient appointments and directions

• Westview extended care – one-to-one visits, activities and outings, personal shopping

• Visiting – pet therapy, healing touch, spiritual care, ice water delivery

• SOS Café – on-site café

• Youth Volunteer Program – one-to-one visits, crafting, games and activities

• Recycling – gathering recyclables

Applying to volunteer

• Volunteer Application Form

• Criminal R​ec​ord Check (Please copy the access code 1446761)

• Please contact us directly at PRHVolunteerServices@interiorhealth.ca or call 250-462-7965 or 250-492-4000 EXT 32518 for further assistance

Type of volunteer opportunities

Summerland Eye Clinic

• Clinic desk – welcome and help with patient appointments and directions

• Summerland Ladies Auxiliary Thrift Store

Dr. Andrew Pavilion Long-Term Care

• Extended care – one-to-one visits, activities and outings

• Youth volunteer program – one-to-one visits, crafting, games and activities

Applying to volunteer

For all volunteer inquires, please contact Annette at Annette.Zakall@interiorhealth.ca.

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Friendly visitors – one-to-one visits with patients – conversations, reading, word games, resident shopping

• Pet visitation – visit with patients with your SJA certified dog

• Youth volunteers – high school students aged 15-18

• Dinners at Home – South Okanagan Auxiliary

• Gardening – the Heirloom Garden Club maintains and beautifies the SOGH entranceway gardens, small group gardeners maintain the facility gardens

• Volunteer Drivers Club – assists patients and residents to appointments and community members to lab appointments

• Harm reduction volunteers – assemble harm reduction kits for at-risk populations in the community

• Musical entertainment – provides welcome musical entertainment in facilities

• Hospice – visits and palliative support by the Desert Valley Hospice Society Volunteers

Applying to volunteer
 

• Volunteer Application Form

• Criminal Record Check (please copy the access code KETF98QZ9L or apply using your BC Services Card)

• Please contact us directly at jessica.keller@interiorhealth.ca or call 250-498-5026 for further assistance.

Types of volunteer activities

• Helping with recreational activities such as bowling, shuffleboard, curling 

• Visitor friendly such as one-on-one conversations, reading, walks, games, manicures

• Assisting on outings such as shopping, picnics, community events

• Pet therapy visits through St. Johns Ambulance program

• Serving refreshments in main lounge area

Applying to volunteer

• Volunteer Application Form

• Criminal Record Check (please copy the access code 85VA8EQJK4)

• For further information please contact Andrea Naylor at andrea.naylor@interiorhealth.ca or call 250-393-6601 ext. 5

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Friendly visitors – one-to-one visits with patients – conversation, reading, word games

• Information desks – welcome, direct and escort patients and visitors, provide information and assistance

• Emergency – greet patients and visitors, provide information, direct and escort to designated areas

• Medical areas – ICU and Daycare Surgery

• Cancer clinic – greet and visit patients, serve beverages and snacks

• Pet visitation – visit with patients with your SJA certified dog

• Youth volunteers – high school students aged 14-18

• Afternoon auxiliary to RIH – gift shop, mobile cart, thrift seller

Applying to volunteer

• Volunteer Application Form

• Please contact us directly at RIHVolunteerServices@interiorhealth.ca or call 250-314-2313 for further assistance.

• Criminal Record Check (please copy the access code 34CQKTYMN6)

Overlander Long-term Care

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Spiritual care – organized services and end-of-life support
• Trinity Hospice – patient & family support
• Pet visitation – Visit Overlander Residents & Trinity Patients with SJA certified dog
• Friendly visits – conversation, manicures, board games, card games
• Plant care
• Assist and support recreational programs – bingos, dinner programs, shopping trips, social outings, special and seasonal events
• Porter Hair Salon, gift shop and entertainment programs
• Accompany residents to medical appointments
• Youth volunteers – high school students 14-18 years

Applying to volunteer

• Volunteer Application Form
• Criminal Record Check (please copy access code SSAHCQUS3N)
• For further information please email Overlander Volunteer Services or call 250-554-5569.

Ponderosa Lodge

Applying to volunteer

• Please contact Lori Surinak, Recreation & Volunteer Coordinator, Ponderosa Lodge at 250-320-1568 (call or text) or lori.surinak@interiorhealth.ca for further assistance.

Gillis House

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Visits with our residents - manicures, reading books, playing games 
• Accompany residents to shops
• Coffee outings
• Assisting with bus outings
• Assisting with monthly events (birthday parties, musical events, tea parties)
• Support recreation with programs (bingo, Bunko, gardening)
• Take residents on walks
• Assisting with garden boxes and plants that our residents care for
• Pet visits – pets must be certified by St. John’s Ambulance 
• Spiritual care
• Pet therapy (SJA certified)
• Social visits
• Plant care
• Assist and support recreational programs
• Porter to events/programs
• Accompany individuals to medical appointments
• Take individuals on walks
• Youth volunteers
• University volunteers. 

Youth volunteers – High school students (14-18 years)

• Buddy volunteer programs
• Can take residents for garden walks
• Support recreation with programs (card games, board games)

Applying to volunteer

• Youth Volunteer Application Form
• Volunteer Application Form
• Criminal Record Check (please copy access code 3NR5LFGF3P)
• For further information, please contact Avinash Tanda, Recreation & Volunteer Coordinator, Gillis House at (250) 378-3254 or avinash.tanda@interiorhealth.ca.

Shuswap Lake General Hospital

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Outpatient services (diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation) – provide instructions/directions to visitors, assist staff with non-clinical tasks
• Greeters – welcome, guide and escort people to departments; assist with delivering items to inpatients
• Visiting – one-to-one companionship visits with patients, including pet therapy and spiritual care
• Shuswap Lake Health-Care Auxiliary (please choose auxiliary under volunteer preference on application).

Applying to volunteer

• Volunteer Application Form
• Criminal R​ec​ord Check (please copy the access code for the CRC: F2WLEXEWCX)
• Please contact us directly at SLGHVolunteerServices@interiorhealth.ca or call 250-833-3600 ext 34338 for further assistance.

Bastion Place

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Friendly visitors – one-to-one visits with patients – conversations, reading, word games, resident shopping
• Pet visitation – visit the residents with your SJA certified dog
• Gardening – help to maintain the facility gardens
• Volunteer Drivers Club – assists patients and residents to appointments.
• Assist with virtual visits
• Musical entertainment – provide welcomed musical entertainment.
• Assist with recreation programs such as bowling, bingo, bus outings and table top games.
• Class #4 Volunteer Bus Driver
• Work in the Bastion Tuck Shop

Applying to volunteer

• Please contact Jennifer Hagen, at 250-833-3616 ext. 46865 or email Jennifer.Hagen@interiorhealth.ca for a Volunteer Application and more information on how you can become a Volunteer today.
• Criminal Records Check (Required)

Type of volunteer opportunities

• Patient visitation programs - one-to-one, making friendly conversation and providing support
• Information desks - welcome and guide people, provide direction, and assist with deliveries 
• Medical unit support, outpatient escort, mail delivery, and various other programs 

Applying to volunteer   

• Volunteer Application Form
• Please contact us directly at CMHVolunteerServices@interiorhealth.ca or call or 250-305-8382 for further assistance.
• Criminal Record Check (please copy the access code P52A023OO7)