Volunteer Alberta published the Learning from the Field: Insights & Recommendations for Volunteer Centres in Alberta Report, which highlights how volunteer centres and volunteer-engaging organizations have adapted in recent years amid increased demand for services and shifts in volunteer participation. Volunteer Alberta led a mixed-methods, community-based study between 2023 and 2025, drawing on an exploratory survey, a review of relevant literature, seventeen semi-structured interviews with nonprofit, municipal, and Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) staff, and learning circles with the Alberta Volunteer Centre Network.
Key insights:
- Recent years placed significant strain on communities across Alberta, as the COVID-19 pandemic and other intersecting crises increased demand for essential services while contributing to declines in formal volunteer participation and community engagement.
- While conditions have begun to improve, volunteer centres, nonprofit organizations and other service providers have recovered in different ways, adapting their work to reflect local needs, capacities, and available resources.
- As part of this recovery, various communities, local governments, and organizations in Alberta have returned to the “fundamentals” of community-building and have looked to refresh their approaches to engaging volunteers, who make up the backbone of local community events and the provision of essential social services.
- For many volunteer centres, recent years have emphasized strengthening community connections and cultivating the social infrastructure needed for local volunteerism to continue and thrive.
For further information and to download the report, click here.
