Our mission is to provide resources and promote volunteerism for our community.
We believe that volunteers make an important contribution to society and that volunteerism enhances the quality of life for everyone.
Our Focus
The GPVSB is a registered charity in good standing with the Canada Revenue Agency (BN122948508RR0001) that is working towards the betterment of our community. We work with over 90 different not-for profit organizations, hundreds of individuals, and various employers and agencies to deliver volunteer focused programming and services. Our core functions within the community are:
- To operate a community volunteer centre;
- To recruit and refer volunteers to volunteer involving organizations;
- To provide volunteer recognition programs, such as the Volunteer of the Week Program and the Leaders of Tomorrow Awards presented by ATCO;
- To promote volunteerism, including youth volunteerism, workplace volunteer initiatives, National Volunteer Week, and International Volunteer Day;
- To provide professional development opportunities to volunteers, volunteer managers, and volunteer involving organizations;
- To develop and provide resources such as the Community Directory, a publication of service providers in our region; and
- To provide a voice for our region’s volunteers and the non-profit voluntary sector (NPVS) within provincial and federal associations and with government representatives.
Please note: We are unable to provide volunteers to individuals. Please allow enough time to adequately recruit, screen, and train volunteers for your specific volunteer positions. The GPVSB does not offer screening or organization specific training.
Our History
The Volunteer Services Bureau was established in 1969 and managed by the founding group until 1971 when the Canadian Mental Health Association received a PEP (Priority Employment Program) grant to hire a part-time coordinator.
In 1974, funding was obtained from Preventive Social Services, and the Preventive Social Services Director became an ex-officio member of the Management Committee. Arrangements were made with the City of Grande Prairie to process Volunteer Services Bureau accounts and payroll through the Preventive Social Services system. The Management Committee continued to direct and manage the Volunteer Services Bureau with the Preventive Social Services director providing some supervision to the staff as required until the project was terminated in 1975.
Understanding the value of a volunteer centre, the Management Committee began negotiations with City Council for funds to reinstate the project under the original mandate. Confirmation of the original mandate was obtained by Motion of City Council in January of 1979. The project was re-evaluated and incorporated as an independent society on April 12, 1983.
The original objective of the Volunteer Services Bureau was to place volunteers in worthwhile and meaningful activities. That mandate has since evolved into the present day Mission Statement, Goals, and Objectives of the organization.