A fired-up community of trailblazers working to extinguish arthritis
We are on a mission to fight the fire of arthritis – with everything we’ve got. If arthritis has come for you or someone you love, you’ve come to the right place to take action.
Our talented volunteers are involved in virtually all aspects of our work, working alongside us to increase our reach and impact on the lives of those impacted by this relentless disease.
Please be aware that our programs are always evolving so our volunteer needs may change as well.
Volunteer Opportunities
Our volunteer opportunities align with Arthritis Society Canada’s strategic plan. To learn more, please explore our pillars of work outlined below.
Advocacy volunteers are passionate voices for the six million people living with arthritis. These volunteers make their voices heard by campaigning for healthy public policy during federal and provincial elections, promoting arthritis initiatives through social media, writing letters to and meeting with elected officials, and participating in government consultations and other important advocacy calls to action.
About the role
Advocacy volunteers are key to our advocacy success. Roles within the advocacy team can be tailored to an individual’s passions, experience and availability. Our volunteers help to provide valuable input in identifying priorities, raising awareness of arthritis issues and helping to make positive policy changes for those living with arthritis. There are many ways you can make a difference:
- Work with us to amplify our policy recommendations to governments
- Use social media channels to reach and connect with politicians, healthcare professionals and the wider public
- Attend public events to advocate for people affected by arthritis
- Join and participate in local advocacy initiatives
Availability
We have advocacy roles available across Canada, at both a local and national level.
Volunteering with the advocacy team is a flexible role that can be adapted to suit your availability.
For example, you can volunteer by sharing social media messages during election campaigns, or you can help us on an ongoing basis leading a local advocacy campaign. Depending on current advocacy initiatives, volunteers may be called upon more frequently during certain times (e.g., election periods, Arthritis Awareness Month).
Innovation creates new ideas that change lives. These volunteers innovate to differentiate us. They are committed to sparking new ideas that will unlock innovative research, unleash social impact and uncover solutions that will support people living with arthritis.
Innovation volunteer roles are for our most creative and relentless volunteers. A role may include:
- Innovation Ambassador: bring lived experience to help us uncover bright, bold and impactful ideas that will help solve system wide problems and bring tailored solutions to various challenges that people living with arthritis face.
About the role
An innovation ambassador volunteer role is a perfect opportunity for creative, out of the box thinkers who are ready to drastically change the lives of people living with arthritis – for the better.
Accelerating Impact, our five-year strategic plan, is ambitious and bold because that’s what is needed to achieve meaningful change on the growing, urgent issue of arthritis. Our executive volunteers are changemakers dedicated to ensuring our strategy is a success. They open doors, help us fundraise, initiate conversations and are committed to moving the needle forward.
A executive volunteer role may include:
- Serving on our national Board of Directors
- Joining a fundraising advisory group such as the National Council (and many others), providing guidance and innovative solutions to advance our strategies
- Joining a signature event committee, providing leadership at various fundraising events
- Acting as a subject matter expert providing insight and feedback on our online resources
Availability
We do our best to offer flexible roles that can be adapted to suit the needs and availability of individual volunteers. Leadership volunteer roles will generally require a commitment on either a short-term or longer-term basis, however many positions have flexibility. We do ask our volunteers to commit to a term or season of work with us to enable them to see projects to completion and for all parties to see the full benefit of this volunteer partnership.
Our Programs and Digital Services volunteers live and breathe…it’s not “just” arthritis. This group of passionate individuals are committed to helping us reach at least three million Canadians each year with trusted information that empowers them to better manage their arthritis.
Programs and Digital Services volunteers are critical to our work. These roles include:
- Arthritis Line: Provide information to callers who reach out to us via phone or email
- Online Consumer Panelist: Provide feedback on our digital resources and other mission-related programming
- Peer Listener: Lend a listening ear to callers requiring assistance and encouragement
- Arthritis Talks: Teach attendees how to connect to our monthly webinars
- Subject Matter Experts: Consult and provide evidence-based feedback on our digital offerings. These volunteers must be professionals and experts in the field of arthritis
- Childhood arthritis programs: Plan and support families affected by arthritis through our Camp programs, Club Sunrise and parent events
About the role
A Programs and Digital Services role is a great opportunity for those interested in connecting directly with those affected by arthritis. Your precise time commitment will depend on many factors, but we strive to be as flexible as possible.
As Canada’s largest charitable funder of cutting-edge arthritis research, Arthritis Society Canada is committed to ensuring that no bold, transformative idea goes ignored. Our research volunteers participate in our gold-standard peer review process, providing feedback to help select the most promising projects for funding.
Research volunteer roles include:
- Consumer Reviewers: Volunteers with lived experience who assist with assessing the feasibility, relevance and potential impact of grant proposals, as well as the quality of the lay language sections
- Review Panel Experts: Scientists and clinician-scientists who provide their expertise to review the grant proposals
About the role
A research volunteer role is a great opportunity for those interested in understanding the peer review process and assisting in reviewing the best new arthritis research ideas in the country. We are looking for volunteers with high standards who value science, are detail oriented and passionate about changing the future of those affected by arthritis.
We are all in to end arthritis so that people with arthritis can live their best lives free from arthritis. Our Special Events and Fundraising volunteers are at the frontlines of this work, helping us raise critical funds that will ultimately extinguish arthritis.
Depending on where you live in Canada, Special Events and Fundraising volunteer roles may include:
- Committee membership: Build momentum and drive fundraising for Arthritis Society events including Rock the Joint and other signature and community fundraising events
- Donor stewardship: Connect with our donors over the phone to thank them for their generosity
- Event day support: Help execute our events by volunteering at registration, setting up a silent auction or a number of other event-related roles
About the role
We are looking for volunteers who think big – the type of people who don’t just meet goals, but crush them. They are enthusiastic and highly organized individuals who understand the importance of growing our revenue to support our mission and are willing to help us achieve our ambitious goals.
Become a Special Events & Fundraising volunteer
Please note: Not all our roles are offered in every province.
Frequently Asked Questions
To get involved, please select the volunteer opportunity you are interested in below and complete a volunteer application form.
You do not have to have arthritis or know someone with arthritis to get involved, but a passion to support people affected by arthritis is necessary.
Certain roles require volunteers to have lived experience with arthritis. When relevant, this is noted on the volunteer application.
We have both in-person and virtual volunteer roles available. Our volunteer lead will work with you to determine the best fit for you, including those roles that can be completed both inside and outside of traditional office hours.
Volunteer time is based on many factors including the volunteer position being filled, your schedule, and the community’s needs. Many positions are flexible and we are committed to making volunteering with us as accessible as possible. Please communicate your availability with the volunteer lead prior to committing to a role.
Volunteers are encouraged to list any specialized skills or training on their profile/application form. This allows us to customize our mailing lists and send volunteer opportunities that best match each volunteer’s strengths and areas of expertise
