Volunteer Facts

Volunteer groups in the three northern territories report more difficulty keeping volunteers (61%), recruiting approriate staff (44%), and getting money from government, foundations and corporations (60%) than groups in the rest of Canada.

The NWT Voluntary Sector

Volunteers and volunteer groups build communities.

The work of the voluntary sector touches us daily. Thanks to volunteers we have community radio stations, events such as carnivals, seniors, disability and youth groups, school councils, food banks, advocacy groups, churches, friendship centres, cultural activities, sporting events, daycares and many more services and programs that improve our lives.

Sometimes people call the voluntary sector, the Third Sector. Government and business are the other sectors.

There are about 600 groups registered with the Government of the Northwest Territories as societies in the NWT. There are 120 NWT groups registered as charities with the federal government. There are also many informal groups. Voluntary Groups in Canada's north face many challenges.

In Canada, there are about 161,000 voluntary organizations with about 80,000 registered as charities. A small number of Canadians, 11%, contribute 77% of the volunteer hours. For more on the Voluntary Sector click here.

NWT Volunteering

Here’s what we know about volunteers in the NWT.*

Download our fact sheet

Formal volunteering

53% of NWT residents 15 years of age and older volunteered with a group, compared to 45% of Canadians.
NWT volunteers contribute an average of 153 hours annually. The Canadian average is 168 hours.
In 2004 the contribution of NWT volunteers was equivalent to 1553 jobs. If paid to do that work, those volunteers would have earned $68.9 million in employment income.**
Women and men volunteer with groups at about the same rate.
Non-aboriginal people volunteer more with groups than aboriginal people.
The volunteer activities most commonly reported were organizing events and helping with religious or school activities.
Adults between 40-59 years of age volunteer more than those younger or older.

Informal volunteering

86% of NWT residents 15 years of age and older provide informal help or support in their community.
Informal volunteering could include doing housework, yardwork, maintenance, shopping, driving someone to the store, baby-sitting without being paid, finding information or helping people fill out forms.
Men, women, aboriginal people, and non-aboriginal people volunteer informally at similar rates.
Men most often informally volunteer to do yardwork or maintenance.
Women most often informally volunteer to baby-sit.

*NWT Bureau of Statistics, December 2004; Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 2004.

**2,541,442 million volunteer hours is calculated by multiplying 153 average annual hours per NWT volunteer x NWT volunteer rate of 53% (2004 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating) x population 15 years and older of 31,341 (2004 NWT Community Survey). 1552.69 jobs is calculated by dividing total volunteer hours by 1636.8 annual hours per job. Annual hours per job is 48 weeks (Ross, David. Heritage Canada. How To Estimate the Economic Contribution of Volunteer Work) x 34.1 average NWT weekly hours in 2004 (Statistics Canada, CANSIM, 2006, table 281-0033 and Catalogue no. 72-002-X). $68,890,957 million of employment income is derived by multiplying 1552.69 jobs x 48 weeks x $924.35 average NWT weekly earnings in 2004 (Statistics Canada, CANSIM, 2006, table 281-0044 and Catalogue no. 72-002-X).

Volunteer NWT Photo Contest Winners

First Prize:Trip for two anywhere Canadian North flies! John Stephenson.

Photo: Helping Hands

Second Prize: $500 gift certificate, Yellowknife Foto Source. Cliff Sutherland.

Photo: Volunteering in Sri Lanka

Third Prize: $250 gift certificate, Arctic Data Systems. Vixen Hair Den.

Photo: Raven Mad Daze

Thank you to all entrants and our prize sponsors! More Photos >>

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering is an exciting and rewarding way to be active in your community. There are so many ways to get involved!

Check here for available volunteer opportunities. If you need volunteers and want to post openings, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I get funding through Volunteer NWT?

A. Volunteer NWT does not give funding to groups or individuals. We include information about funding sources and application deadlines on our website and e-mail bulletins.

We actively promote the funding available for research or pilot projects through the Canada Volunteerism Initiative.

You are welcome to contact us to discuss funding ideas.