GORDON—Community service organizations that took part in a volunteer fair put on by Western Manitoulin Economic Development at the Gordon/Barrie Island community centre last week had nothing but praise for the event.
“I think its fantastic,” stated Adrienne Farquhar, executive director of Community Living Manitoulin (CLM), which was one of the nine organizations at booths set up in the Gordon Community Centre April 12. “I think it is great to have the focus on volunteers, for instance high school students are provided with volunteer options at this type of event. By volunteering students build up community hours of community service that they need to graduate from high school.”
CLM “is trying to recruit volunteers again, with the board of directors wanting to open things up again, especially our Community Hub now that we are back to a pre-COVID world,” said Ms. Farquhar. “We will be taking part in all three volunteer fairs taking place. It is a great idea.”
Reverend Mercedes Hughes, of the Lyons Memorial United Church in Gore Bay stated the volunteer fair, “is a fantastic idea. I’ve always had the opinion if you talk to or make contact with one person at an event like this, it is very positive. And it is good to be here to find out about the other groups here today and what they offer.”
There were nine participants at this first volunteer fair. They included the
Municipality of Gordon/Barrie Island, the Gore Bay/Western Manitoulin Lions Club, Gore Bay Rotary Club, the Angel Bus Committee, Lyons Memorial United Church, Gore Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Burpee and Mills Township Fire Department, Friends of Misery Bay and CLM.
Annette Clarke, economic development officer for Western Manitoulin (which hosted the event) told The Expositor, “Basically I had put out a call on social media to see if community service organizations and groups were interested in having this type of volunteer fair. We received a good response from social services and service clubs and organizations who utilize volunteers.”
“We have nine participants today and will have at a similar event being held in Gore Bay (April 19) and six so far in Billings (April 26),” said Ms. Clarke.
“The whole concept of the event is to allow groups to have someone on hand at a booth who members of the public can approach, ask questions about the organization and maybe even join the group as a volunteer. The organizations are able to provide information and materials that they can also take home with them,” said Ms. Clarke. “And people are able to learn about different volunteering opportunities with different clubs and organizations.”
“It is a new concept that we felt was worth a try,” stated Ms. Clarke.
Rick Graham, fire chief for Burpee and Mills Township said, “the volunteer fair is a very good idea. At this point no one who has visited our booth has expressed interest in volunteering for the fire department, but people are asking about fire prevention and the information material we have on display, which is excellent.”
Charmaine Jewell, a member of the Gore Bay-Western Manitoulin Lions Club said “we have had a couple of people who have expressed interest in possibly joining our club. And we have been selling tickets on a 50-50 draw we are holding, and information on an auction taking place April 22. (Lion Norm Morrell) is the auctioneer and all the proceeds from the moving out sale are going back to the Lions Club. The auction is taking place at the home of Martin and Lynda Garniss (14896 Highway 540 Indian Point Bridge) on April 22.”
Along with providing various volunteer sign up sheets for different committees or events that Gordon/Barrie Island is going to be hosting, Isobel Harry, a township councillor was on hand to discuss with visitors volunteer options for people in the township. As well, she handed out township hats and free blossom kits during the day. The township also provided a $100 door prize for the fair.
Jack Clark, a member of the Gore Bay Fire Department said, “we felt coming in if we had one or two people show an interest in volunteering for the fire department, we would be happy. We have had three people take application forms so far.”
Mike Addison, fire chief of the Gore Bay Fire Department (who is also general manager of LAMBAC said, “it hasn’t been really busy so far today, but there has been interest shown by all those who have attended. The idea for a volunteer fair came up when we (LAMBAC) helped the town (Gore Bay) with its strategic plan. Service club representatives talked about having this type of volunteer fair. I asked Annette if she would be interested in doing this in Gore Bay, Billings and Gordon and she was all in favour of it. It is creating awareness of the opportunities people have to help out a service club and become a volunteer in one of the various service clubs, organizations, and groups.”
Manitoulin Economic Development at the Gordon/Barrie Island community centre last week.
