Vancouver Writers Fest Key Volunteering Information
Key Volunteering Information:
The Vancouver Writers Fest welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to work with a diverse team. Thank you for considering joining us.
A detailed overview of policy, expectations, and key volunteering information will be available in the Volunteer Handbook, which will be accessible to accepted volunteers by early October. Volunteers are expected to review the handbook in full before their first shift.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.
Some key highlights:
Commitment:
A 12 hour minimum commitment for Festival Week volunteers is strongly preferred. (Please note that volunteers will only be eligible for a complimentary ticket voucher when they commit to 12 hours).
Full-time students are only expected to commit to a minimum of 6 hours of shifts, but do not receive a complimentary ticket voucher unless they commit to 12 hours.
*Volunteers who work all of their hours prior to the Festival are asked to serve at least 16 hours. This is because they will be free during Festival Week to see events, whereas Festival Week volunteers will be busy fulfilling their assignments.
Shift times vary depending on your assignment. Some shifts start as early as 7:30 am (even on Saturday and Sunday) and evening shifts can run until (and occasionally past) midnight!
Cancellation policy: If you cannot make a shift which you have confirmed, please let us know as soon as possible! Please call 778-654-5054 or email volunteer@writersfest.bc.ca
*If you inform us ahead of time, it gives us the opportunity to try and fill the shift. Your fellow volunteers, Festival authors and staff depend upon you showing up and fulfilling your assignment. Please don't let us down! We take a dim view of No Shows. Please inform us of issues to your being able to fulfill/complete a shift as soon as you are able.
Please note that we will have Volunteer Orientation sessions on Granville Island on the evenings of Oct. 13 and 15. Volunteers must attend one of these sessions. Details will be provided through our volunteer newsletter.
Perks:
*Volunteers can sometimes see events that they are working, but this depends on the assignment and the event, and is at the discretion of supervising staff.
*Free admission is also possible for events where unsold seating is still available. Show your Volunteer ID badge to the event box office. Tickets are released on a first-come first-served basis, if available. (Not valid for Food for Thought or for The Afternoon Tea).
*Volunteers who commit to at least 12 hours of volunteer shifts and confirm their schedules by Sept. 30 will receive one complimentary ticket voucher for any standard Festival event that is not sold out.
*10% discount at the Festival Pop-Up Book Store at The Fishbowl (100-1398 Cartwright St.) during the Festival
*Volunteer party with open mic on the evening of Thurs. November 5
*Reference letters can be requested via email up until Nov. 2, and will be issued based on merit to volunteers who have completed hours/shift requirements.
Please note:
Parking is limited on Granville Island, with free parking only before 9 am and after 10 pm anywhere on the island, even in the covered parking lots!
*We are not able to give out bus tickets or reimburse for parking, and cannot pay parking tickets.
We communicate almost entirely via email - please register using an email address that you check and use regularly.
Many thanks! We look forward to working with you!
