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 able to be found in the volunteer handbook, which should be accessible to accepted volunteers by early October. Volunteers are expected to review the handbook in full before their first shift.
Some key highlights:
Commitment:
A 12 hour minimum commitment for Festival Week volunteers is strongly preferred, though not necessary. Please note that volunteers can only be entered into the ticket lottery when they commit to 12 hours.
Full-time students are only expected to commit to a minimum of 6 hours of shifts, but are not entered into the ticket lottery unless they commit to 12 hours.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.
*Volunteers who work all of their hours prior to the Festival are asked to serve at least 15-20 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 604 682 6330 x 101 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.
Benefits:
Volunteers who fulfill their 12 hour commitment receive one free ticket to a Festival event, awarded through the Volunteer Ticket Lottery. Accepted volunteers who have confirmed their schedules will be notified about how to submit lottery choices.
*Volunteers can sometimes see events which 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.
*10% discount at the Festival Book Store at Origins Coffee (1245 Cartwright St) during the festival
*Volunteer party with open mic on November 7
*Reference letters on request by November 8
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!
