Northern Health Volunteers

Therapy Dog Teams must have completed certification through St. Johns Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, Caring K9 Institute, or other recognized therapy dog program. Therapy Dog Certificate and proof of vaccinations are required.

Therapy Dog Team Volunteers contribute to improving the social, psychological, and physiological wellbeing of clients by providing positive experiences with certified therapy dogs. Therapy Dog interactions promote well-being, stimulate positive memories, and reduce stress and anxiety. Therapy Dog Teams are active in many of our Therapeutic Recreation and Rehabilitation areas.

This long term care and assisted living volunteer positions works with our recreation staff to support scheduled recreation and leisure activities with our residents. 

Activity Volunteers contribute to group activities through meaningful and helpful interactions, and improve the overall functioning of the group activity.

Entertainment Volunteers contribute by using their talents to provide the gift of entertainment to clients, their family, and friends.

Do you have a talent you would like to share with the residents of our care homes, such as singing, playing an instrument, magic tricks, acting, etc.?  We would love to host your performance at one of our care facilities!

Volunteers help direct patients and visitors in our hospitals.

Gardening Program Support Volunteers assist the dietitian with the on-site garden program to provide support for residents to participate in valued and meaningful activities and enhance their nutrition and quality of life. Volunteers will assist residents in planting seeds and plants, tending to the plants/garden, and harvesting produce; assist with garden preparations and end of season garden duties; assist with garden program set up and clean up; provide input on garden planning and assist dietitian and/or recreation with other garden-related duties. Volunteers should have garden knowledge and previous gardening experience is preferred, physical ability to perform garden duties for in ground and raised bed gardens and an interest in growing fruit and vegetables. 

This specialized volunteer role provides support to the provincial Eat, Sleep Console program within UHNBC's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years old.  Once a position becomes available, selection of candidates is based on the following criteria:

• Suitability and experience with newborns
• If they have had a baby in the NICU, or were a baby in the NICU
• If their listed availability matches the scheduling needs of the program
• Enrollment in a related post-secondary health care program
• An understanding of the provincial Eat, Sleep, Console program
• An understanding of Cultural Safety

There is a waitlist for this popular volunteer program. We encourage all applicants to consider volunteering within another service area while they wait, as we first reach out to existing, active volunteers who are also on the Newborn Cuddler waitlist.

Are you looking for a volunteer role where you interact with patients or residents?

Volunteers with this interest may visit residents or help set up activities in long term care, play cards with a patient going through dialysis, or help patients select their meals for the next day.

Volunteers who want 1-1 experience with patients or who would like experience in health care often find this type of role to be rewarding and meaningful.

Available in most communities.

These public-facing volunteer roles include being stationed at a clinic entrance or an Information Desk, or helping people find their way through a hospital. These volunteers welcome the public and help them feel more comfortable in our facilities.

If you prefer not to spend time one-on-one with patients but still want to interact with the public and get experience with the health care environment, this may be the role for you.

Only available in Terrace and Prince George.

We sometimes offer roles with minimal or no public interaction. This could include short term projects such as assembling a harm-reduction kit for public health, helping with staff recognition projects, assisting with setup for special events, or doing data entry.

Currently available in Prince George, however enquiries in other communities are welcome.

Therapy Dog Program: you and your dog must have completed an approved program such as St. Johns Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, Caring K9 Institute, or other recognized therapy dog program. 

Available in most communities.

Entertainers: Do you have a talent you would like to share with the residents of our care homes or in acute care, such as singing, playing an instrument, magic tricks, acting, etc.?  We would love to host your performance at one of our facilities!

Available in most communities

Schools, teams, and groups: Contact us to discuss if you have an idea for supporting our mission and enhancing your community.

Auxiliaries in the Northern Health region play a key role supporting the needs of our hospitals, health care centres, and health services. Each auxiliary is made up of a board of community leaders and countless volunteers.

If you would like to find out more about auxiliaries in your community and join their work, please visit the auxiliary page at Northern Health. You'll find information on how to apply to each of the Northern Health auxiliaries.

Available in Burns Lake, Dawson Creek, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Hazelton, Kitimat, Mackenzie, McBride, Prince George, Quesnel, Smithers, Terrace, and Vanderhoof.