Introducing students to the wonderful world of volunteering

Volunteers
By: AV Kitching Posted: 2:00 AM CDT Monday, May. 4, 2026

Jasmin Knight has built her career around giving back to the community.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $5.77 plus GST every four weeks. After 52 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Jasmin Knight has built her career around giving back to the community.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Jasmin Knight has built her career around giving back to the community.

Fuelled by her own history of helping, the student concierge at Heartland International English School began organizing volunteer placements for mature students on a casual basis.

The positive feedback from students, many of whom have never volunteered before, led to the creation of the school’s Volunteer + Study program, which launched last year.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Jasmin Knight (right), from the Heartland International English School, along with student Omar Sanchez (left), take part the Exchange District’s Spruce Spring clean-up on Thursday — MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS

Jasmin Knight (right), from the Heartland International English School, along with student Omar Sanchez (left), take part the Exchange District’s Spruce Spring clean-up on Thursday

Now Knight, 31, says she can offer students a more formal method of applying for volunteer positions in the city.

“I help students explore all the different volunteering options there are in Winnipeg. Volunteering is such meaningful work and spreading that awareness has been so rewarding, not just for the students but also for me,” she says.

Those who are here for a short time can opt for event-based volunteering at festivals like the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, Folklorama, Doors Open Winnipeg and Pride. Long-term students will be offered more regular opportunities at organizations such as Siloam Mission and Harvest Manitoba.

“I hope their voluntary work experience not only helps them gain a new perspective but is something they can take to their employers, peers and community when they go back home,” Knight says.

She tries to match each student’s specific skill set to a volunteer position.

“I have a student, originally from South Korea who owns a Pilates studio. She was looking for something related to that field. I found a fitness and movement instructor volunteer position at Com-Span Inc., a non-profit for adults living with disabilities,” Knight said.

Knight has maintained her long-standing commitment to volunteering at the Exchange District’s annual Spring Spruce Up for the past five years.

Last week, she invited 10 Heartland students, including Omar Sanchez, 28, from Cuenca, Ecuador, to join her and more than 130 other Winnipeggers in the three-hour cleaning spree.

It was Sanchez’s first time volunteering.

“I have never done something like this that will be of benefit to all the people who are going to be downtown. Taking part in this has encouraged me to help in my own community,” he says.

Knight’s previous volunteering experience has altered the trajectory of her life.

In 2022, she volunteered to work the birth control and pregnancy counselling phone line at the Women’s Health Clinic.

Her two-year stint there was sparked by a desire to give back to the organization.

Her responsibilities included presenting pregnancy and birth options to clients, counselling and helping those requiring additional food or housing support.

“I had used the services when I was younger and I wanted to give back to an organization that helped me so much,” she says. “We’re all going to need help at some point. Everything is relational. We need each other and we need to have each other’s backs.”

Knight’s volunteering was pivotal in helping solidify her decision to enrol in the marriage and family therapy program at the University of Winnipeg.

She credits former clinic employee Gio Guzzi, who trained the volunteers for 39 years, for boosting her confidence. Guzzi was awarded the King Charles Coronation Medal last year for her work.

“Working there was the best experience of my life. It really made me want to go back to school and become a therapist. Gio was a great mentor for me and encouraged me to apply,” Knight says.

If you know a special volunteer, please contact AV.Kitching@freepress.mb.ca

AV Kitching
Reporter

AV Kitching is an arts and life writer at the Free Press. She has been a journalist for more than two decades and has worked across three continents writing about people, travel, food, and fashion. Read more about AV.

Every piece of reporting AV produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Volunteer opportunities

THE following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to wfp.to/volunteers or call 204-477-5180.

Apathy is Boring seeks young people aged 18-30 to volunteer for the Winnipeg RISE Program. This opportunity provides training, resources, and funding to support youth in designing and leading a community project. No prior experience required. Apply by May 24th at apathyisboring.com.

The Spence Neighbourhood Association needs volunteer baseball coaches to support the Sports Program Coordinator in teaching children the basics of the sport, including drills and baseball exercises. As a coach, you will serve as a positive role model for youth promoting teamwork, community building and personal/social skill development. A criminal record check and child abuse registry check are required — if not current, SNA covers the costs. Apply by email: kristy@spenceneighbourhood.org. Deadline is June 15.

Heritage Winnipeg seeks volunteers for its annual Doors Open Winnipeg event on May 30-31. Volunteer shifts are available all over the city and will range from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shifts are usually three-four hours in length. Volunteering for more than one shift is an option as well. Two roles are available — ambassador and tour guide. The ambassador’s duties include: greeting individuals, counting the number of people in the building, and providing accurate information to the public. Tour guides should be confident in public speaking and be able to provide correct information on their volunteering site. Apply online: wfp.to/iab. Deadline is May 24.

Jazz Winnipeg seeks event volunteers for the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival. Open crews vary depending on availability. You could be a part of event safety, enviro, bar, bar sales, raffle, front of house, merchandise sales, stage and setup, and more. Some crews require extended periods of walking or standing and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds. All applicants should be prepared to work outside. Apply online: jazzwinnipeg.com/volunteer. Deadline is May 30.

Be a part of Diabetes Canada’s Pump Couture Event. This one-of-a-kind event celebrates real people living with diabetes, boldly stepping onto the runway to help create a more inclusive and compassionate world for people living with the condition. Volunteers will be helping out with guest check-in, setup and teardown, guest experience, and support for the silent auction. The event is on May 22 and volunteers are asked to help for one of the two shifts from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Apply by email: cfevolunteers@diabetes.ca. Deadline is May 15.

Love soccer? The Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association seeks volunteers for its Boston Pizza Players Tournament. The event is from May 27 to May 31 at the John Blumberg Park Soccer Fields. Help out by signing teams in before first games, distributing team packages, collecting game sheets, ensuring smooth operations, or setting up and tearing down. Ages 13-plus. Apply online: wfp.to/ia2. Deadline is May 20.

Riverview Health Centre Foundation is looking for volunteers for its Cycle on Life event on June 14. Various volunteer roles are available including: route marshals, support vehicle volunteers, route sign crew, registration crew chief, pit stop attendant, food services crew chief and more. Volunteer orientation is on June 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information and to apply, email: rhcfoundation@rhc.mb.ca or call 204-478-6271. Deadline is June 5.

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Community Health & Corporate Programs seeks volunteers in the St. James area to help organize and distribute food hampers to families, individuals, adult school programs, 55+ residents, and Manitoba Housing residents. Volunteers will be carrying and transferring groceries and hampers weighing up to 25 pounds. Orientation and training sessions are provided prior to starting. Proficiency in English is important, along with adherence to WRHA’s confidentiality and dress code policies. The commitment is one biweekly shift, alternate Tuesdays from noon to 3 p.m., with a preference for a minimum of three months or longer. Apply online: wfp.to/iaE. Deadline is May 31.

Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation is looking for volunteers to help with their third annual Chalmers Pride. This event will be held May 29. There are many different duties including: setup, maintenance, floater/vendor help, stagehands, first aid and more. Volunteer hours are from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., there is a choice between two three-hour shifts and one six-hour shift. Please contact Amy at 204-699-0750 or email how@chalmersrenewal.org for more information. Apply online: wfp.to/ian. Deadline is May 19.

The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Apply at wfp.to/0pE, volunteer@redcross.ca or 1-844-818-2155.

AV Kitching
Reporter