‘Full-bore volunteer’ on several boards, never bored

Volunteers
By: Aaron Epp Posted: 6:00 AM CST Monday, Mar. 6, 2023

With a half-century of community involvement under his belt, people sometimes ask Campbell McIntyre when he’s going to slow down. His answer: “I’ll let you know.”

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With a half-century of community involvement under his belt, people sometimes ask Campbell McIntyre when he’s going to slow down. His answer: “I’ll let you know.”

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With a half-century of community involvement under his belt, people sometimes ask Campbell McIntyre when he’s going to slow down. His answer: “I’ll let you know.”

The 75-year-old North Kildonan resident has been a committed volunteer with numerous organizations throughout his adulthood.

“My life, frankly, has been full-bore volunteer activity since my mid-20s,” he says.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Campbell McIntyre volunteers with numerous organizations including Rainbow Stage and his church, St. Saviours Anglican and its Gifts of Grace street mission, where he was helping make sandwiches on a recent afternoon. — MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Campbell McIntyre volunteers with numerous organizations including Rainbow Stage and his church, St. Saviours Anglican and its Gifts of Grace street mission, where he was helping make sandwiches on a recent afternoon.

He coached baseball, soccer and hockey at the local community club when his children were young. When his son started playing bagpipes and joined the Transcona Pipe Band, McIntryre volunteered with that organization.

Early in his career as an accountant, McIntryre was inspired to branch out beyond organizations his children were involved with, as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba encouraged its members to volunteer with local non-profits.

He ended up connecting with what is now the Manitoba division of the MS Society of Canada, and spent 10 years serving on its board of directors.

He followed that with 17 years on the board of directors at Ronald McDonald House, during which he co-founded and co-chaired the organization’s annual golf tournament fundraiser. During his time with the organization, the tournament raised more than $500,000.

One of the organizations closest to McIntyre’s heart is Rainbow Stage, where he has volunteered since the late 1980s. That includes more than 25 years on the organization’s board of directors, including many years as treasurer and two different stints as president.

A year-and-a-half ago, the board named McIntyre its first director emeritus.

Rainbow Stage is special to McIntyre because it’s where he and his wife, Lorraine, went for their first date in 1966. The couple enjoyed a performance of My Fair Lady on that pivotal July evening.

“I actually probably knew every word to every song when we went,” McIntyre says. “It was one of the LPs from my childhood that I played over and over again, when I wasn’t outside playing baseball and climbing trees.”

Rainbow Stage honoured McIntyre in 2009 by adding him to its wall of fame, which recognizes the musicians, performers, behind-the-scenes staff and volunteers who have influenced the Winnipeg theatre organization.

McIntyre’s selfless dedication has had a profound impact on Rainbow Stage, says Carson Nattrass, artistic director.

“He sets an example no matter where he is, whether he’s selling 50/50 tickets, or director emeritus of the board or filling tables at our fundraising events,” Nattrass says. “I, honestly, don’t know anyone else like him and I very much look up to him.”

McIntyre’s drive to volunteer is inspired by his faith. He has attended St. Saviours Anglican Church for 48 years, during which he’s chaired various committees, served two stints as treasurer, sat on the church council, and been a dedicated choir member.

He also volunteers with Gifts of Grace, a street mission housed under the auspices of the church that provides food, friendship and compassion to Winnipeggers experiencing homelessness.

In his free time, McIntyre enjoys golfing at Rossmere Golf and Country Club — where he volunteered on the board of directors for six years — and 10-pin bowling.

He holds season tickets for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and he and Lorraine enjoy spending time with their family as much as possible.

He doesn’t intend to stop volunteering any time soon.

“It gives me joy and there’s not much I like better than being part of anything — any group, any organization, any activity — that provides joy to myself but benefits others at the same time,” he says. “You can’t go wrong with that.”

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com

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Aaron Epp
Reporter

Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.

Every piece of reporting Aaron 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.

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Volunteer opportunities

THE following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, please contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can assist you in finding an opportunity. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.

NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre needs a chef’s assistant. The assistant will take directions from the community chef in preparing meals, keeping workspaces clean, washing dishes and sanitizing surfaces. Volunteers will handle, operate and clean specialized kitchen equipment (food processors, blenders, mixers and tools) and help fellow volunteers with mental and physical disabilities. Volunteers will learn how to safely handle food, knives and more. Volunteers are needed Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m. Email tengel2@norwestcoop.ca, phone 204-806-3972 or apply online at http://wfp.to/Syy by March 15.

Direct Action in Support of Community Homes needs volunteers to help with events held throughout the year. DASCH is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring and meeting the residential, day program, respite and foster care needs of youth and adults. Volunteer roles include setup/take down of equipment, selling tickets at a booth, bid runners/auctioneer assistant, registration, record keeping, table guides and packaging/mailing invitations and gifts. DASCH aims to match a volunteer’s interests and skills to best align with available tasks. Must be fluent in English and have a smart device with internet access. Email volunteer@dasch.mb.ca by April 15.

Opportunities for Independence needs volunteers for its board of directors. Experience in the Manitoba justice system, social work or finance are assets, as is past experience serving on a board. Email your expression of interest along with information supporting your candidacy to kathryn.levine@umanitoba.ca by July 31.

Misericordia Health Centre needs interviewers to help with administering and collecting survey responses from patients regarding the aspects of care they have received. Volunteers will ask scripted questions, collect responses and use a tablet that will be provided. Must be capable of typing and asking questions at the same time and able to communicate with patients in a friendly manner. Email pmcauley@misericordia.mb.ca by Aug. 31.

Parkinson Canada needs SuperWalk co-ordinators in Winnipeg and Brandon. Volunteers must have the skills, enthusiasm and talent for organizing required to be a community facilitator. Must love event logistics and excel at key tasks such as selecting and securing the site, preparing a budget, sourcing sponsorships, recruiting and providing leadership for the organizing committee, managing volunteers alongside the volunteer co-ordinator, organizing and chairing committee meetings, attending monthly (April to October) conference calls with Parkinson Canada event staff members, and attending and overseeing all aspects of the walk. Apply online at http://wfp.to/SyC by Sept. 15.

The Manitoba branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada needs volunteer board members to start in April. Kidney disease affects more people in Manitoba per capita than any other province. The foundation promotes organ donor awareness, and fundraises for kidney/renal research and for support of those suffering from kidney disease. Board meetings are currently held via Microsoft Teams six to eight times a year. Submit a letter of interest and resumé to executive director Greg Unger at greg.unger@kidney.ca by March 17.

Arthritis Society Canada needs camp counsellor volunteers and bus registrants to support its Canada-wide camp, Camp Arthritis. Volunteers must be living with arthritis and between the ages of 18 to 30. Must be enthusiastic and enjoy working with youth ages 8 to 17. Counsellors stay in cabins with the campers overnight. Bus registrants are needed for the day. Email volunteer@arthritis.ca or apply online at http://wfp.to/SNI by March 24.

Victoria Lifeline needs volunteers to install and service Lifeline in homes around Winnipeg. Must be available one day per week, and have a valid driver’s licence and access to a vehicle. Expenses will be reimbursed monthly, and training is provided. Call 204-956-6773 or go to http://wfp.to/oQ0 by March 31.

The Canadian Cancer Society needs volunteers. Volunteer positions include Relay for Life registration and finance lead, and relay director (community engagement). Contact Dali Jovasevic at 226-894-4589 or dalibor.jovasevic@cancer.ca for more details. The deadline is March 31.

The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba needs Minds in Motion volunteers in the Pembina Valley region. The program is designed for people with early to moderate signs of dementia to attend with a family member or friend. The weekly program offers eight sessions, including a gentle chair fitness class followed by engaging activities and conversation. Volunteers are needed for the spring program, which starts the week of April 10. The program is at the Gardens on Tenth in Altona and the Buhler Active Living Centre in Winkler. Email ratkinson@alzheimer.mb.ca by April 10, although the society welcomes interested volunteers to apply at any time.

The Canadian Red Cross is seeking volunteers. When disaster strikes, you can help, and the Red Cross can show you how. Go to www.redcross.ca/volunteer, email volunteer@redcross.ca or call 1-844-818-2155.

Aaron Epp
Reporter

Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.

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.