Volunteer Information Session: BMO Vancouver Marathon
A great way to expand your horizons and get some fantastic hands-on experience, all while practicing your English, is to volunteer during your stay in Vancouver. There are many kinds of volunteer jobs available for all skill levels, so no matter what your interest is, you can probably find something that will fit you. The summer is a particularly exciting time, as there are a large variety of festivals and special events that require large numbers of volunteers.
This week our students met Doug Okero, a representative from the Vancouver International Marathon Society who came to VanWest College to talk about the opportunity to be a volunteer in the 2017 BMO Vancouver Marathon.
The BMO Vancouver Marathon has received many awards, including a spot in Forbes Magazine’s Top 10 Marathons Worth Traveling For. The route takes runners through some of the most scenic areas of Vancouver, including the world-renowned Stanley Park. Being such a large event, there are hundreds of volunteer opportunities available that any VanWest student can take part in.
Doug gave students some basic information, describing a few of the volunteer positions students could apply for and explaining the responsibilities of each job. He gave examples of the types of situations students could encounter, and gave advice on how to deal with these. He made sure to encourage students to put themselves out there and take charge of their language studies, using what they’ve learned in a larger context. He also encouraged his audience to consider applying to become team leaders, and handed out his business card so students could contact him with any questions they might think of later.
Mai, one of the students who attended the information session, said she thought the speaker had been very friendly and seemed like he really wanted to help students.
“I can’t go because I will return to Japan before the event,” she said, “But if I had the chance, I would really like to try it with my friends.”
“I have volunteered before in Mexico,” said Camila, a new student who joined the activity because she is very interested in taking part in social outreach activities. “I like to help in places like hospitals. The run is different, but I think it’s a good chance. I will volunteer there.”
Other students also liked the information session, and many went up to Douglas to ask him questions about becoming a leader after the presentation was over. Akiho, one of VanWest’s co-op students, was one of these.
“I want to volunteer.” Akiho said, “I am thinking about being a team leader. I want to do it, but it seems a bit difficult now so I am a little bit nervous, but my internship at a hotel will start soon. After that, maybe I won’t be so nervous.”
Even though she is nervous, Akiho is excited to experience Canadian culture through volunteering. She will apply to as many volunteer opportunities as she can during the 3 months she has left in Vancouver. She, and the other students who take advantage of opportunities like these, will definitely leave Vancouver with a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help them improve and continue to succeed.
