Building Community And Connections
Ontario is a vast province —so large, in fact, that many people outside Canada struggle to grasp its scale. A few years ago while visiting Aruba, a small island nation in the southern Caribbean Sea, I found myself trying to explain this to locals. Aruba covers just 179 square kilometres and has a population of under 110,000. It’s a beautiful desert island built around tourism, and its compact size means that people can cross it in an hour, not days. When I shared that it could take three days to drive across Ontario, and that the weather can vary dramatically on the same day depending on where you are, they were stunned. Yet regardless of geography, everyone shares the identity of being an Ontarian even though their lived experiences differ widely.

I often think about this contrast when considering the work of volunteer engagement professionals and leaders of volunteers. Just like Ontarians, our experiences can be vastly different depending on where we live, the communities we serve, and the resources available to us. Two leaders of volunteers may share the same job title yet face completely different realities shaped by geography, organizational focus, and local needs.

This is why building community and fostering connection is essential in volunteer engagement. In southern Ontario, where organizations and residents are more concentrated, connecting with peers can be easier. In northern Ontario, the need for volunteer engagement professionals is just as strong, but the work must account for distance, dispersed communities, and the reliability of Internet access. The challenges differ, but the importance of connection remains constant.

Fortunately, the widespread availability of online platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, WhatsApp, and others) has made it easier than ever to learn, share, network, and problem‑solve together. Many of these opportunities simply didn’t exist or weren’t widely used before the pandemic. Now, they help bridge the physical distances that once limited collaboration.

Still, building community doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intention, involvement, and effort. It takes people willing to step forward and rebuild pathways for connection. Throughout my career and during my time on PAVRO’s Board of Directors, I’ve seen that coming together—whether in person or online—is consistently the most meaningful and memorable part of our work. Think about your own experiences: you may remember one or two tactics from a workshop, but it’s the conversations, the shared stories, and the renewed connections with fellow leaders of volunteers that stay with you.

So let this be your invitation and your challenge. Make it a goal this year to strengthen the volunteer engagement community in Ontario. Connect with someone you meet at a PAVRO workshop. Share your career journey at a local high school. Tag PAVRO, Volunteer Canada, VMPC, and your local AVA or Volunteer Centre when celebrating volunteer impact online. Consider pursuing your CVA certification. Host a local meet‑up. Be intentional. Be bold.
Most importantly: get involved. Our community is stronger when you are part of it.
As Heather's term on the board comes to a close in June, we want to recognize and celebrate her incredible contributions, leadership and dedication. While we’ll miss Heather's presence at the table, we’re excited that she’ll be sharing her insights and experiences in a special three-part series. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn from Heather's journey and the wisdom she’s gained along the way.