Volunteer Roles

As a member of a customer-focused volunteer team, you will welcome patients and visitors to Lakeridge Health, provide them with appropriate and required assistance to find their destination within the hospital, and learn about the services and departments in the hospital. 

Please note this is role requires standing and walking. 

This role is available at the Ajax Pickering, Oshawa, and Bowmanville Hospitals. 

As a valued member of our customer-focused volunteer team, you will warmly welcome patients and visitors to Lakeridge Health. You will assist them in finding their way around the hospital and provide helpful information about our services and departments. 

Please note, this role involves standing and walking. 

Hospitality volunteer opportunities are available at Ajax Pickering, Oshawa, and Bowmanville Hospitals. 

Gift Shop, Café, and Second Hand Stores Gift Shop, Café and Second-Hand Stores 

In the retail volunteer role, you will work with other volunteers to provide a customer service experience by assisting patients, families, residents, and/or visitors with their purchases in our retail spaces. 

This role is available at the Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry Hospitals, Lakeridge Gardens, and community locations across Durham Region. 

As a retail volunteer, you will work alongside a volunteer team to create a welcoming customer experience. You will others with their purchases in our gift shops, cafés, and second-hand stores. 

This rewarding role is available at Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry Hospitals, Lakeridge Gardens, and various community locations throughout Durham Region. 

Friendly Visiting and Recreation Therapy 

Volunteers provide support by interacting with patients or residents in either one-on-one or group settings. 

You will assist recreation therapists by helping with cognitive or creative activities such as games, arts, crafts, and music. These volunteers also assist with escorting patients to common areas for socialization and events. 

These roles are available at the Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, Port Perry and Whitby Hospitals, and Lakeridge Gardens. 

Talent Sharing 

Volunteers with musical or creative talents can share these skills with patients. 

This role is available at the Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, Port Perry and Whitby Hospitals, and Lakeridge Gardens. 

Coming Soon: 

We are excited to announce the introduction of a new role for volunteers supporting patients with delirium prevention. Training and support will be provided to the volunteers. This is scheduled to begin in April at the Oshawa Hospital. 

Friendly Visiting and Recreation Therapy 
Volunteers play a meaningful role by spending time with patients or residents, either one-on-one or in group settings. You will support recreation therapists by helping with fun and engaging activities like games, arts and crafts, and music. You may also assist by escorting patients to common areas for socializing and events. 

These opportunities are available at Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, Port Perry, and Whitby Hospitals, as well as Lakeridge Gardens. 

Talent Sharing 
If you have musical or creative talents, you can brighten patients’, residents’ and clients’ days by sharing your skills with them. 

This role is also available at Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, Port Perry, and Whitby Hospitals, and Lakeridge Gardens. 

Volunteers in this role support patients with completing surveys. You will support the hospital with collecting real-time data that is used to make improvements for patients and the Lakeridge Health community. 

In this role, you will assist patients in completing surveys and helping us gather valuable feedback. Your support plays an important part in improving the experience for patients and the entire Lakeridge Health community. 

JCHWC volunteers will help greet patients, provide wayfinding directions, support patient flow through the clinics on the third floor of the building, and assist patients leaving the facility safely. Opportunities for a variety shift days and times are available Monday through Friday. 

Learn more about the JCHWC, located at 1690 Dersan Street in Pickering. 

As a volunteer at the Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre, you will warmly greet patients, help them find their way, support smooth patient flow through the clinics on the third floor, and assist patients as they leave the facility safely.  

Learn more about the JCHWC, located at 1690 Dersan Street in Pickering. 

In outpatient clinic areas, volunteers support patients coming in for appointments, day surgery, or other types of treatment. 

You will welcome patients coming into the clinic and support family members or patient care providers. Volunteers also may assist staff with additional tasks they may have. 

Outpatient clinics can include the Fracture Clinic, Diagnostic Imaging, Day Surgery, Dialysis Unit, and Ambulatory Clinics. 

These roles are available at the Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry Hospitals. 

In outpatient clinics, volunteers play a key role in supporting patients who are coming in for appointments, day surgery, or other treatments. 

You will warmly welcome patients as they arrive and offer support to family members and caregivers. You may also help clinic staff with various tasks to keep things running smoothly. 

Outpatient clinics include areas such as the Fracture Clinic, Diagnostic Imaging, Day Surgery, Dialysis Unit, and Ambulatory Clinics. 

These volunteer opportunities are available at Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry Hospitals. 

In the Emergency Department volunteer role you will welcome patients and assist with the registration kiosk, act as a liaison between patients, families, and team members, provide age-appropriate activities and comfort items, and escort patients and families to areas within the department and provide answers to general questions. 

This role is available at the Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry Hospitals. 

As a volunteer in the Emergency Department, you will warmly welcome patients and assist with the registration kiosk. You will also help connect patients, families, and staff, offer age-appropriate activities and comfort items, and escort patients and visitors to different areas within the department. You willl be there to answer general questions and provide support during their visit. 

This role is available at Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, and Oshawa Hospitals. 

Cancer Centre Navigator 

In the navigator role, you will welcome patients coming into the DRCC, support patient registration at the computer kiosk, and provide answers to general questions. Volunteers also escort patients to areas within the DRCC and the Oshawa hospital. 

Systemic Suite/RROC 

In this role, volunteers support patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments by providing comfort measures such as blankets, ice chips, and water, and the opportunity to provide compassionate, friendly conversation. 

This role is available at the Oshawa Hospital. 

Cancer Centre Navigator 
As a navigator, you will warmly welcome patients to the DRCC, assist with registration at the computer kiosk, and help answer general questions. You will also escort patients to various areas within the DRCC and Oshawa Hospital, making their visits easier and more comfortable. 

Systemic Suite / RROC Volunteer 
In this role, you will support patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatments by offering comfort items like blankets, ice chips, and water. Most importantly, you will provide compassionate, friendly conversation to help brighten their day. 

These volunteer opportunities are available at the Oshawa Hospital. 

Volunteers have an exciting opportunity to support client participation in group sessions. The volunteers will support comfort measures, wayfinding, and security measures for those taking part in centre activities with support from the Pinewood Addiction Centre team. This is an exciting introduction to the important activities within this centre and an opportunity to positively impact the client experience. This is an ideal role for post-secondary students seeking mental health experience. 

For more information and to apply, contact Volunteer Resources at volunteer@lh.ca.  
 

Volunteers have a meaningful opportunity to support clients during group sessions at Pinewood Addiction Services. You will help comfort and guide clients around the centre, and assist with security measures, all while working closely with the Pinewood team. 

This role offers a great introduction to the important work happening at the centre and a chance to have a positive impact on clients’ experiences. It is especially ideal for post-secondary students interested in gaining mental health experience. 

Volunteers will assist Academic Affairs team members with virtual and in-person orientations, tours and educational rounds. 
 
This role is available at the Oshawa Hospital. 

As a volunteer with the Academic Affairs team, you will help with both virtual and in-person orientations, tours, and educational rounds. 

This role is available at Oshawa Hospital. 

This volunteer role will help Lakeridge Health's Spiritual Care by rounding on units to introduce services early in admission and help identify patients who would benefit from further interactions with Spiritual Health volunteers or a Spiritual Health Practitioner. 

This role is available at the Bowmanville Hospital. 

As a Spiritual Health Visitor, you will support Lakeridge Health’s Spiritual Care team by visiting units to introduce spiritual services early in patients’ admissions. You will also help identify patients who might benefit from additional support from Spiritual Health volunteers or practitioners. 

This role is available at Bowmanville Hospital. 

Volunteers who select Distress Centre Durham (DCD) will be trained as responders for the DCD helpline, answering calls from community members in need of emotional and listening support, or in distress or crisis. They will also be trained to complete outbound calls for the DCD callout program, providing check-in calls to community members at scheduled times and intervals. Volunteers will commit to four shifts of four hours per month, which are to be completed onsite in DCD’s call room between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. 

Volunteers with Distress Centre Durham (DCD) receive training to support community members by answering helpline calls from those seeking emotional support or experiencing distress or crisis. You will also help with the callout program by making scheduled check-in calls to community members. 

Volunteers commit to four shifts per month, each lasting four hours. Shifts take place onsite in DCD’s call room, between 8:00 a.m. and midnight. 

The patient experience patient and family advisor volunteer role is for individuals who have had a health-care experience as a patient or family member at Lakeridge Health in the last two years and would like to share their experiences, insights, and ideas with us to shape the care we provide. 

Activities include: 

This role is not hospital specific. You may be asked to contribute virtually or in person. 

This volunteer role is perfect for individuals who have experienced care at Lakeridge Health as a patient or family member within the past two years. By sharing your experiences, insights, and ideas, you will help us improve the care we provide. 

Activities may include: 

This role is not tied to one specific hospital. You might contribute virtually or in person, depending on the opportunity.