Our History

In September 1939, the Central Volunteer Bureau was established. The initial function of the Bureau was to secure a listing of women available for volunteer war services. The Bureau was so constituted that it could deal with any wartime to peacetime community project requiring volunteer assistance. Hence, at the end of the war, the Volunteer Bureau had become an integral part of the welfare services of the community and adapted itself wholly into peacetime activities.

In 1945, the Bureau became a department of the Welfare Council of Greater Winnipeg. The post-war decade and a half was a period in which the community had become aware that its social services were primitive and very limited and a concentrated effort to mobilize support for the establishment of such services was made. Hence, less emphasis on the role of the volunteer and more on the role of the professional. The Bureau remained a department of the successor to the Welfare Council of Greater Winnipeg, the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.

In 1974, the Volunteer Bureau was reborn with the Coordinators of Volunteer Project. The research involved in this project proved the importance, if not the necessity, for the organization to hire coordinators to manage volunteer programs. It was recommended that the bureau provide training, especially in the process of implementing volunteer programs and that the Bureau had a strong role in the development of volunteerism. At the same time, the Volunteer Management Course was developed and designed by the Volunteer Bureau - a first in Canada. This course is regularly updated to meet changing needs and continues to attract capacity numbers to its sessions. It was also recommended that the Volunteer Bureau act as supply source for volunteers for agencies and organizations and as a Referral Service for prospective volunteers seeking opportunities for community involvement.

The Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg Incorporated

The need to support the voluntary sector and volunteerism was seen as an important issue in 1977, prompting the United Way and the Winnipeg Foundation to recommend the Volunteer Bureau consider becoming a separate agency and seek charitable status.

In January 1978, it became the Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg Incorporated.

In 1978, the Volunteer Centre established CONTACT Community Information in response to a stated need for an information and referral service in the city. CONTACT operated a computerized information and referral network that served the entire province. At the same time, the Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg established a resource library with major publication additions contributed by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy in 1986. The Resource Centre offered a selection of approximately 5000 books, periodicals, and audio visuals containing information specific to the voluntary sector. In 2002, the Manitoba Voluntary Sector Initiative Research Collection became an important component of the Resource Centre holdings with more than 600 catalogued print materials, international in scope, pertaining to the relationship of the voluntary sector with government, business, and labour.

The Annual Volunteer Awards

As the role of the volunteer expanded the need to recognize the efforts of volunteers became evident, and the Annual Volunteer Awards were established in 1983. The Lieutenant Governor's Award, the Premier's Volunteer Service Awards, the Mayor's Volunteer Service Award, amongst many other categories were established over time, honoring some of Manitoba's most outstanding community volunteers. The Annual Volunteer Awards have become a focal point of National Volunteer Week in Manitoba, and have been celebrated for more than 40 years.

Training and Development Program

Over the years, the Centre's Training and Development Program has continued to expand and enhance its workshop offerings and has streamlined its courses into three signature areas: Board Governance, Volunteer Management, and Organizational Capacity. Customized workshops are now offered within organizations, and the Volunteer Centre is continually expanding across Manitoba with its workshops and special seminars.

Volunteer Manitoba

In 2005, the Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg became Volunteer Manitoba to reflect its continual work in promoting the concept of voluntarism throughout the province. Its programs are designed with this goal as well as the need to sustain through capacity building, the Voluntary Sector in Manitoba.

The Community Outreach Program

The Community Outreach program was developed as an initiative to visit communities across the province, delivering presentations on the benefits of community engagement and volunteerism to varied community groups and organizations. Volunteer Manitoba coordinates and attends volunteer recruitment fairs, in an effort to support nonprofits to recruit the right volunteers for their programs and providing the opportunity to engage and connect with community members from all walks of life.

While we continue to adapt our approach to reflect the needs of the sector, one thing remains the same - our mission to support and promote volunteerism in Manitoba. From our early days to the present, we've strived to support and empower volunteers and nonprofits across the province.

Thank you to all the volunteers in Manitoba for being part of our story, and for helping us to shape the future of volunteerism.