Montréal - le 27 novembre 2008 - La Coalition des Tables régionales d'organismes communautaires (CTROC) et la Table des regroupements provinciaux d'organismes communautaires et bénévoles (TRPOCB) se sont récemment réunies en rencontre nationale et ont développé une analyse commune des enjeux économiques et sociaux.

Last night (November 26th, 2008) the Volunteer Bureau held a party to celebrate our departing director, Kevin Cohalan, who has just embarked on his retirement. Approximately fifty guests joined the employees and volunteers of the centre to thank him for his enormous contribution over 22 years, and to wish him the very best in his future endeavours.

Canada's population is aging and the volunteering landscape within our sector is shifting. Over the last year, with funding from Investors Group, we have investigated the links between health and volunteering. As a result, our literature review guided us in the development of a new online resource.

Charities & Nonprofits Propose Measures to Prime Minister to help Canadians and Communities during Economic Downturn.  Urge Federal Government to maintain existing levels of funding and provide special giving incentives.

Hommage bénévolat-Québec is an award given by the Québec government to highlight the exceptional commitment and valuable contribution of volunteers and organizations in every region of Québec. It is intended to reward the efforts of citizens in their community and the actions taken by community organizations to foster and develop volunteerism.
Entry deadline: January 19, 2009

Approximately one in five Quebec residents (19% or 1.1 million people) volunteered through a charitable or nonprofit organization, according to the 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating. This is a decrease from 22% in 1997.

November 2008 marks the end of an era for the Volunteer Bureau. Over a year after our friend and colleague Kevin Cohalan announced his intention to step down as executive director, the moment has arrived. The months leading up to his retirement gave the board of directors and the staff time to prepare for the change, to define the qualities needed in a new director and to ensure a successful transition.

I am writing to invite you to participate in an exciting opportunity from our PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada Foundation! Through our Leadership Grants Program, our Foundation is once again offering grants to support the leadership development of existing and emerging leaders at charities across Canada.

In a provocative suggestion, Willie Cheng, author of a new book on not for profit management suggests "Ultimate success occurs when the nonprofit's mission is achieved and its existence in no longer needed".

There is much evidence pointing to the positive effects of volunteering. The good outcomes of investing hours in voluntary work are widely known and include: Increased self-esteem, producing an increased sense of well-being*, Remaining active and socially engaged in old age helps identity and well-being**, Volunteering enables feeling good about one's situation in life*** and Volunteers have a greater sense of satisfaction in feeling that they are making a contribution to wider society.#