Tap into 1,559 skilled volunteers, like Jane, right here

If you think it’s impossible to find skilled volunteers with professional talents – after asking all your connections – don’t give up hope!

Volunteer Peterborough can reach out to its 1,500-plus volunteers to find exactly what you need. That’s how we discovered Jane, our new treasurer.

Four months ago, our previous treasurer on our board of directors had to step down to focus more on earning his second diploma. Despite seeking applicants for the role to Volunteer Peterborough’s job board, no one came forward at first.

But we don’t sit idly by. After all, we are creating a volunteer movement and that takes action!

Welcoming new faces

Meanwhile, in China, a like-minded person also took steps towards a new role. Jane (Jing) Liu was getting ready to move to Peterborough and get involved in the community.

A graduate from Trent University introduced her to several organizations in Peterborough, including Volunteer Peterborough, in August.

“After browsing through the listing, I found opportunities that were highly relevant to my existing volunteer work, such as therapy dog training and providing tech remote study devices for children in rural places,” Jane says. “I also listed my volunteer experiences and financial skills on its platform.”

As Jane did this, we decided to export the names and emails of every individual who listed financial skills in their profiles. Seventy-five names popped up, but we only chose those who had signed up in the past six months; we found 37 skilled volunteers who could be potential treasurers.

In September, we emailed each person, inquiring if they would be interested in the treasurer position. One of those emails landed in Jane’s inbox.

“I was thrilled because it aligned perfectly with my professional background,” Jane says. “And it allowed me to serve the local volunteer community, meet wonderful people and enhance my skills while engaging with others.”

Just as she celebrated Asia’s Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunion and good luck, Jane met virtually with board chair Lois Tuffin. 

Instantly, it became clear that she had the skills and their aptitude to support Volunteer Peterborough as it grows. She agreed to join the board even before moving to Canada to study at Trent University.

Since then, Jane has prepared financial statements and the 2025 budget, while participating in regular board meetings. She has been a wonderful addition to the team.

“Showcasing our journey can inspire many others to engage with our activities and learn more about our organization,” she says of sharing her story.

Helping you find skilled volunteers

Pulling out candidates from our database can be done for other organizations as well. We recently did a similar exercise to discover a strategic planner.

The calibre of people registered on VolunteerPeterborough.ca is truly astonishing. We have professionals who have retired here from other communities with impressive resumes. Once you add in the life-long residents and post-secondary students, you can find almost anyone for any role.

An additional 2,000 people visit our site every month; that increases the odds of meeting your match.

Pulling data for specific opportunities is a service we offer our members so they can unearth specific talents fast. We also maintain a database of people willing to help out in emergencies, such as a flood or major storm.

People, like Jane, want to help. We match them up by offering filters to sort through organizations by cause and opportunities by skill and interest. It speeds up the introductions and sets people up for greater success.

If you need help, just ask. We have office hours on Wednesday afternoons and can do phone or email support any day. Let’s continue to build this volunteer movement together!