Volunteer Roles

Hospitality

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.

Retail

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.

Friendly Visiting, Recreation Therapy, and Talent Sharing

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.

Patient Survey

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.

Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre

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.

Outpatient Clinics

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.

Emergency Department

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.

Durham Regional Cancer Center (DRCC)

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.

Pinewood Addiction Services

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. 

Academic Affairs

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.

LHEARN Centre

Volunteers will assist LHEARN Centre team members with event support (i.e. marketing materials, registrations and set-up), clinical education support, website updates and simulation preparations.

This role is available at the Oshawa Hospital.

Spiritual Health Visitor

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.

Distress Centre Durham

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.

Patient Family Advisor

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:

• Joining committees and councils.
• Reviewing patient information and education materials.
• Sharing your story at various events.
• Contributing to policies and procedures.

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