About Us

Our Mission:

To promote and support a high standard of volunteering to enhance the quality of life for individuals and the community of the Cowichan Valley.

Our Goals:

To assist volunteers in finding volunteer opportunities that meet their needs and interests and to assist community agencies and organizations with volunteer recruitment.
To provide volunteer management consultation to organizations as they develop, implement, maintain and evaluate their volunteer programs.
To provide training and information to volunteers and managers of volunteers.
To promote volunteerism and advocacy on related issues.

Volunteers

We recruit, interview and place volunteers with agencies in the valley through our Volunteer Referral System. We promote Volunteerism by organizing and sponsoring events such as the National Volunteer Week, Volunteer Spirit Awards and a Volunteer Fair. We offer training and consultation for volunteer organizations. There is also an extensive library available for your use. We provide placements for offenders who are sentenced to perform community service hours as a condition of probation.

Community Resources

We offer an information and referral service linking inquiries with services available to residents of the Cowichan Valley.

Our Friendly Visitor Program brings together trained volunteers with people who are lonely and/or isolated and desire more social contact.

Transportation

We operate and administer the handiDART Bus Service, which provides door to door service for seniors and people with a disability.

Staff

Georg Stratemeyer, Executive Director
Joan Nott, Paratransit/Office Coordinator
Bob Van Loon, Bus Driver & Darlene Smith, Bus Driver
Maggie Shipley, Dispatcher

Volunteering