Community Involvement
As stated in Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12: Program and Diploma Requirements, every 
student must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities as part of the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
The purpose of the community involvement requirement is to encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and of the role they can play and the contributions they can make in supporting and strengthening their communities.
To assist students, parents and sponsors with this requirement, the Upper Grand District School Board has compiled information and links on this site – simply click on the links below.
NOTE: Effective July 1, 2011, students are able to start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before they enter Grade 9.
Community Involvement Form Activity Notification And Completion REVISED 2023 SEPTEMBER 11TH
Volunteer Opportunities
Start2Finish is a not-for-profit organization running free after-school programs with an emphasis on social emotional skills, physical activity and literacy in a little over 70 under-resourced communities across Canada. We need volunteer coaches to facilitate our programs.
Want to make a difference in the life of a child? Want to promote healthy living? This is for you!
We have several opportunities:
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In Person: Running & Reading Club 2.5 hours per week, October – May
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Guelph Locations
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Willow Road Public School: Tuesdays 3:15 – 5:15pm
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Gateway Drive Public School: Wednesdays 2:55 – 4:55pm
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Westwood Public School: Wednesdays 3:10 – 5:10pm
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John Galt Public School: Thursdays 2:55 – 4:55pm
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Brant Avenue Public School: Thursdays 3:15 – 5:15pm
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Virtual Programming: Brainworx! 10 week commitment, 90 minutes/week
Club Locations: https://www.start2finishonline.org/running-reading-club-locations
Volunteer Application: https://timecounts.app/start2finish
Contact: Zoe Sherar ([email protected])
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Park Run
There is a weekly opportunity to collect 2-3 hours Saturday mornings from 8:30-10:30 am. This is a community organized 5km run/walk that takes place every Saturday of the year. If interested here are the steps to follow and additional information.
1. The first step is to register at https://www.parkrun.ca/register/ and select the option to receive emails for volunteering. We are the Eramosa River Trail Parkrun. There is no cost to register.
2. Next step is emailing us to set up a date they can volunteer and we can help select positions that would be most appropriate and give them the instructions to read over. I’d recommend they send us the dates they want to volunteer, and we’ll find something for them to do! [email protected]
3. Students will need to bring the high school volunteer sheet and our on duty Volunteer Coordinator will sign each week.
4. Main responsibilities are to have fun, encourage others to have fun, and general team spirit. And of course committing to coming on the day they signed up as we do need certain positions covered in order to have the event.
5. We could also do a day where students come as an orientation to job shadow and still get their volunteer hours.
Here is where they can see what positions we need https://www.parkrun.ca/eramosarivertrail/futureroster/
The easiest positions are:
Marshall, direct runners/walkers around turns
Tokens, handing out the finishing token to each runner
Photographer, taking around 50 fun photos of the event and participants and uploading them.
Scanner, if we have someone with good focus and attention, plus a data plan and charged cell phone.
We also have park walkers and tail walkers that do the full course as a walker.
If you have any further questions, reach out to [email protected] or see Mr. Tremain in guidance.
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The Guelph Tool Library is looking for some help with a few projects and we were wondering if the GCVI students could help us out!
A really interesting project is the Rags to Rugs Project in which we are taking clothing donated to the Circular Store that can’t be sold and would normally be thrown away but we are turning into rugs. We need help with disassembling the clothes and creating materials that can be woven together to make rugs. It involves removing buttons and zippers and cutting up the materials into long strips. We have the materials and the loom; we just need help with the preparation of materials and maybe even making some rugs.
If you are interested please send Xan an email at [email protected]
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West Village Community Development Co-operative Recreation Volunteer
We are looking for Recreation Volunteers to participate in the following programs: Sr. All Play, Jr. All Play, Active Kids, Family Pickleball, and Family Gym. Volunteers will help the program Leader with set-up and clean-up, participate in activities, and encourage other participants to get involved. Participation will count toward your high school volunteer hours! NOTE: You must be 14+.
I can be reached via email at [email protected] or call/text at 519-830-2042.
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Scorekeeping for GCVI Sports – See Mr. Waterfield
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Three Willows United Church is looking for musicians and singers. All are welcome!
Choir practice is about 1 1/4 hours on Thursday evenings at the church and Sunday mornings 9:30-1130 ish.
If interested please contact: [email protected] or call [519] 766-4966.
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Downey Animal Hospital is looking for volunteers – 519-265-8387 [email protected]
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The West Village Community Development Co-operative in Guelph invites 10-12 high school co-op students to experience urban farming. The co-operative urban farm is located at Castlebury Park near Paisley Rd and Stephanie Drive, west of the Hanlon Expressway. Bus access is along Guelph Transit Route 10. Activities will include planting and maintaining vegetable beds, harvesting fresh vegetables, and the sale of produce in a small community market at Mitchell Woods PS (Guelph Transit routes 10,17, 18 and 20).
This would attract students interested in green industries, farming and gardening, sustainable environment, marketing as well as those interested in a mostly outdoor placement.
For more information, please contact Ralf Mesenbrink at 519-841-3476 or Christine Clarke at [email protected] or 519-826-9930
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Keep a Record
Each student maintains a record of the Community Involvement activity, ensuring that the Community Involvement Form Activity Notification And Completion Revised 2023 Sep 11(PDF) is correct and signed by a parent/guardian, and the Community Sponsor(s).