Official registration to be a volunteer for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games opened on April 7, 2014 at 6:00 a.m.
Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Logo
Recognizing the size and scope of the event, the organizers are calling for more than 20,000 volunteers, making this one of the largest volunteer recruitments in Ontario. Volunteers will act as ambassadors to the Games and have an important role in ensuring that the Games run smoothly. More than 10,000 athletes from across the North and South America are expected to participate in this international sporting event. The events are scheduled to be held in over 30 venues across the Greater Toronto Area, as such it may be possible to help out at a location close to your home.
Volunteer positions are available both prior to and during the Games. Pre-Games volunteers will assist with duties such as community outreach activities, planning, transportation and logistics, uniform distribution, accreditation, and volunteer selection and training. Games-time volunteers will assist with duties such as working with athletes and spectators, transportation, medical and anti-doping, information technology, press operations, communications, protocol services, accreditation and workforce services. Individuals who decide to volunteer during the games will receive a comprehensive training and the opportunity for volunteer certification, an official Pan Am/Parapan Am uniform, a chance to make many new friends, and more importantly, a once in a lifetime experience.
Some volunteer positions require specialized skills and work experience, while others require eager individuals who simply want to help out. Organizers state that they are looking for individuals who are friendly, approachable and genuinely enjoy helping people; reliable; have great communication skills; love working in a team environment; have a good sense of humour; and have an ability to adapt to changing conditions.
Volunteers must be speak and understand English. However, organizers are also looking for multilingual volunteers who are able to communicate in French, Spanish or Portuguese in order to facilitate communication with athletes and other guests.
Students who volunteer for the Games are eligible to receive OSAP benefits: a waiver that exempts pre-study period contribution (contribution from the money you earn up to 16 weeks prior to the start of your studies) and/or a longer grace period before you need to repay your OSAP loan or interest charged on that loan if you complete your studies on or after March 1, 2015.
If you are a full-time student at a post-secondary school approved for OSAP, enrolled in full-time studies between August 1, 2015-July 31, 2016, and complete volunteer assignments at the Games, you are eligible to receive a pre-study contribution waiver, which means that your summer earnings will not be factored into the OSAP financial needs assessment.
If you are finishing full-time post-secondary studies on or after March 1, 2015 (and not returning to postsecondary studies), are a recipient of an Ontario or Canada government issued loan, and complete your volunteer assignments at the Games then you are eligible to receive an extension of 6 months to repay your loan. This means that you don’t have to make any payments on your full-time OSAP loan for 1 year after leaving postsecondary studies. The province of Ontario will pay interest to Ontario and Canada Student Loans but will not pay to loans from other provinces and territories.
It is important that you indicate on your volunteer application that you would like to be considered for either of the two benefits.
To volunteer for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, visit http://TORONTO2015.org/volunteer
Pachi, mascot for Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games
