VOLUNTEERISM - DEFINITION

Cadets sometimes have trouble understanding what activities would qualify as volunteerism and which ones are just considered cadet work. The definition below may assist you in understanding what qualifies for volunteer hours.

• Volunteerism is the act of contributing free labor to conduct community service or support a nonprofit organization (Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign qualifies for volunteering hours, however, Tag Days do not as it is self-serving). It is the principle of donating time and energy towards a greater cause. Volunteers help change the lives of those in their community as a social responsibility rather than receiving a financial reward.

• Volunteering is important because it enables people to help and serve others in a selfless way. When individuals take the initiative to help people in the community and support philanthropic causes, it can improve the community as a whole by creating tighter bonds and forming lasting relationships. Plus, nonprofit organizations can utilize these groups of passionate volunteers to help achieve goals in making the world a better and safer place.

Question 1: Why participation in Tag Days is not regarded as supporting a nonprofit organization? Isn't the Navy League a nonprofit organization?

While the Navy League of Canada is a nonprofit organization, Tag Days does not fulfill the definition required to accrue volunteer hours because, although we provide service to our community, funds raised are used to support our own cadet program and not other members of the community. 

Question 2: If I attend extra-curricular activities, such as Navigation, Sailing, Public Speaking and other courses on days other than cadet training nights, would that count as volunteering?

No. That is considered to be optional training.

Question 3: Is CTC and CAP considered for volunteer hours?

No. CTC and CAP are considered to be training of cadets 

Question 4: What about parades?

Although parades may bring awareness to the public about certain causes, it does not fit the definition of volunteerism as described above. If, however, you are tasked with assisting veterans by pushing wheelchairs, carrying wreaths for them, or have an active role in the set up and take down of a parade venue or public event, then you would qualify for volunteer hours.

• Please note that Annual Ceremonial Reviews, Christmas parade, Battle of the Atlantic or Remembrance Day parades also do not qualify for volunteer hours unless your role is directly involved in the set-up and take down of another unit's parade. If its our own, then its part of your leadership and teamwork within your own cadet unit and its recognized in performance reviews.

Question 5: Can you give examples of what could be considered volunteering?

To be considered volunteering and to accrue hours, an activity needs to fulfill the requirements listed in the definition above. It needs to be provided for free, it needs to help others in a selfless way, and it needs to help people in the community. Some examples are:

• Sea Cadet participation in the Poppy Campaign for the Royal Canadian Legion

• Corps sponsored Food and Toy Drives

• Supporting the Navy League Cadets (You must be actively involved with them. Please note that you should not seek to duplicate hours. If you ask me to recognize you volunteering as a sea cadet with the Navy League, you should not ask the Navy League officers for the same hours.)

• Corps sponsored volunteer activities such as park clean-ups,  assistance during festivals, etc...

• Other opportunities in which we will say that we will be giving out volunteer hours.

*** Please note that I can only certify hours that are related to you being a Sea Cadet or volunteer staff within our cadet unit or our cadet service. If you volunteer directly with the Royal Canadian Legion, or volunteer at a hospital, police, scouts, meals-on-wheels, food bank, or any other service on your own time, and that the program you are involved in was not offered by the cadet corps as a volunteer opportunity, I cannot certify that service, and you will need to seek validation from them.