The Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre-Our Story Objectives

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1 The Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre-Our Story In the wake of the devastating wildfire of 2016, FuseSocial has been working diligently to assist the community and specifically, social profit sector agencies, as they recover and rebuild. Part of this endeavour has been to lead recovery volunteer management and assist the social sector in building volunteer capacity. Volunteers have been, and will continue to be, essential in supporting recovery efforts in our community. The Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre (WBVC) opened its doors in the FuseSocial offices in June, The centre is dedicated to attracting community-minded volunteers, supporting their needs and connecting them with social profit organizations who rely on volunteer support to achieve their goals. Volunteer centers promote the values supporting volunteerism, build capacity for effective and rewarding local volunteering, provide leadership on issues relating to volunteerism and connect people with opportunities to serve in their communities. The Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre focuses on leadership, partnerships, collaborations and networking and creates programs and projects intended to elevate awareness of and to promote volunteerism in the community. Objectives To assist the social profit sector with the post wildfire recovery and rebuilding process To increase support of the sector in this challenging time and bring awareness to their specific and unique needs To connect the social profit sector with willing, capable and impassioned volunteers by promoting and utilizing our volunteer matching web tool: WBVolunteers.ca To increase usage of WBVolunteers.ca by both the sector and the volunteer community To increase the number of skilled volunteers in our resource pool to further assist the social profit sector fill the gaps while they deal with post wildfire staffing issues To enter into mutually beneficial partnerships with industry partners to move the needs of the social sector forward To populate a comprehensive database that will contribute to the future growth and support of the sector 1

2 Since the 2016 fire, multiple challenges have been identified within the Wood Buffalo region. Among the first challenges was how to effectively return 88,000 evacuated residents back to the community in a safe, efficient and orderly way and that considered people s emotional state and mental wellness. A plan was implemented to mobilize and staff 7 Welcome Centres throughout the region. Understanding the magnitude of this undertaking, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo turned to FuseSocial to lead volunteer management for the region. FuseSocial began preparing for re-entry in late May, Given the number of centres, the hours that it would be open and the number of volunteers needed to staff each location; the logistics were complicated. Acquiring accommodation, lodging and food for these volunteers posed a unique challenge, but FuseSocial s existing partnership with Shell Albian Sands allowed us to develop and implement a successful volunteer deployment strategy. Volunteers staffing re-entry Welcome Centres throughout Wood Buffalo Given the success of the Re-entry process, FuseSocial, with the support of Red Cross funding, was able to establish a volunteer team consisting of a Volunteer Capacity Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer Capacity Associate and Data Base Entry Clerk. The Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre was now staffed and prepared to handle recovery volunteer management for the region. The centre utilized WBVolunteers.ca (our pre-existing volunteer matching website) to manage opportunities and deploy volunteers to the community. The majority of social profits within our region didn t resume full operations until early July. The lack of capacity to determine their own needs assessment resulted in a shortage of volunteer positions. Not being able to be deployed in a timely manner proved to be a deterrent for a number of volunteers. Capacity has been the number one barrier for social profits and because of this, a need for skilled volunteers to assist in day to day operations and fund development has been identified. Developing partnerships with community groups and industry/business, and posting over 89 volunteer opportunities (41.6% events and 39.3% skilled volunteer) on WBVolunteers.ca allowed us to reach skilled volunteers and provide 2

3 them opportunities where they could be the most useful. Participating in a variety of community events (i.e. job fairs, Registration Day, Re-entry) reinforced our commitment to community engagement and increasing awareness of volunteerism. Over the course of the next few months a significant amount of time was spent developing meaningful relationships with outside community volunteer groups looking to assist with the recovery of Fort McMurray. In October, the WBVC was contacted by a group of employees from Tulsa, Oklahoma who were in town for an oil and gas symposium and made the choice to stay an extra day to volunteer in the community. The team spent an entire day stocking shelves at the food bank and delivering food and supplies to families who lost their homes in the fire. John Zink Hamworthy employees from Tulsa, Oklahoma volunteering at the Food Bank In November, we were contacted by the Good Ridge Quilting Guild, out of Edmonton, who reached out to inquire about families who had lost homes. The Guild was interested in making the holiday season just a little brighter for those families by providing new, homemade stockings to replace those that were lost in the fire. The group sent 25 quilted stockings to Fort McMurray and, through partnership with Northlife Fellowship Baptist Church, the WBVC was able to identify a number of families in need. The next step was to reach out to our industry partner, Suncor, to provide volunteers to assist at the Church in sorting donations and stuffing the quilted stockings with presents and festive items. It was a joint effort by many committed and passionate partners and resulted in a holiday season that was just a little merrier for a few families affected by the fire. Donated stockings and volunteers from Suncor sorting donations 3

4 Along with affected families, the social profit sector has benefitted greatly from our tireless efforts to engage with volunteers to help with recovery efforts. In July 2016, FuseSocial conducted a wildfire impact survey that showed a 50% vacancy rate in volunteer positions. Another survey was conducted in October, 2017 that showed there was only a 31% vacancy rate in volunteer positions. Between surveys 1 and 2, volunteer vacancies decreased by 19%, showing that the Volunteer Centre was making an impact in the community and supporting the sector. Again, to combat capacity challenges, the WBVC remained highly focused on matching skilled volunteer workforce with the social profit sector. At the time, 63% of organizations introduced new programs and services to meet the post wildfire needs of the region. Skilled volunteer support would be critical to the success and sustainability of those programs and services. As part of our commitment to recovery, the WBVC also established itself as a committed member to a number of wildfire related committees. One of those being the NSUUR Project. There has been a large sector of the population within our region identified as uninsured and underinsured. Habitat for Humanity Wood Buffalo, Samaritan s Purse, World Renew, Mennonite Disaster Services and FuseSocial have collaborated efforts to address this pressing issue. Together, they have created NGOs Supporting Uninsured and Underinsured Residents (NSUUR) committee and working group. This collaboration was initiated based on the success of a similar working group established in response to the 2013 flooding in southern Alberta. NSUUR focuses on repairs and rebuilds for primary resident home owners within our region who are uninsured and underinsured. As part of our commitment to this group, the WBVC sought out strategic partnerships with generous organizations in order to establish a Volunteer Village to support the volunteers involved in the rebuild. 5 housing units and a Commons Building were acquired through a partnership with the Wood Buffalo Housing & Development Corporation for a 2-year term, 5 vehicles were donated by Driving Force for the duration of the project and $40,000 was donated by the Edmonton Community Foundation and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. These invaluable partnerships allowed the NSUUR agencies to focus 100% of their time energy and resources on the rebuild efforts. 4

5 Agencies and volunteers involved with NSUUR gathered at the Volunteer Village Care Wood Buffalo (CareWB) is another wildfire recovery initiative the Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre is actively involved with. The centre supports the recruitment of volunteers for their door-to-door outreach campaign that endeavours to make personal one-on-one connections with residents to allow for candid conversations about their personal wellness and the community s health. The lastest door knocking campaign took place in the neighbourhood of Prairie Creek. 304 homes were visited and 55% of those who engaged expressed feeling well supported due to factors such as family, getting much needed emotional and financial support through various channels and being engaged in work and social activities. 3 follow-ups were required for people feeling especially disconnected and the CareWB volunteers were diligent in connecting them to the services they needed (Insurance questions, family services for ESL and volunteer information for a newcomer who wanted to get connected to the community). Care WB promoting their services at trade shows throughout Wood Buffalo 5

6 A number of recovery projects took place in early 2017 that not only serviced the people of Wood Buffalo, but continued to show the care and concern outside communities have for our situation. Approximately 115 pallets of clothing came up from Edmonton that made their way to Father Beauregard School in Abasand where it was sorted and set up as a clothing bank for those in need. WBVolunteers.ca supported the recruitment and deployment of volunteers for this endeavor by directly communicating the need for support to the 677 volunteers registered in the database. Additionally, the WBVC used various means of communication including social media channels, direct mail, sector communication channels and word of mouth to support this initiative. The Wood Buffalo Clothing Bank set up at Father Beauregard School Similar efforts were made to support the Wood Buffalo SPCA when a large shipment of pet food and supplies that had been donated in Edmonton and was being stored at the Diversified Transportation lot in Gregoire had to be quickly moved. Volunteers were asked to deploy in a very short period of time and every effort was made by the Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre to try and promote the initiative and deploy volunteers. Having the Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre as a tool to get the word out and directly communicate with our database of volunteers has been instrumental in helping agencies with these recovery efforts. Volunteers are preparing to move donated pet supplies for the Wood Buffalo SPCA 6

7 In April 2017, WBVolunteers.ca reported a 23% increase in volunteers since December, The Centre continued to be highly focused on matching a skilled volunteer workforce with the social profit sector to tackle their capacity barriers. The goal was to continue to create matches that would assist the sector in getting back up to capacity. By participating in job fairs, trade shows and community events, the WBVC has been able to have quality face-time with community members and really advance our message of volunteerism and opportunities within the sector. Volunteering as a Gateway to Employment has been an effective marketing tool to attract employees looking to develop skills, improve their resume and establish a network of professional contacts within the community. It s a win-win situation where agencies can tackle their capacity issues by using skilled volunteers and community members can gain the experience needed to build their resume and become competitive jobseekers. The WBVC boosts a couple of success stories whereby an agency utilizing a skilled volunteer ended up hiring that volunteer as an employee once they were back up to capacity and fund challenges were overcome. It was a milestone moment for the WBVC and one we continue to be proud of! The one year anniversary of the fire took place on May 3, This was a very emotional day for many people in the community and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo hosted a very low key, respectful event in Snye park that ran from dawn until dusk to ensure all citizens could partake, if they chose to. In order to contribute to this worthwhile event, FuseSocial partnered with CISM for Communities staffed a Gratitude Garden to allow community members to thank friends, family, businesses, organizations and volunteers for the support given to them during evacuation. This garden grew throughout the day and became a special place for reflection and appreciation. Over 175 messages were displayed in the garden for all to enjoy. Messages in the Gratitude Garden commemorating the 1 year anniversary of the fire By July of 2017, WBVolunteers.ca boosted a 44.5% in volunteers since December, Agencies continued to post regularly for skilled volunteer positions including board members, committee members, a minute-taker for a strategic planning session and a carpenter! Skilled volunteers were not only being utilized by the social profit sector, they were instrumental in allowing projects to move forward that are vital to promoting health, wellness and a sense of community for our region. The Fort McMurray Chess Club was recently awarded a beautification grant from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Their vision was to create 7

8 a space in a local park where chess players of all abilities could come to play, socialize, engage and create a space where people could connect. Part of the plans for this new Dickinsfield Chess Park included a 5-foot tall chess Knight signature piece that would serve to define the space. The weight of the chess piece was in excess of 1,800kg, so the RMWB required an engineering report to certify the structural integrity and to ensure it could safely be housed in the park. The cost of this was not factored into the planning. The Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre supported the Fort McMurray Chess Club by reaching out to Suncor, and through their corporate volunteering program, they were able to offer a team of engineers to provide the report. Without the support of these skilled individuals, the project would have been delayed and would have created a financial roadblock for the organization. On June 30 th, the official opening of the park took place and the signature piece was revealed! Congratulations to the Fort McMurray Chess Club! We look forward to the great events that will be hosted for our community in this park. Mid 2017, people were still living with uncertainty in our region. Community members and agencies continued to struggle to recover. 38.6% of organizations reported that they had fulltime staffing vacancies and a 14% staff vacancy rate was reported within the sector. The wildfire impact survey also showed that agencies had a 31% vacancy in their volunteer pool. For this reason, we continued to focus on being out in the community, engaging volunteers and promoting volunteerism for our region. Attending community events like the Fort McMurray Food Festival, the Urban Market and the PrideYMM event really showcased our commitment to engaging with volunteers and promoting our commitment to support community. 8

9 In order to move this commitment forward the WBVC partnered with dedicated businesses like Telus to launch targeted volunteer campaigns. Hey Mac! Tell Us Where You Are At! allows volunteers signed up on WBVolunteers.ca to get a plush monkey stuffed toy and take that monkey out into the community to volunteer. Posting pictures on our Facebook page gives volunteers an opportunity to win great prizes and engage in a fun, festive culture of promoting volunteerism! Another initiative the WBVC continues to be engaged in is the mobilization of large groups of volunteers. Since the fire, out of town organizations, many of them faith based, continue to make contact in hopes of coming to Wood Buffalo and supporting our rebuild efforts. On August 19, 2017, a group of 180 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Sherwood Park Alberta Stake helped with a variety of service projects in the area. About 50 volunteers who live in the area joined members of the Church from Sherwood Park, Lloydminster, Tofield, Cherry Grove, Vermilion and Fort Saskatchewan. Some had travelled almost 600 kilometres to be there. The projects included doing finishing work on a Habitat for Humanity house, cleaning and paining at Heritage park, weeding and repainting at the Fort McMurray Royal Canadian Legion and building furniture at the HUB Family Resource Centre. 9

10 Much work has been done and there is still much to do. The WBVC is planning to take an active role in tackling some of the community challenges identified through a summit series, Fostering Collaboration, hosted by FuseSocial. From January to May of 2017, a group of community members working in recovery, joined by facilitators and key stakeholders from National Organizations, convened for 3 one-day summits to learn about the recovery process and initiate systems change to works towards a sustainable long-term vision for the community. During the 2 nd Summit, 9 challenge areas were identified and during the 3 rd session, 5 well-defined, practicable projects were developed in order to impact change in these areas. The 5 initial projects are: 1. There is a lack of leadership across all sectors and strategic coordination of services/programs, failing to maximize the available resources in the community 2. A lack of an environment that embraces, appreciates, values and acknowledges the energy, opinions, contributions and values of youth. 3. We all have a fundamental need to participate connect and have a sense of belonging to our community, in which we live work and play 4. We have a need to create an actionable psychosocial recovery plan with a shared vision that encourages us to work together 5. There is a lack of understanding of the reality of the community of Fort McMurray. There is a complex narrative that our community is caught up in. The WBVC, as a resource to support wildfire recovery and rebuild efforts, will work diligently with the project leaders to determine if volunteerism has a role to play in assisting impact/ change in these areas. For example, the centre will be participating in the 2017 Rotary Youth Rally on September 29 th to educate youth on the importance of volunteering and showcasing how it can be an invaluable tool moving forward both personally and professionally. Volunteering is ultimately about helping others and having a positive impact on the well-being of others and the community you live in. Furthermore, a culture of volunteerism makes our community stronger, richer and a better place to live and without volunteers, many nonprofits would cease to exist a detrimental consequence to the people served by those organizations and the community as a whole. There is considerable evidence to support the notion that volunteering promotes understanding between community groups and helps to build community social networks and cohesion. As this report succeeds in demonstrating is the WBVC s critical role in building community and supporting the recovery of our region. 10