Volunteering

• Proportion of the population reporting volunteering (either formally or informally).
• Average volunteer hours in the past 12 months (overall, formal and informal).

This indicator is measured in the General Social Survey (GSS) - Giving, Volunteering and Participating. Survey respondents are asked:

In the past 12 months, did you do any of the following activities without pay on behalf of a group or an organization?

1. Door-to-door canvassing
2. Fundraising
3. Sit as a member of a committee or board
4. Teaching, educating or mentoring
5. Organize, supervise or coordinate activities or events
6. Office work, bookkeeping, administrative duties, or library work
7. Coach, referee or officiate
8. Counsel or provide advice
9. Provide health care or support including companionship
10. Collect, serve or deliver food or other goods
11. Work associated with the maintenance, repair or building of facilities or grounds
12. Volunteer driving
13. Provide help through first aid, fire-fighting, or search and rescue
14. Engage in activities aimed at conservation or protection of the environment or wildlife

• Yes
• No

In the past 12 months, did you do any other unpaid activities, not mentioned previously, on behalf of a group or an organization?

• Yes – Specify
• No

In the past 12 months, did you…

1. help anyone with tasks such as cooking, cleaning, gardening, maintenance work, painting, snow shovelling, or car repairs?
2. help anyone by doing any shopping, by driving or accompanying someone to the store or to an appointment?
3. help anyone with paperwork tasks such as writing letters, doing taxes, filling out forms, banking, paying bills or finding information?
4. provide anyone with health-related or personal care, such as emotional support, counselling, providing advice, visiting the elderly, or unpaid babysitting?
5. help anyone with unpaid teaching, coaching, tutoring, or assisting with reading?
6. help anyone in any other way, not mentioned previously and not on behalf of a group or an organization?

• Yes
• No

In the past 12 months, have you...

1. maintained a park or another public space, planted trees or repaired public facilities?
2. actively participated in any public meetings in which there was discussion of community affairs?
3. produced or disseminated information (online or elsewhere) to make others aware of an issue?
4. organized or coordinated a group or an event (such as a community gathering, a sporting or cultural activity, a religious celebration, a political event or a neighbourhood watch)?
5. helped develop an economic or social project for your community?
6. improved your community in any other way, not mentioned previously and not on behalf of a group or an organization?

• Yes
• No

Additionally, respondents are asked to report how many hours they spend on unpaid activities (formal and informal).

• General Social Survey (GSS) - Giving, Volunteering and Participating
  • Table 45-10-0039-01 – Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, by definition of volunteering and age group
  • Table 45-10-0040-01 – Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, by definition of volunteering and gender
  • Table 45-10-0041-01 – Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, by definition of volunteering and education
  • Table 45-10-0042-01 – Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, by definition of volunteering and labour force status
  • Table 45-10-0043-01 – Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, by definition of volunteering and family income
  • Table 45-10-0044-01 – Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, by definition of volunteering and presence of children in household
  • Table 45-10-0045-01 – Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, by definition of volunteering and religious attendance
  • Table 45-10-0046-01 – Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, by definition of volunteering and marital status

Other Statistic Canada surveys provide insight into volunteering, but do not include the full questions above. These include:

• Canadian Social Survey (CSS)
• Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)
• Canadian Housing Survey (CHS)
• General Social Survey (GSS) - Canadians at Work and Home
• General Social Survey (GSS) - Canadians' Safety (Victimization)
• General Social Survey (GSS) - Social Identity
• Time Use Survey

• Volunteering by Canadians in 2018 (Statistics Canada - Infographics, April 23, 2021)
• Infographic: General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (Statistics Canada - Infographics, April 8, 2015)

• Volunteering counts: Formal and informal contributions of Canadians in 2018 (Insights on Canadian Society, April 23, 2021)
• Volunteering in Canada: Challenges and opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID-19: A data perspective, June 26, 2020)

Many Statistic Canada surveys, including selected iterations of the Canadian Social Survey, ask a version of the following related question:

Last week, was your main activity working at a paid job or business, looking for paid work, going to school, caring for children, household work, retired or something else?

Was it:

• Working at a paid job or business
• Vacation from paid work
• Looking for paid work
• Going to school, including vacation from school
• Caring for children
• Household work
• Retired
• Maternity, paternity or parental leave
• Long term illness
• Volunteering
• Care-giving other than for children
• Other