Popular Canadian author Will Ferguson will be the headliner at the Volunteer Centre Guelph/Wellington Time to Give Community Breakfast. The event is all about volunteer appreciation - a big 'thank you' for all they do.
It happens on April 28, 7 — 9 a.m. at the Delta Hotel by Marriott Guelph Conference Centre, 50 Stone Rd. Tickets are $55 and are available at Eventbrite.ca
The exceedingly smart and witty Ferguson is much loved for his many books about Canadian history and culture, and for novels with a more serious perspective.
His first book, the ironically titled Why I Hate Canadians brought him national fame back in the late-90s, and his work has been in the public eye ever since.
He is a three-time Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour winner, and won the Giller Prize for his 2012 novel 419: A Novel, a fictional account of the international Internet scam with origins in Nigeria. The dark novel was an abrupt leap out of the humour writer category for the Calgary-based author.
During the breakfast, Ferguson will talk about how volunteering shapes our perception of what it means to be Canadian.
The event is a celebration of National Volunteer Week (April 23-29), an annual “opportunity to formally recognize the caring, spirit, leadership and more that volunteers contribute to the fabric of our communities and country,” said Kim Cusimano, communications and program coordinator for the Volunteer Centre.
Since February, the organization has been engaged in a re-branding/renaming process, which includes the crafting of a new logo. The new name and logo will be unveiled at the breakfast.
Cusimano said the nonprofit sector in Ontario consists of over 55,000 organizations that enlist the help of millions of volunteers in a variety of capacities.
“Having a dedicated week to celebrate helps to collectively message the importance of volunteer engagement, and bring attention to the incredible work of volunteers of all ages,” Cusimano said in an email response to questions.
“From our very young to the wisdom of our elders, each person has the ability to shape the community that they live, work and play in,” she added. “That is impactful, that makes a difference.”
While there has been a decline in volunteerism across the country, Canadians can still celebrate the fact that there are more than 12.7 million volunteers nationally sharing about two billion hours of their time annually, Cusimano added, quoting Volunteer Canada numbers.
“The more communities can work together to share their stories and help others to engage in a meaningful volunteer experience, the more connected we can become, and essentially build healthy, resilient communities,” she said.
Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities can connect with the Volunteer Centre. Find it at www.volunteergw.ca, or visit the office at 46 Cork Street E. in the downtown.
