Questions
Volunteer hours, answered
The questions high school students and parents ask us most about the 40 community involvement hours and how this site works.
How many volunteer hours do you need to graduate high school in Ontario?
Every Ontario high school student needs 40 hours of community involvement to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. You can start collecting them in the summer before Grade 9.
Do the hours I log on Volunteer North York count toward my 40?
Not on their own. The hours you log here are your own record and count toward the leaderboard, but your school board has its own community involvement form. Bring that form to the organization and ask them to sign it when you finish.
Where can a 14 or 15 year old volunteer in North York?
Most volunteer postings ask for 16 or 18, which is why this site exists. Every listing here shows its minimum age before you apply, and some start at 15 or younger. They include food sorting, events, tutoring and online admin roles.
Can I volunteer online or from home?
Yes. Some organizations offer roles that are done entirely online, such as admin, writing and helping with webinars. Those listings say Remote where the address would be, so where you live does not matter.
Can I volunteer on weekends, PA days or holidays?
Yes. Each listing shows when it happens: some are weekly shifts, some are one-day events, and some are flexible and arranged with the organization around school.
Is Volunteer North York free?
Yes. It is free for students and free for organizations. There is no contract and nothing to pay.
How do I apply for a volunteer placement?
Make a profile, find a listing that fits your age and schedule, and apply. The organization accepts or declines you on the site. A few organizations also ask you to book your shift on their own website, and their listing says so.
How do I get my volunteer hours signed off?
After you volunteer, log your hours on the site and the organization confirms them. For your diploma, also take your school board’s community involvement form to the organization to sign.
Are the organizations on Volunteer North York checked?
Yes. We review every organization before it can post. Registered charities give their charity registration number, and for other organizations we look at their website, address and contact details. Organizations also have to use two-step sign-in.
I run an organization. How do I post a volunteer role for students?
Sign up as an organization for free. Once we have reviewed you, you can post roles and choose which students to accept. If you would rather we wrote the listing for you, email us and we will set it up.
Where else can I find volunteer hours in Toronto?
Your school’s guidance office keeps its own list, and Volunteer Toronto lists opportunities across the city, so check each one’s minimum age. Volunteer North York only lists roles that take high school students.
Still have a question?
Email us at volunteernorthyorkbusiness@gmail.com. We read everything.