We have an incredible array of volunteer positions that you can sign up for at our festivals and events:
Arts & Crafts Assistant
The Arts & Craft Assistant supports and enhances the delivery of various programmes and activities.
Responsibilities include:
- Work as part of a team
- Organize hands-on activities
- Prepare materials and maintain a workspace
- Assist children in making their creative projects within the programme
- Assist with the set-up and clean-up of workstations
Camera Operator
The Camera Operator plays a crucial role in compiling video recordings for the Literary archives.
Responsibilities include:
- Setting-up the video camera on the tripod and making sure that it is ready to record before the event
- Begin filming before the reading starts and resume after the intermission
- Other duties as assigned
Education Programme Assistant
The Education Programme Assistant supports and enhances the delivery of the Educational Programmes for School Visits. Qualifications required include: an interest in education and a willingness to deal with children of all ages. An academic background would be preferred, but not necessary.
Responsibilities include:
- Setting-up the required programme in assigned room
- Prepare materials for programme
- Assist the teacher in presenting an organized education programme that stresses participation and hands-on activities
- Assist children with hands-on activities
- Assist in rearranging the assigned room after completion of the programme
Front of House Assistant
Front of House volunteers assist and support the effective running of the event by monitoring the audience that enters the venue. Front of House volunteers are the point of contact for the audience and will direct audience members and inform them about the performances.
Responsibilities include:
a) Ushers:
- Open doors when directed by staff
- Direct audience members to available seats in the venue
b) Ticket takers:
- Take tickets at the outer doors of the venue
- Remain by the doors to welcome and direct latecomers
- Remind ticket holders to keep their ticket stubs should they exit the venue before the event commences or during the intermission
- Remain at the doors to re-check ticket stubs during intermission
Gallery Attendant
The Gallery Attendant directs gallery visitors through the various exhibitions at the York Quay Centre.
Responsibilities include:
- Welcome and direct visitors around the gallery
- Monitor the artworks and/or installation, making sure that no one touches any art objects
- Monitor that no food or drink is permitted inside of the gallery
- Answer any inquiries about the exhibition, distribute artist statements and/or artist biographies
Hospitality Suite Assistant
Hospitality Suite volunteers provide superior customer service to ensure that the Hospitality Suite is a place where authors or artists can relax, have refreshments and socialize with each other.
Responsibilities include:
- Prepare food trays
- Replenish refreshment area
- Pick-up dirty glassware and dishes
- Wash dishes and ashtrays
- Assist the staff with the preparation of marketing materials including cutting out inserts, and folding programmes
- Tidy the Hospitality Suite at the end of the evening
- Welcome and direct visitors around the Hospitality Suite
Information Host
The Information Host welcomes and promotes the various programmes, activities and events to the general public on behalf of Harbourfront Centre.
Responsibilities include:
- Welcome and direct visitors around the site
- Answer any inquiries about the programmes, activities and events
- Provide interested individuals with Event brochures and/or What's On pamphlets
- Promote the current and upcoming activities at Harbourfront Centre
- Direct visitors to the appropriate staff for security and emergency situations
Membership/Merchandise Assistant
The Membership/Merchandise volunteer performs the important task of selling merchandise/memberships in support of the Literary Programme. All revenues generated from sales go directly to the Literary Programme.
Responsibilities include:
- Set up the membership/merchandise table
- Display the materials
- Welcome and inform visitors about memberships and available merchandise
- Fill out a separate membership sheet for each purchase
- Accept payment for books and memberships
- At the end of the evening, tally all the sales, sign the sales summary and membership summary sheets
Office Support Assistant
The Office Support volunteer provides superior service and office administration skills to enhance and promote Harbourfront Centre.
Responsibilities include:
- Input specific research into the appropriate database or computer
- Call various organizations in order to update files and/or records
- Provide clerical support including filing, photocopying and typing
- Provide office support including preparing mail outs, compiling letters, printing labels and stuffing and sealing envelopes
Site Decorator Assistant
The Site Decorator volunteer provides a decorating service that is an integral part of the event or programme, both as a visual element and also as part of the overall creative concept.
Responsibilities include:
- Prepare site decoration materials
- Install the site decor throughout the York Quay Centre
- Dismantle the site decor after the completion of the event
- Secure the site decoration in their appropriate storage area
Ticket Seller/Ticket Taker
The Ticket Seller/Ticket Taker volunteer provides a service to enhance and support the programming at Harbourfront Centre.
Responsibilities include:
- Count the cash float prior to selling any tickets
- Sell tickets for various workshops outside of the venue
- Record the number of tickets sold at the end of each shift
- Reconcile the cash float at the end of each shift and mark down on the sheets provided the number of tickets sold and the revenue that was generated
- Return the cash float (with the start amount) to the next volunteer on shift or return to the Harbourfront Staff person
- Take tickets at the door of each venue
- Hand over collected tickets and/or ticket stubs to the Harbourfront Staff person at the end of the shift
- Direct patrons without tickets to the ticket booth
Volunteer Venue Coordinator
The Volunteer Venue Coordinator performs the important task of coordinating the volunteers at each venue. The Volunteer Venue Coordinator works closely under the supervision of a Harbourfront staff member, and is responsible for one venue per shift.
Responsibilities include:
- Welcome volunteers and check them off in the volunteer schedule
- Distribute TTC tickets and parking passes to the volunteers
- Distribute volunteer badges to the volunteers
- Ensure that the volunteers are set up properly at their stations
- Distribute the cash float and give instructions for the evening
- Answer any questions that might be posed by volunteers
- Collect cash floats, membership applications, volunteer badges to hand over to the staff person
Workshop Assistant
The Workshop Assistant provides a service to enhance and support the workshops or demonstrations at Harbourfront Centre.
Responsibilities include:
- Greet participants and/or take tickets at the door of the venue
- Direct participants to where they can secure their belongings or leave their coats
- Assist the instructor in facilitating the workshop or managing the crowd volumes
- Monitor the workshop and make sure that all the workshop materials are returned to their proper places
- Assist the instructor in distributing of materials or samples to the patrons
- Assist the instructor in any clean-up or in preparation for the next session
- Any other duties that may be required
* All photos are courtesy of Tom Bilenkey
