Recognition

Recognizing volunteers is a task that every manager and coordinator of volunteers needs to think about - and usually the most difficult one to answer. There are no definitive solutions on how to shape your recognition event. Each gesture should be tailored to the volunteers you wish to honour.

In most cases, National Volunteer Week is the time in which most volunteers are formally recognized. However, informal recognition is just as important as formal. Managers of volunteers responsible for volunteer supervision are encouraged to undertake on-going methods of recognition of volunteer service on a regular basis throughout the year. These methods of informal recognition may range from simple '"Thank You's" to a concerted effort to include volunteers as full participants in program decision making and implementation.

There are many awards given each year to honour different aspects of volunteerism. Many are at a national or provincial level while others are available at your community level. For more information on what is available in your community, contact your local volunteer centre.