Volunteer at Sinai Health

Sinai Health volunteers offer compassionate support to patients and visitors.

Volunteers are valued members of the Sinai Health team. They play a very important role in creating a welcoming environment for patients and caregivers while they are in the hospital.  

Our volunteers come from many different backgrounds. They are committed to providing compassionate and inclusive support to patients and their families. They enjoy working with others and always strive to learn and improve.

Volunteer requirements

Before you can start volunteering, you need to meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least 16 years old
  • Be a resident of Canada for at least one year
  • Be fluent in English with excellent written and spoken communication skills
  • Complete a health screening, including screening for tuberculosis, immunity screening for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis B (you are responsible for any associated costs)
  • Attend a general hospital orientation
  • Complete a set of online education courses
  • Purchase a volunteer uniform and badge

Please make sure you are able to commit to a volunteer placement before you apply. It is important that you are able to attend your volunteer shifts. If you anticipate not being able to fulfill your volunteer commitment due to study workload or other commitments, you may wish to wait to apply at a different time when your schedule is less full.

Fran, a volunteer at Sinai Health
Patients have life experiences – jobs, family histories, and accomplishments – and it’s an honour to get to know and support them. I think of the caregivers who cannot be there, and what I do is on their behalf.
Fran Turner, Mealtime Assistance Program (MAP) volunteer, Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital

Current volunteer opportunities

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MAUVE (Maximizing Aging Using Volunteer Engagement) Volunteers 

MAUVE on the Units

The MAUVE program on in-hospital units is looking for dedicated volunteers for the following shifts:

Available Shifts

  • Tuesdays: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Fridays: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  

Volunteers will have the chance to interact with patients on the units. They will support care teams with non-clinical duties including one-to-one bedside activities, friendly visits, mealtime support and more.

Skills and abilities

Ideal candidates:

  • Ability to interact with older adults with cognitive impairments
  • Have personal or professional life skills interacting with the older adult population
  • Comfortable communicating with care team

How to apply

Please email [email protected] with the following details:

  • A small blurb about yourself
  • An updated resume
  • Availability


We require a commitment of a minimum of six months. Due to high volume of interest, only selected applicants will be contacted.

MAUVE (Maximizing Aging Utilizing Volunteer Engagement) Emergency Department

We are looking for dedicated volunteers with an interest in working with older adults.

Ideal candidates will be mature students or persons with life skills. They will have experience interacting with older adult patients either at a personal or professional level.

Available Shifts:

  • Monday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Tuesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Friday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Skills and abilities

Ideal candidates:

  • Ability to interact with older adults with cognitive impairments 
  • Comfortable communicating with care team  
  • Comfortable working in a dynamic and high pressure environment
  • Have great problem solving ability while in working in ambiguous situations

How to apply

Please email your interest to [email protected] with the following details:

  1. A small blurb about yourself 
  2. An updated resume
  3. Your availability

Please note, due to high volume of interest, only selected applicants will be contacted. 

Music volunteers

We are currently recruiting skilled piano, guitar and ukulele volunteers to play on the inpatient units. Shifts are once a week for 2 hours.

Skills and abilities

  • The ability to maintain professional boundaries and follow safety protocols
  • Exemplary attendance, even during times of heavy work or school commitments

How to apply

Please email [email protected] with the following details:

  • An updated resume
  • Your availability

Due to the high volume of interest, only selected applicants will be contacted. 

MAUVE volunteers 

MAUVE on the Units

The Maximizing Aging Utilizing Volunteer Engagement program on the inpatient units is looking for dedicated volunteers at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital for the following shifts:

Available Shifts

  • Monday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Volunteers will have an opportunity for direct patient interaction while supporting our inpatient units. Volunteers will support the care team with non-clinical duties including one-to-one bedside activities, friendly visits, mealtime support and more.

Skills and abilities

Ideal candidates:

  • Are comfortable interacting with geriatric patients with cognitive impairments 
  • Have personal or professional life skills in interacting with the older population
  • Are comfortable interacting with the staff team

How to apply 

Please email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Your resume
  • Your availability
  • A small blurb about who you are

We require a commitment of at least six months. Due to the high volume of interest, only selected applicants will be contacted.

Mealtime Assistance Program (M.A.P.) volunteers

M.A.P. on the units

The Mealtime Assistance Program is looking for dedicated volunteers at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital for the following shifts:

Available Shifts  

Any week day Monday to Friday

  • Breakfast: 7:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
  • Lunch: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Dinner: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Volunteers have an opportunity to acquire direct patient support skills while interacting on the units. Volunteers support the care team with non-clinical duties by assisting one-to-one with bedside feedings, helping the patient with meal tray set-up and or verbal encouragement. 

Skills and abilities

Ideal candidates:

  • Are comfortable interacting with patients with  varying cognitive impairments
  • Have personal or professional life skills in a caregiver role
  • Are patient and has strong inter-personal skills
  • Are comfortable interacting with the staff team

How to apply 

Please email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Your resume
  • Your availability
  • A small blurb about who you are

We require a commitment of at least six months. Due to the high volume of interest, only selected applicants will be contacted.

Frequently asked questions

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Transportation to and from volunteering is the responsibility of the volunteer. We do not provide funding for transportation. 

Yes, volunteers are given free parking.

All volunteers are required to wear a uniform and photo ID badge while on duty. You are responsible for the costs associated with the uniform.

Volunteer shifts are Monday to Friday (morning, afternoon, and evening) and limited shifts on Saturday-Sunday (morning and afternoon).

All volunteers commit to a minimum of 70 hours of service. Any hours accumulated by volunteering at Sinai Health may be used towards your secondary school volunteer requirement, but you will need to complete the full 70 hours of service to have your hours verified.

No, we do not offer research or shadowing opportunities.

Please be aware that we do not offer specific volunteer roles that provide the opportunity to practice or gain experience within your specific profession. Volunteers do not perform tasks that are performed by a licensed or regulated profession such as physicians, physiotherapists, nurses and lab technicians.

Volunteering at Sinai Health does not lead to a paid position. For all career opportunities, please visit our Careers section.

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