Take part · volunteers
Nine roles.Two days.
Gates, kitchen street, stages, information, the children's zone, waste, accessibility, parking, build. Put your name down now and the coordinator writes to you when the shifts open.
September 2027 · exact dates to be confirmed · subject to permits
Pick the one that sounds like you.
Every role gets a briefing before the day and a coordinator on the radio during it. Swapping roles across two shifts is normal.
Gates and welcome
The first face of the festival: counting people in, the site map and the passport, the same six questions answered with the same good humour.
Kitchen street
Queues, table turnover, water points, aisles kept clear for deliveries and wheelchairs. Cooking stays with the certified crews.
Stages
Front of stage and backstage: groups escorted from the green room, viewing areas held clear, water for performers.
Information
The desk everyone walks to: times, lost property, lost people, which pavilion serves what. Second languages work hardest here.
Children's zone
Crafts, games, passport stamps, a safe play area. This role needs a vulnerable-sector police check.
Waste and clean-up
Sorting stations, bin runs, the sweep at the end of each day.
Accessibility
Clearing what stands in a visitor's way: routes, seating, the quiet zone, the accessible queue.
Parking and bike valet
Arrivals, the bike valet, accessible spaces kept free and emergency lanes open.
Build and strike
The day before and the evening after: tents, tables, signage, fencing, and all of it back into the trucks.
Shifts and what they ask.
- Four-hour blocks across the operating day, two days running, with a build day in front and a strike at the end. Two blocks is a good weekend; one is welcome.
- Age. Most roles open at 14. The roles that need a police check open at 18, because the check cannot be issued to a minor. The floors get a final review with the site licence.
- Training on safety and accessibility before the badge is printed.
- A police check only for the roles that need one. Wait for the coordinator's letter before you apply: with it the check costs you nothing.
Questions.
When are the shifts?
On the September weekend, once its dates are set. Everybody on the list hears the shift calendar first.
Do I need to speak French?
No, but it helps at the gates and the information desk. Tell us every language you speak.
Can I volunteer for my community's pavilion?
Yes. Pavilion crews are recruited by the community itself; tell us and we will pass your name on.
Does it count for school volunteer hours?
Yes. The hours letter covers Ontario's 40 hours of community involvement for the diploma.