Rooted in action – City hosts volunteerism learning series

The City of Medicine Hat is pleased to partner with Volunteer Alberta to host a free volunteerism learning series aimed at rejuvenating and educating the volunteer base in the community. The series is hosted by the City, facilitated by Volunteer Alberta, and made possible through funding from the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program.

The Rooted in Action - volunteerism learning series provides an opportunity to revitalize volunteer screening, volunteer applications, increase volunteer engagement, youth engagement and much more. It also offers volunteer-utilizing organizations a chance to collaborate with others, to learn about strategies that are working well and/or to assist with problem solving. Whether residents run a club, school programs, non-profits or groups, these sessions are for you.

The volunteerism learning series includes a total of five in-person and virtual workshops, each with a unique, relevant theme:

Volunteerism 101
Thursday, November 6 – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Webinar (Microsoft Teams)

Volunteer Screening
Monday, December 8 – 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Esplanade

Youth Engagement Matters
Thursday, January 15, 2026 – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Webinar (Microsoft Teams)

Mapping Youth Engagement Practices
Thursday, February 12, 2026 – 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Esplanade 

Learning to Unlearn Volunteerism
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Esplanade

Registration opens Wednesday, October 22, at 12 p.m. for all five sessions. Register on the event series page on Tixx.ca.

About the series

This five-part series harnesses key pillars of the City’s Community Well-Being Plan, Momentum, to focus on strengthening Medicine Hat’s social impact, volunteerism, and civic engagement.

In Volunteerism 101 and Volunteer Screening, participants will explore common processes with the support from Volunteer Alberta facilitators. They will evaluate and prioritize what will help them improve and reduce barriers to onboard volunteers.

Community well-being is linked to youth civic engagement and the organizations that facilitate that engagement. Youth Engagement Matters will discuss general practices and success stories, while Mapping Youth Engagement Practices will provide an opportunity to apply effective youth engagement strategies to recruit and retain youth.

Quotes

“In a city like ours, volunteers don't just help, they are the bridge between community vision and meaningful impact. A strong volunteer base in Medicine Hat isn't optional – it's foundational. It empowers local organizations, groups and strengthens social connection, and build resilience a true sense of belonging. We’re thrilled to welcome the team of Volunteer Alberta, and bring a dynamic learning series to Medicine Hat. They have been intentional and thoughtful in how they’ve tailored this series to our community.”

– Anabell Marroquin, Community Resource Worker, City of Medicine Hat

“Volunteer Alberta is excited to work alongside Medicine Hat as a collaborative partner in enhancing the community’s capacity for volunteerism and civic engagement. In the short term, we’ll be designing and delivering events and hands-on workshops for nonprofit and community organizations, as well as emerging leaders in volunteerism. These sessions are intended to strengthen the community’s ability to be inclusive, effective, and youth-friendly. In the long term, we hope to remain an ally to the many inspiring initiatives and organizations rooted in Medicine Hat. We’re grateful to be on this journey together.”

– Graeme Dearden, Manager, Learning & Inquiry, Volunteer Alberta

For media inquiries, please contact:
media@medicinehat.ca