Current Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Veterinary Technicians

Toronto Wildlife Centre’s Veterinary Hospital admits and treats 6,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals each year. As a wildlife veterinary technician volunteer you will work directly with the veterinary department to help provide medical care for a variety of native Ontario species. This includes birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. This role is ideal for those who have experience working with wild animals as well as those who are new to the field and are interested in developing new skills.

What you’ll do

• Participate in daily rounds with the veterinary team
• Assist with procedures such as radiography, splinting, anesthesia and surgeries.
• Assist with fluid therapy and the administration of medications
• Perform in-house lab work
• Assist with hospital maintenance
• Learn about wildlife animal care and rehabilitation

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Speak and write English fluently
• Registered Veterinary Technician in good standing
• Up-to-date tetanus vaccination
• Proof of protective rabies titre

Time Commitment

Veterinary Technician Volunteers are asked to commit to one scheduled shift of eight hours per week for a minimum of six months.

Shift: 10:00am to 6:00pm

Training

On-the-job training is provided at Toronto Wildlife Centre. You will never be working alone, and your independence and responsibilities will increase over time as you become more comfortable with the position.

Preference is given to volunteers who can commit to 6 months or longer and are available for their regularly scheduled weekly shift.

If you have any questions about being a Toronto Wildlife Centre Veterinary Technician Volunteer, email us at [email protected] .

To Apply, please email [email protected] a copy of your resume and in your email provide us with your school, program name, graduation year, and if you are licensed/registered in practice in Ontario. Please also list any specializations and clinical experience you have include if you have worked with exotic species.

Volunteer Wildlife Veterinarians

Toronto Wildlife Centre is an accredited veterinary hospital that admits and treats 6,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals each year. As a volunteer wildlife veterinarian you will work directly with TWC’s veterinary team to help provide medical care for a variety of native Ontario species. This includes birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. This role is ideal for those who have experience working with wildlife as well as those who are interested in learning more about wildlife medicine.

What you’ll do

• Participate in daily rounds with the veterinary team
• Assist with physical examinations of patients
• Assist with diagnostic testing and interpretation including imaging and bloodwork
• Assist with procedures such as wound management and splinting
• Assist with anesthesia and surgical procedures
• Assist with patient medical plans
• Maintain medical records and logs
• Learn about wildlife animal care and rehabilitation

Requirements

• Speak and write English fluently
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in good standing
• Interest in wildlife medicine
• Up-to-date tetanus vaccination
• Proof of protective rabies titre

Time Commitment

Volunteer Wildlife Veterinarians are ideally asked to commit to one scheduled shift of eight hours per week for a minimum of six months.

Early Shift: 8:00am to 4:00pm

Late Shift: 10:00am to 6:00pm

Training

On-the-job training is provided at Toronto Wildlife Centre. You will never be working alone, and your independence and responsibilities will increase over time as you become more comfortable with the position.

Preference is given to volunteers who can commit to 6 months or longer and are available for their regularly scheduled weekly shift.

If you have any questions about being a Toronto Wildlife Centre Volunteer Wildlife Veterinarians, email us at [email protected] .

To Apply, please email [email protected] a copy of your resume and in your email provide us with your school, program name, graduation year, and if you are licensed/registered in practice in Ontario. Please also list any specializations and clinical experience you have include if you have worked with exotic species.

Volunteer Videographers

From filming wildlife rescues to life-saving surgeries, Volunteer Videographers will play a vital role assisting the Communications Team with capturing footage for Toronto Wildlife Centre’s (TWC’s) YouTube channel. Ideal candidates will have a passion for wildlife, professional quality experience, their own equipment, and be comfortable with on-the-go shooting, being on-call to film, and interviewing staff, other volunteers and the public to help build compelling narratives. Volunteer Videographers will maintain a high standard of practice in accordance with TWC’s mission and branding guidelines.

Location

Downsview Park (North York) and Rouge National Urban Park (TWC East at Steeles Avenue East and Markham Road. This site is NOT transit accessible at this time and volunteers will be expected to have their own vehicle and be willing to commute). Travel to other areas of the GTA as necessary.

What You’ll do

Reporting to the Communications Manager, Volunteer Videographers will work closely with the Multimedia Coordinator to film assignments and remain on-call for film coverage during their shifts. This entails communicating and working with TWC’s teams to carry out filming at the centre’s two locations, along with off-site rescues, releases and more. Volunteers are responsible for vetting, uploading and organizing all usable footage at TWC (an editing station will be available).

Time Commitment

Saturday and/or Sunday (some occasional Fridays), 6-hour shifts, with a minimum commitment of 3 months. Additional hours may be needed, depending on film assignments.

Requirements

• Provide on-call filming to support Communications Team assignments
• Demonstrated experience filming professional video content
• Must be willing to use own camera and equipment.
• Experience with a variety of shooting styles, including “run & gun” and documentary filming. Detailed knowledge of lighting and framing practices
• Strong attention to detail, with exceptional ability to organize and vet footage
• Excellent communication skills (proficient in English) and confidence speaking with/interviewing staff, volunteers and members of the public
• Ability to work well in a team setting as well as complete tasks independently with minimal supervision. Ability to learn quickly
• Driver’s license/access to vehicle for travel to off-site filming opportunities. Must be willing to drive to various locations in the GTA.
• Knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro; video editing skills
• Knowledge of local wildlife; must be comfortable filming sick and injured wildlife

Assets

• Education/professional background in film or broadcast journalism
• Experience filming for YouTube/webseries
• Previous volunteer/work experience in similar capacity

Training

Each Volunteer Videographer will complete a minimum of three training shifts, overseen by the Communications Manager and/or Multimedia Coordinator.

To apply: Please email a short cover letter, CV/resume and a link to relevant samples of videography work to [email protected] and include “Volunteer Videographer” in the subject line. We sincerely thank all applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please no inquiries. Application Deadline: Open until filled.

Education Assistant

Toronto Wildlife Centre’s Education team provides presentations and workshops to schools and community groups for members of the public of all ages. We focus on the key issues affecting wildlife in cities, bust common myths and misconceptions about wild animals, discuss the work we do as a wildlife rehabilitation centre, and share actions people of all ages can take to help! Staff and volunteers also attend fairs and other community events where members of the public can drop by our booth to learn more about TWC and our wild neighbours.

What You’ll do

• Assist in program delivery during educational workshops, including but not limited to facilitating activities with children and youth (e.g. running a learning station, assisting students during activities, leading small groups during outdoor sessions)
• Help in the set up and tear down of workshops/booths
• Pick up/return education materials to TWC
• Handle TWC’s education ambassador Hot Dog the snapping turtle, following proper protocols and ensuring safety for all audience members
• Speak with members of the public at TWC’s booth at fairs and community events; direct people to where they can find information on any specific inquiries
• Collect donations and sell merchandise at community events and fairs
• Provide feedback to education staff regarding audience participation, suggestions, questions, etc.

Time Commitment

• Willing to commit to a minimum of 6 events throughout a one-year period (presentations and events can run from 2-8 hours); volunteers who fulfill this requirement will receive a certificate of completion
• Sign up for events that fit your schedule; emails are sent out to all education volunteers and volunteers are scheduled on a first come first served basis based on what events they are interested in
• Please note that most workshops and booths cannot run without the help of volunteers. Volunteers should only sign up if they are 100% sure they can attend

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Fluent in English (additional languages spoken an asset!)
• Experience leading and engaging children or a keen interest in developing skills in this area
• Excellent communication skills and confidence speaking with members of the public; strong ability to maintain composure and professionalism during difficult conversations
• Previous volunteer/work experience in similar capacity is an asset
• Able to lift and carry up to 30lbs
• Candidates are required to complete and pass a vulnerable sector screen prior to signing up to any volunteers shifts. Reduced rates may be available

Training

Volunteers must attend a virtual 1-hour orientation session. Training specific to each event will be provided on a case-by-case basis; details will be provided in advance of the event

Wildlife Care (Rouge Park)

As a Wildlife Care Volunteer at Toronto Wildlife Centre, you will be making important contributions of time, hard work and compassion towards assisting staff with the daily care and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. This role is extremely supportive in nature, with a great emphasis on cleaning and husbandry – tasks that form a very important foundation for excellent wildlife rehabilitative care! Volunteer responsibilities will increase based on demonstrated commitment and skill progress. Experienced volunteers will be able to work with increasingly complicated species and tasks to provide opportunities for learning and advancement. This role is ideal for those with prior experience working with wild animals as well as those who are new to the field and are looking for experience in animal welfare and care.

Location

Toronto Wildlife Centre’s Rouge Park location (TWC East) in Scarborough

Closest main intersection: Steeles Avenue East and Markham Road. This site is NOT transit accessible at this time. Volunteers will be expected to have their own vehicle or have access to a ride to get to and from their shift. *Note: this site is currently open to staff and volunteers only*

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Follow diet charts and prepare daily meals
• Clean and set up indoor and outdoor enclosures based on species-specific requirements
• Accurately complete patient charts and perform wellness checks monitor patient vitals 
• Assist with supportive chores such as sweeping, mopping, dishes, laundry and cage washing
• Carefully follow cleaning and disinfection protocols
• Some handling of patients when required

*Please note that direct hands-on contact with patients is kept to an absolute minimum in an effort to manage stress levels. It is important to be aware the responsibilities of Wildlife Care volunteers are centered around cleaning and supportive chores – all of which are critical for an animal’s rehabilitation journey!

Commitment and Scheduling

Wildlife Care volunteers are scheduled for a minimum of one 4 hour shift per week. Due to the responsibilities of volunteers and the amount of training required, this position requires a minimum commitment of one year (12 months). 

Wildlife Care shift times:

9:00am-1:00pm

1:00pm-5:00pm

Skills, Strengths and Assets for the Wildlife Care Role

• High degree of reliability
• Good physical health (this role is active and you should expect to be on your feet and performing moderate labour intensive activities each week) and ability to work in all weather conditions – a great deal of outdoor work will be required year round. 
• Possess a strong comprehension of English and have good communication skills
• Dedicated work ethic and strong detail orientation skills
• Work well independently or in a small group
• Patience and flexibility
• Prior experience working with or caring for animals is a strong asset but is not necessary
• Comfortable and confident working with a variety of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles
• Must be comfortable handling meat and feeder species (such as frozen mice, live mealworms, smelt etc.) for diet preparations

Additional Requirements of the Position

• Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age or older
• Tetanus vaccination mandatory (from within the last 10 years)
• Payment of $25 onboarding fee
• Access to reliable private transportation (site is not transit accessible)

NOTE ABOUT RABIES VACCINATION: Though highly recommended, the rabies vaccination is not required to be considered for this position. This vaccination would be necessary (along with providing an up-to-date titre test) for those volunteers wishing to gain experience working with rabies vector species. Non-vaccinated volunteers may experience limited task diversity at times due to the greater RVS patient load at this specific location. 

Support and Training

All Wildlife Care volunteers will begin with completing online basic skills training, all additional training will take place in-person on their volunteer shifts. Volunteers will always be supervised and supported by a team of wildlife rehabilitation staff members and will work alongside experienced volunteers.

Additional questions can be directed to Toronto Wildlife Centre’s Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] 

Carpentry Volunteers

Toronto Wildlife Centre is looking for skilled volunteers with experience in carpentry to assist in a variety of projects from cage construction to general repairs around our centre. Assets also include skills in electrical, plumbing or painting work. This position may be ideal for volunteers who would like to contribute to wildlife rehabilitation and are unable to commit to a regular shift. ***Weekday shifts only***

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Some demonstrated experience in one of the following fields: carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting or other handy work
• Familiarity and comfort using power tools
• Interest in and respect for the needs of wild animal
• Non-profit volunteer experience is an asset

Time commitment

Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to train volunteers in trades, skills or vocations they do not already possess.

Wildlife Nursery Assistants (Rouge Park)

Summer is the busiest season at Toronto Wildlife Centre, as we admit hundreds of orphaned animals. Being too young to care for themselves, they need to be hand-fed every few hours throughout the day. As a Wildlife Nursery Assistant, you will specialize in caring for these young patients until they are old enough to feed themselves, with an emphasis on caring for orphaned baby squirrels.

There are two main seasons of squirrel admissions, which will make up the majority of the Wildlife Nursery Assistant position. There is a relatively quiet period between the two squirrel seasons during which Nursery Assistants will be trained to care for orphaned cottontail rabbits, mallard ducklings, and other species.

What you’ll do

• Hand feed orphaned wildlife (e.g. eastern grey and red squirrels, chipmunks)
• Provide care (including monitoring, feeding and weighing) to patients
• Clean animal cages and do laundry to provide safe and clean housing
• Help maintain the wildlife hospital and rehabilitation facilities

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Interest in, and respect for, the unique needs of wild animals
• Strong comprehension of English and the ability to follow written directions
• Patience for patients who may be fussy or reluctant to feed
• Strong attention to detail
• Non-profit volunteer experience is an asset

Time commitment

Wildlife Nursery Assistants must commit to one scheduled shift of 4 hours each week for the duration of the summer baby season (typically late April through October). The shift schedules are:

Training

All training necessary to become a Wildlife Nursery Assistant will be provided. In this role, you will:

• Provide critical care for orphaned animals
• Help our the patients grow and mature towards their eventual release into the wild
• Gain unique hands-on experience with wild animals
• Make new friends and be part of a cohesive team
• Observe and assist in various rehabilitation procedures
• If you are interested in becoming a Wildlife Care Volunteer, the Wildlife Nursery Assistant program provides an outstanding foundation for that role

If you have any questions about being a Wildlife Nursery Assistant, email us here.

Volunteer Drivers

Every day in the GTA, countless animals become involved in situations that require immediate attention. The majority of volunteer drivers are involved in transporting sick, injured or orphaned wild animals from across the GTA and beyond to Toronto Wildlife Centre’s wildlife hospital. Experienced and interested volunteer drivers also have the opportunity to be involved in wild animal releases.

What you’ll do

• Collect wild animals that have been contained from throughout the GTA and transport them into the care of Toronto Wildlife Centre
• Respond to reports taken by our Hotline by driving to the scene of an incident and work with staff in assessing the situation
• Transport animals from Toronto Wildlife Centre to other wildlife rehabilitators in Ontario
• Make general driving trips that will assist Toronto Wildlife Centre with their daily logistical needs (i.e. Pick up of supplies or donations)
• Transport rehabilitated animals to the area where they will be released
• Volunteer Drivers may also be required to assist with the twice weekly transportation of supplies and patients between TWC’s two locations (Downsview Park and Rouge Park)

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Access to a vehicle Full Ontario G license
• Strong English comprehension
• A cell phone and access to a map of the GTA
• Volunteers are required to attend an information session at Toronto Wildlife Centre with the volunteer coordinator
• Up-to-date tetanus vaccination
• Non-profit volunteer experience is an asset

Time commitment

Volunteer drivers operate based on their availability and generally do not have set hours for volunteering. Before getting started, we ask that drivers tell us the times they are most frequently available to donate their time. When a situation arises that requires a Driver, we contact all volunteers in the area whose schedule indicates they might be able to help.

Because of this system, drivers are not asked to commit to a set number of volunteer hours per week and are free to decide how often they would like to help out, though we do ask that you commit to at least 1 drive per month. Volunteer driving is flexible enough to fit almost any schedule and appeals to all sorts of individuals from the recently retired to regular GTA commuters.

Location

Volunteer Drivers mainly operate within the GTA but occasionally situations arise that require travel to much further locations. We encourage Drivers to let us know if they make regular trips outside of the GTA (to the cottage, workplace, family visits, etc.) or if they are willing to drive over long distances.

If you have any questions about being a Toronto Wildlife Centre Driver, email us here.

Wildlife Hotline Volunteers

Toronto Wildlife Centre’s Wildlife Hotline handles more than 30,000 calls per year and up to 200 calls a day during the busy spring and summer seasons. Volunteers play an integral role in the function of the hotline by transcribing wildlife emergency messages into our database, assisting visitors to the centre, ensuring that situations of concern are dealt with immediately, and supporting hotline staff.

What you’ll do

• Transcribe phone messages and accurately enter information into the hotline database.
• Assist in admitting sick, injured and orphaned wildlife.
• Filing and administration.
• Assist with donation drop-offs including gathering donor information and inventory of items.
• Call TWC supporters for donor thank-yous (script will be provided)
• Educate visitors about TWC and show them wild patients through our viewing windows.
• Note: New volunteers will not be calling back members of the public that leave messages about sick, injured and orphaned wildlife; however, training in this area may be possible over time if volunteer demonstrates interest and capacity to contribute in this area.

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Speak and write English fluently
• Intermediate computer skills (ability to use a database, search engines, basic understanding of Microsoft Word and Excel)
• Ability to listen and type simultaneously
• Ability to type 40-50 words per minute
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced office environment
• Up-to-date tetanus vaccination
• Non-profit volunteer experience is an asset

Time Commitment

Hotline Volunteers are asked to commit to one scheduled shift of five hours per week for a minimum of four months. There are two possible shifts each day:

Morning: 8:30am to 1:30pm

Afternoon: 1:30pm – 6:30pm

* Spring and summer are the busiest seasons at TWC and hotline staff rely heavily on volunteers assistance to stay on top of the high volume of calls received during this time. While we understand that time off is sometimes needed, we ask that you commit to no more than 3 missed shifts between the beginning of April and the end of September*

Training

On-the-job training is provided at the centre with a Hotline staff member.

Preference is given to volunteers who can commit to 6 months or longer (April to September) and are available for their regularly scheduled weekly shift.

If you have any questions about being a Toronto Wildlife Centre Hotline Volunteer, email us here.

Wildlife Care Volunteers

During the busy spring and summer seasons, there can be upwards of 300 wild animals in care at Toronto Wildlife Centre at one time. Wildlife rehabilitation volunteers play an integral role in the rehabilitation of patients by providing care to the animals and assisting with facility maintenance.

What you’ll do

• Provide care (including monitoring, feeding and weighing) to wild patients
• Clean animal cages and laundry
• Help maintain the wildlife hospital and rehabilitation facilities

Requirements

• 18 years of age
• Interest in and respect for the unique needs of wild animals
• Possess a strong comprehension of English
• Up-to-date tetanus vaccination
• Rabies vaccination is an asset
• Non-profit volunteer experience is an asset

Note: Rabies vaccinations are not required, but vaccinated volunteers will have the opportunity to work with rabies-vector species after a 6–12 month training period.

Time Commitment

Wildlife Care Volunteers are asked to commit to one scheduled shift of 4 hours a week for a minimum of one year. The shift schedule is:

Training

Wildlife Care volunteers are required to attend both an Orientation and Basic Skills Training session at Toronto Wildlife Centre before starting their first shift. Volunteers are then paired with a staff member or experienced volunteer for their initial shifts for hands-on training.

If you have any questions about being a Toronto Wildlife Centre Wildlife Care Volunteer, email us here.

General Support Volunteers

With thousands of animals being cared for at Toronto Wildlife Centre each year, a tremendous amount of resources are dedicated to both maintaining the upkeep of the facility and ensuring that supplies are clean and readily accessible for Wildlife Rehabilitation staff and volunteers. Based on commitment and performance as a General Support volunteer, there is a great possibility of transitioning into other volunteer roles in the future.

What you’ll do

• Help to maintain the cleanliness of the wildlife kitchen and hallways
• Help to maintain the cleanliness of the wildlife hospital and rehabilitation rooms
• Wash sheets, blankets and bedding used by patients
• Fold and organize clean laundry
• Ensure that appropriate caging and supplies are ready for incoming wild patients

Time Commitment

General Support volunteers have more flexibility in shift times than other Toronto Wildlife Centre volunteers. This makes the position ideal for those whose schedules can’t accommodate a regular weekly shift, or who are able to volunteer for different amounts of time each week.

Requirements

• 15 years of age or older
• Interest in and respect for the unique needs of wild animals
• Up-to-date tetanus vaccination
• Non-profit volunteer experience is an asset

Training

Volunteers are trained by General Support Staff and supervised by Wildlife Care and General Support Staff and experienced volunteers.

If you have any questions about being a Toronto Wildlife Centre General Support Volunteer, email us here.

Administrative Volunteers

From updating our database to stuffing envelopes to bookkeeping—administrative volunteers are very much appreciated and there are no limits to where you can assist! Toronto Wildlife Centre’s administrative and fundraising operations are conducted in a very dynamic, busy office. Since each administrative task is different, we provide on-the-job training and support throughout the volunteering process.

What you’ll do

• Maintenance of our database
• General office assistance: filing, shredding, organizing
• Donation entry
• Donor stewardship assistance e.g. thank you calls, letters, and similar donor relations
• Direct Mail assistance: envelope stuffing, stamping, organization (can be done off-site; although, pick-ups and drop offs from the centre are required)

Time Commitment

Administrative volunteers are scheduled for a minimum of one 4 hour shift per week, Monday through Friday. As they will be supporting the donor relations and fundraising teams with their daily tasks, volunteers are required to work at the centre. Direct Mail volunteers are called upon once a quarter to help with the outbound mailings as needed.

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Organized and with great attention to detail
• Strong communications skills both oral and written
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and eTapestry an asset
• Non-profit, volunteer, fundraising and/or customer service experience an asset

Training

Administrative volunteers will be trained on the specifics for this position along with any software used. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to train volunteers in trades, skills or vocations they do not already possess; e.g. graphic design and bookkeeping

If you have any questions about being a Toronto Wildlife Centre Administrative Volunteer, email our Volunteer Coordination Team.

Volunteer Grocery Shopper

Are you someone who loves to grocery shop and get a thrill from finding great sales? This is an exceptional talent that should not go to waste! Have you always wanted to volunteer for TWC but just don’t have the time to commit to a weekly schedule? Join our team as a Grocery Shopper! Toronto Wildlife Centre’s patients have a wide range of dietary requirements! Volunteer grocery shoppers play an invaluable role by helping to ensure that our wild patients have access to the nutritious and delicious food they need to aid in their rehabilitation and recovery.

What you’ll do

• You will be emailed a detailed grocery list complied by our rehabilitation team 12-24 hours before your scheduled shop
• You shop with the grocery list and purchase required items in specified quantities.
• Upon finding all items on the shopping list, you will drop the groceries off at the Downsview Centre and provide TWC with your purchase receipts to be reimbursed via etransfer, cash or cheque.

Time Commitment

• Grocery shops take place on Mondays and Fridays each week at our Downsview Park location, and Sundays and Wednesdays for our secondary Rouge Park location.
• Grocery Shopper volunteers are asked to sign up for a minimum of 1-2 shift per month to remain active. A minimum 1 year commitment (12-24 shops) suggested.
• Grocery shopping shifts are flexible and can be done at any time that fits your schedule (must be available to drop off between TWC’s operational hours of 9:00am-5:00pm)
• Must be able/willing to commit enough time to travel to multiple stores if needed to find all required items.

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Access to a reliable vehicle
• Must be able to pay for grocery items up-front (to be later reimbursed); during busy season, grocery bills could amount to $300-400+ for one shop.
• Experience using price-matching grocery apps or grocery bargain hunting an asset
• Highly reliable and detail oriented

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Toronto Wildlife Centre! If you have any questions about being a Toronto Wildlife Centre Volunteer Grocery Shopper, please email us here.

Specialty Volunteers

Toronto Wildlife Centre is looking to use your unique skills and interests for a variety of projects. Architecture, landscaping and construction trades are just some of the fields you can help with. These positions may be perfect for volunteers who have an interest in helping animals but are only able to commit to a small period of time.

Time Commitment

The level of commitment is entirely based on your role and the task at hand. Some projects may be ongoing, others may only be a one-day or -night commitment. Each project will define the commitment level needed by each volunteer.

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Interest in and respect for the needs of wild animals
• Non-profit volunteer experience is an asset

Training

Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to train volunteers in trades, skills or vocations they do not already possess. If you have any questions about being a Toronto Wildlife Centre Specialty Volunteer, email us here.