Volunteer

A WGH volunteer in the Naku Healing Room.

Find the Volunteer Services office on the first level of Whitehorse General Hospital, just inside the main entrance next to the Information Services desk. 

Monday to Friday (closed weekends and holidays)
8:00 am - 3:30 pm

Phone: 867-393-8673

Email: volunteer@wgh.yk.ca 

Make a difference in our community! Join a dynamic, inspiring team that cares for Yukoners.

Volunteers are a valued part of the Yukon Hospitals team. Their compassionate service, care, and dedication helps create a positive hospital experience.

From the Morning Brew Crew to Friendly Visitors, we offer a variety of opportunities in Yukon hospitals for volunteers to connect with patients and family members, offer directions and information, and enrich the high quality care provided by our professional staff. 

Ready to learn, grow, give back, and make a difference through volunteerism?

Serve in an inspiring and social environment. Help create a sense of home for patients and their families. Share your time, knowing it will have a lasting impact. This is your opportunity to make each day brighter—for you and others.

We are currently recruiting for the following Volunteer Opportunities:

Whitehorse General Hospital

In this busy and dynamic role, volunteers give a friendly welcome to arriving patients and visitors while providing wayfinding and information about where to locate services within the hospital.

Weekday shifts available.

Help brighten up the morning by serving patients a fresh cup of coffee or team to their room! This is an opportunity to say hello, and enjoy light conversation while enhancing the patient experience over a great cup of coffee!

Weekday morning shifts at 10:00 am only available.

A book for the day, a book for your stay, a book to take away! Reading helps pass the time while in the hospital. The mobile book service provides a convenient free book and magazine service to patients and visitors at WGH, on the inpatient units. Enhance the patient experience, enjoy some light conversation, and provide some friendly social support with a great book!

Weekday evening shifts.

Dawson City Community Hospital

As a Friendly Visitor Volunteer, you'll engage patients in comforting activities like visiting and socializing, reminiscing and storytelling, reading, and playing cards or games.

This isn't just about time spent; it's about positively enhancing a patient’s quality of stay and complementing the treatment provided by our clinical staff.

Flexible scheduling, including weekdays and weekends, are available.

Watson Lake Community Hospital

As a Friendly Visitor Volunteer, you'll engage patients in comforting activities like visiting and socializing, reminiscing and storytelling, reading, and playing cards or games.

This isn't just about time spent; it's about positively enhancing a patient’s quality of stay and complementing the treatment provided by our clinical staff.

Flexible scheduling, including weekdays and weekends, are available.

Application Process

To become a volunteer with Yukon Hospital Corporation you must complete the six-step application process listed below. This process helps us identify if there is a volunteer role available that is a good match for your interests, skills, experience and availability.

1. Application form

To apply to be a Yukon Hospital Corporation volunteer, please visit the link below to be directed to the online application:

https://app.betterimpact.com/Application?OrganizationGuid=7c5b1ddd-ae20-4b57-86f1-c6cdf2dc5073&ApplicationFormNumber=1

Paper copies of the application are also available upon request from the Volunteer Services office.

2. References

In the online application, provide the names of two references along with their contact information. Volunteer services will contact your references directly by email (or phone if there is no email available). Please ask your references to watch for this email from volunteer@wgh.yk.ca as it may go to their junk mail.

3. Information Session/Interview

Once you have submitted your application form and we have checked your references, Volunteer Services will be in touch to arrange an interview. At that time, we will discuss the roles currently available, your interests, availability and answer any questions you might have.

4. Criminal Reference Check and the Vulnerable Sector Search

All YHC employees and volunteers must complete a Criminal Reference check (CRC) and a Vulnerable Sector Search. This service is provided by the RCMP and is free of charge for YHC persons. Please download the request letter in the online application. Paper copies of the request letter can be obtained from the Volunteer Services office at Whitehorse General Hospital.

5. Health Screening

All YHC employees and volunteers must submit the results of a tuberculosis (TB) screening test and provide proof of immunizations, including 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccination. This service is provided by the Whitehorse Health Centre, 9010 Quartz Road, Whitehorse. 

Please download the request letter in the online application. Paper copies of the request letter can be obtained from the Volunteer Services office at Whitehorse General Hospital.

6. Orientation

Prior to a volunteer shift being assigned, you must complete a hospital orientation. Through this orientation, you will learn about corporate and departmental policies and procedures, safety and security, infection control, confidentiality and privacy. This orientation session is in person and includes a hospital tour.

During your orientation you will receive your uniform & ID Badge. A $20.00 refundable deposit is required for your uniform & ID badge. (Additional uniforms, if requested by the volunteer, also require a $20.00 refundable deposit.) We also provide a Volunteer Handbook with a summary of key information that volunteers can reference at any time.

Placement

Once you have completed all of the steps outlined in the Application Process, we will work with you on the details of where and when you will volunteer. We start by reviewing the information you provided us in your interview on availability and interests, and comparing it to the current list of shift vacancies. If we can’t find a suitable match, you can select another option and be put on a waiting list for your preferred choice

If you are unsure of what you would like to do, we can arrange for you to shadow shifts with experienced volunteers in the various available roles to help find the best fit.

Once we have determined which role you will be volunteering in, we will arrange training shift(s) with Volunteer Services staff, Lead Volunteers and/or a staff member from the program or service where you will be volunteering. Volunteers are encouraged to continue training and/or shadowing shifts until they feel comfortable working in their role.

Frequently Asked Questions

Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age, and some positions may require volunteers to be at least 18 years of age. We have limited evening and weekend volunteer positions, so it may be difficult to accommodate all requests from high school students during the academic year.

Due to the nature of our programs and services, it is necessary for volunteers to make a long-term commitment and maintain a consistent schedule. Volunteer applicants must select one of the following commitment options:

  1. Regular Commitment: At least 60 hours of service over at least 7 months (approx. 4 shifts per month).
  2. Student Commitment: At least 60 hours of service over the course of the academic year. Enrollment in an educational institution (secondary or post-secondary) is required.

To ensure the best quality of volunteers and services offered, we have a thorough application and intake process. If your volunteer application is accepted, it can take 4 to 6 weeks to become a volunteer. There are a number of steps to the volunteer application and screening process and all volunteers must attend an orientation session (held once a month) before their first shift.

Applications can be submitted to the Volunteer Services department at any time throughout the year.

The volunteer application process does not guarantee a volunteer placement. Volunteers are accepted and placed according to hospital needs, position availability and volunteer skills, interests and suitability.

We strive to accept as many applicants as possible, however, we are not able to guarantee a placement for everyone and only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

You may apply the volunteer hours accumulated at Yukon’s hospitals to your high school volunteer service requirement; however, we can only provide confirmation of hours to those who have completed at least 60 hours of volunteer service.

No. There is no charge for parking at Whitehorse General Hospital or our community hospitals in Dawson City and Watson Lake. However, volunteers are expected to use the designated staff parking areas to ensure maintain convenient and safe access to the hospital for patients and visitors. Other modes of transportation to and from the hospital such as city bus or taxi are the responsibility of the volunteer.

Yes. Volunteers are required to wear a volunteer uniform and photo identification card while on duty. We require a $20.00 refundable deposit for a uniform.

While we welcome volunteers with professional experience, all volunteers are restricted to performing the duties outlined in their volunteer position description and are not permitted to practice within a specific profession when volunteering. 

Absolutely. Volunteers are provided with a description that outlines the duties for the position they are assuming. Many of these positions have limitations specific to that role, but there are also some generic limitations for all YHC volunteers.

Volunteers are not permitted to:

  • Provide any treatment or give advice regardless of your training or education; a patient’s medical questions must be redirected to a staff member.
  • Have access to patient information beyond the scope of the volunteer role
  • Accept gifts
  • Perform duties that are normally performed by employees of YHC.