Emergency Management Volunteer

Region : Across Canada

Volunteer opportunity conditions :   

  • Location : In-person and/or virtual. The majority of preparedness and response work is performed in the community, in an office environment or through virtual means such as by telephone or video conference 
  • Regions / or cities :
    • Newfoundland and Labrador :  St. John's, Springdale, Baie Vert, Twillingate, Harbour Breton, Labrador City, Goose Bay, Stephenville to Channel-Port aux Basques, Corner Brook and Area.
    • New Brunswick : Madawaska, Campbellton, Acadian Peninsula, Bathurst, Richibucto, Miramichi, Sackville, Sussex, St. Andrews, Saint John, Fredericton, Woodstock, Chipman and Minto.
    • Nova Scotia : Sydney, Antigonish, Inverness, Guysborough, Richmond, Amherst, Truro, Pictou, East Hants, Bridgewater, Yarmouth and Kentville.
    • Prince Edward Island: Kings County, Queens County and Prince County.
    • Alberta: Yelloknife, Ft Simpson, Hay River, Ft Murray, Salve Lake, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, Grande Prairie, High Level, Peace River, High Prairie, Whitecourt, Hinton, Edson, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Leduc, Edmonton, Red Deer, Maskwacis, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, Wainwright, Rockyview County, Cochrane, Canmore, Siksika, Strathmore, Medicine Hat, Brooks, Lethbridge, Taber and Stand Off.
    • British Columbia : Central BC, Castlegar, Creston Area, Nelson, Nakusp, Salmo,  Penticton, Summerland, Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos, Princeton, North West - Burns Lake to Prince Rupert, North Central - Prince George and Area, NorthEast - Chetwyn to Fort Nelson, North South – Cariboo and Bella Coola Area.
    • Ontario : Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Welland, Town of Pelham, Wainfleet, Niagara Falls, Niagara on the Lake, St. Catharines, Thorold, Grimsby, Town of Lincoln, West Lincoln, Hamilton, Ancaster, Waterdown, Flamborough, Stoney Creek, Windsor, Essex, Tecumseh, Leamington, Amherstburg, Sarnia, Corona, Chatham, Wallaceburg, Northumberland County, Port Hope, Cobourg, Colborne, Brighton, Hastings, Campbellford, Owen Sound, Chatsworth, Meaford, Markdale, Dundalk, Kincardine, Port Elgin, Southampton, Chesley, Hanover, Tobermory, Lion's Head, Wiarton, Paris, Brantford, St George, Six Nations (Ohsweken), Haldimand, Norfolk, Simcoe, Hagersville, Dunnville, Goderich, Clinton, Exeter, Blyth, London, Dorchester, Ilderton, Lucan, Mount Brydges, Parkhill, Strathroy, Huron County, Perth, Stratford, St. Marys, Mitchell, Listowel, Oxford, Woodstock, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, Tavistock, Simcoe County, District of Muskoka, City of Kawartha Lakes, County of Haliburton, Halton Region, Peel Region, Dufferin County, York Region, Durham Region, Algoma, City of Sudbury, Sudbury District, District of Manitoulin, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Rainy River, Cochrane, Timiskaming, James Bay Coast, District of Nipissing, Perry Sound, Ottawa, Lanark County, Renfrew County, Stormont Dundas & Glengarry, Prescott Russell, Leeds & Grenville, North & South Frontenac.
  • Minimum age : 18 years or older.  
  • Minimum volunteer hours /period : Ideally you have the ability to volunteer during regular hours and/or during non-traditional hours (evenings and weekends), accept an on-call shift rotation and/or respond to unplanned emergency/disaster related requests periodically.  Hours will vary by location and frequency of response activity 
  • The potential exists for responding in disaster areas, as well as difficult conditions. If working at a response site, health and safety considerations will be outlined prior to the assignment 
  • You can identify a preference to respond in your local community and/or outside of your community.  
  • In exceptional circumstances, our volunteers may be offered the opportunity to deploy away from home to a large-scale response in their province or in Canada, as required and available, anywhere from 7 to 21 days. 


The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) – an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. We are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free working environment.

Emergency Management Teams across Canada are looking for volunteers to be a part of their mission. Because of our wide-reaching network of highly trained volunteers, Canadians who have found themselves impacted by disaster big and small, are able to turn to the Canadian Red Cross for relief and support. 


As a volunteer in this role, you will: 

  • Work collaboratively as part of an experienced team of trained EM volunteers and respond to emergencies in your community, or province or across Canada according to your schedule and availability.
  • Learn about Red Cross assistance including emergency shelter, clothing, food, personal services, registration, family reunification and safety and wellbeing requirements.
  • Assess needs with those affected by an emergency event and provide approved goods and services.
  • Support the wellbeing of beneficiaries by providing care, comfort and referrals to partner agencies and other community-based groups for services.
  • Prepare, inventory and manage response supplies to ensure they are stocked and ready 
  • Contribute to the overall health, safety and security of the team you work with.
  • Participate in Red Cross team building, training, planning and readiness exercises. 
  • Contribute to community-based risk reduction and emergency preparedness activities.
  • Apply for leadership roles to supervise, mentor and lead other EM volunteers and manage the delivery of required services.


You bring these essential talents: 

  • Commitment - to the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Movement and the core competencies of team excellence, service excellence, accountability and results focused.
  • Customer Service Skills - dedicated to supporting those affected by emergencies.
  • Language fluency - to deliver services in English or French; additional languages are an asset 
  • Communication skills - attuned to supporting with active listening and the ability to explain and confirm understanding.
  • Attention to detail - when making notes, maintaining logs, completing forms, providing statistics and tracking financial disbursements.
  • Computer use – including the ability enter data into a database or spreadsheet and use email 
  • Teamwork values - sharing information, helping team members, respectful of diversity, approachable, building relationships.
  • Ability to remain calm during a crisis - express empathy, remain focused and respond decisively. 
  • Dependable and reliable.


A satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check or equivalent is mandatory for all personnel volunteering or working with the CRC. 
 

Want to learn more? Sign up for a Virtual Open House, this 45 minutes length live session is designed to provide more in-depth information regarding volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross! 

Live in Quebec? Please click HERE