If you want to help fellow islanders, but aren’t sure how, the upcoming Salt Spring Volunteer Fair might be able to provide some inspiration.
More than 30 local organizations, clubs and societies will be represented at the second annual fair, being held Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at a new location: the Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) multi-purpose room.
Fair organizer and Local Community Commission member Ben Corno said the event reflects Salt Spring’s long history of volunteerism, and serves as a sort of matchmaker to connect those looking to volunteer to organizations looking for help. This year’s fair again features groups with a broad range of mandates, Corno said, from community outreach, health and accessibility to sports, hobbies, the arts, agriculture and more — and the foot traffic from last year’s event made it clear the smaller space at the Salt Spring Island Multi Space wasn’t up to meeting the community demand.
“Upgrading the venue to accommodate more groups should also make it more accessible,” Corno said, “and easier to stop and chat.”
Corno said volunteering is a good way to stay connected on Salt Spring, in part because it brings together different groups someone might be a part of since they may not always overlap.
“I learn more about the people in my groups,” he said, “and see my community as a more interconnected place than it sometimes appears.”
This year’s event is also for groups who are seeking new members — and those seeking patrons. A vibrant community, Corno said, should include access to as many of these types of organizations as possible — and it’s the volunteers who help maintain and improve their experiences and offerings.
“And it’s a great way to find a new club or group that shares your interests and values,” Corno said. “Seeing all these groups in one venue really makes it clear how much potential Salt Spring has to care for itself, together.”