Festival Volunteer FAQs

New volunteers can sign up online after March 18th, 2025.

Returning volunteers can use their prior login information and sign up for shifts beginning March 11th, 2025. Remember to update your contact information and the 'additional info' page of your profile, which you can find below the "My Profile" button on the top, right-hand side of the page. If this information is not up-to-date, including a fresh waiver form complete, uploaded and approved by the volunteer team, you won't be able to sign up for certain volunteer roles.

If you're having trouble, please contact us:

Email: festivalvolunteer@stalbert.ca
Phone: 780-700-8205

You will receive an email after you have been accepted detailing your next steps. Once you receive this email, you'll be able to browse available shifts under the  “Opportunities” tab on your Better Impact Volunteer Profile. If you find a shift you want, sign up by clicking the button beside the shift.

In mid-May, we run orientations for all our volunteers. All volunteers are required to attend at least one orientation.

You will receive reminder emails as we get closer to Festival. For each shift, please remember a water bottle, closed-toe shoes and layers. Many shifts take place outside, and the weather can change quickly, so it’s best to be prepared!

You can switch shifts online until one week before your shift. If for some reason you cannot make a shift and it is less than a week away, email us at festivalvolunteer@stalbert.ca. We understand that sometimes unexpected things arise, and we would much prefer to know as soon as possible so that we can fill your shift.

When you email, make sure you provide your full name, the name of the shift you'd like to cancel, as well as the date and the time. 

Individuals who frequently cancel at the last minute or fail to show up for shifts may be prevented from volunteering in the future.

Don’t worry! This happens all the time! Send us an email at festivalvolunteer@stalbert.ca and we will give you a new password or username, which you can then use. All your previous information, qualifications and hours will still be there.

Some positions are only visible to volunteers with specific “qualifications” on their account.

For example, to become a Team Leader, you must first reach out to the volunteer team, who will chat with you and ensure you are a good fit for that role. They will then add a Team Leader qualification to your profile. After that, you will be able to see all the Team Leader shifts available on your Volunteer Profile.

If you can’t find a position, contact us at festivalvolunteer@stalbert.ca and we’ll help sort things out.

Yes! Volunteering with pals makes the festival even more fun. Groups of friends, clubs, faith groups, neighbourhood organizations and companies are invited to volunteer together to build community while giving back to our city.

If you prefer for your group to stick together, please contact us and we will do our best to put everyone in the same activity. Positions that can accommodate large groups are limited, so please get in touch with us early!

Per the most recent legislation, only volunteers who will be in direct, unsupervised positions of authority over vulnerable individuals require police checks. This means that the majority of volunteers are not required to obtain a police check.

Captains and House Managers do require police and vulnerable sector checks. If you are in one of these positions, the Children’s Festival will provide you with a form that will ensure the check is provided free-of-charge by the police or RCMP.

Volunteer spots fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. This means the best way to guarantee the same position as last year is to sign up right away. Returning volunteers have an extra week to sign up before we open these positions to newcomers, so take advantage of that week!

That being said, if you have a strong preference for an area or activity that is full, contact us at festivalvolunteer@stalbert.ca. We will do our best to find a position that suits your interests and abilities.

The Children’s Festival has a volunteer base that is almost 50% under the age of 18. We love these enthusiastic, creative, dedicated volunteers, and most positions are open to everyone over the age of 12.

Ushers, Team Leaders, Captains and House Managers all need to be 16 or older. Workshop Assistants and Green Team are typically roles with lots of young people, so these are good positions to consider if you’re under 18 and not sure where to start.

Our Youth Ambassador program  is our elite volunteer corps and is designed for youth ages 12 to 18. Youth Ambassadors have special training, their own break room, and have a variety of responsibilities that only they are trained to do. This is an excellent opportunity to build leadership skills, make friends, and gain experience.

Yes! The Children’s Festival is proud of our huge variety of volunteers. We are so grateful for the fantastic contributions made by individuals with all levels of ability.

If you will be accompanied by a support worker, use a wheelchair or other mobility device, or need any other accommodations, please contact the volunteer team. We will find a role that suits you!

General volunteers contribute a minimum of 6 hours of volunteer time per Festival. However, many choose to work several shifts, especially if they want to try a variety of positions.

Youth Amabassadors are asked to volunteer a minimum of 5 weekday hours during the Festival.

Team Leaders are asked to volunteer for one full-day shifts over the Festival.

Captains are rockstar volunteers who are generally on the grounds full-time over the four days of Festival.