Could you share five minutes?

Not the time spent on a phone or hurrying out the door. It’s about making a conscious choice to give your time to someone else. Volunteering is one of the most valuable contributions you can make.

TAIT: Volunteering on the decline while need remains Back to video

This is National Volunteer Week in Canada, an annual chance to recognize the importance of giving our time. I would not be writing these words without the support of volunteers over the years.

I was born with cerebral palsy and had very limited mobility. My parents found an exercise program that could help improve my abilities. The program required four people to move my body through specific patterns that mimicked crawling.

Each session took five minutes. We did this eight times a day, every day.

We asked for help and people responded. In five months, 116 volunteers began coming to our house. Many were from Trinity United Church, others from the neighbourhood. They each gave us five minutes at a time, week after week, for five years.

Because of my parents’ leadership and those volunteers, I made real progress. I learned to sit up straight, use my hands, bend my legs, swallow, and speak words that others could understand.

This progress was possible because 116 people chose to spend five minutes with me. I remain deeply appreciative of their time and effort.

However, I am concerned about the current state of volunteering.

In 1965, volunteering was seen as a responsibility to the community. It was a regular part of life in neighbourhoods across the country. People didn’t schedule or plan to volunteer — they simply showed up when needed, whether at a church, service club, or hockey rink. Community involvement was a normal part of daily routines.

Today, things have changed.

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Formal volunteering in Canada has dropped to 32 per cent. A small group known as the “Core 25” now provides 77 per cent of all volunteer hours. As a result, a limited number of dedicated volunteers are carrying most of the responsibility, while fewer new people are getting involved.

Volunteer hours have decreased sharply. Rising costs and busy schedules have made it harder for people to commit. Many now volunteer only occasionally or for single events rather than over the long term. As a result, fewer people are consistently available to help.

However, the need for volunteers has not gone away. The demand for help remains as strong as ever.

Many children today could benefit from volunteer support, just as I did. Unfortunately, without enough volunteers, those opportunities are being missed — not only the children, but the volunteers.

We need to address this decline. It is important to recognize the value of showing up and committing our time to volunteering.

Volunteering is not about building a resume or seeking recognition. It is about helping others, supporting projects that matter, and providing practical assistance where it is most needed. Committing time each week makes a real difference in people’s lives.

We need to renew our commitment to volunteering. Just as past volunteers helped me, today’s communities depend on people willing to give their time.

Can you commit to volunteering once a week? Giving your time can have a real, lasting impact.

For, perhaps, five minutes?

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