🤝 OSSD Requirement
40 Community Hours Planner

40 hours required for your OSSD. But done right, they also build your resume, add to your portfolio, and connect your volunteer work to your future career path.

📊 Your Hours Tracker
Grade 9
hrs
Target: 10h
Grade 10
hrs
Target: 10h
Grade 11
hrs
Target: 10h
Grade 12
hrs
Target: 10h
0 / 40 hours completed
0
total hours
Keep going
💡 Pro tip: Spread your hours across all 4 years. Don't leave all 40 for Grade 12 — guidance counsellors notice, and it's stressful to rush. 10 hours per year is a relaxed, manageable pace.
The Rules

What counts? What doesn't?

Ontario's rules for community hours are specific. Make sure your hours are properly documented or they won't be accepted.

✅ What Counts
  • Unpaid volunteering for a non-profit, charity, or school
  • Church or religious community service (food bank, events)
  • Sports coaching or refereeing for younger kids (unpaid)
  • Hospital or long-term care home volunteering
  • Food bank, shelter, community meal programs
  • Environmental cleanup (Habitat for Humanity, city clean-up)
  • Library volunteering, literacy tutoring
  • Animal shelter volunteering
  • School events (organized, supervised volunteer work)
  • Fundraising events for registered charities
  • Co-op placements with community organizations (some schools allow)
❌ What Doesn't Count
  • Paid work of any kind (even minimum wage)
  • Helping your own family members at home
  • Unpaid work for a for-profit business
  • Hours with no supervisor signature/documentation
  • Activities done as part of your school class (unless approved)
  • Personal hobbies that happen to benefit others (casually)
  • Hours done before Grade 9
  • Always get a signed letter on organization letterhead confirming hours and dates
  • Submit your community involvement log to your school before graduation
  • Keep your own copy of every volunteer letter — forever
🏆 Make your hours work harder
The right activities count for your 40 hours and strengthen your university application. See what to focus on for your stream.
View Activities Guide →
Find Opportunities Near You

Sample Organizations by Province

These are real organizations in each city that regularly accept high school volunteers. Use them as starting points — then search locally for more.

Select your province:
⚠️
Quebec students: the 40-hour community hours requirement does not apply to you.
Quebec high schools follow the Quebec Education Program (QEP), not the Ontario OSSD. Your graduation requirements are different. If you're planning to attend a CEGEP or Quebec university, community involvement may still strengthen your application — but it is not mandatory.
→ Read the Quebec & CEGEP Guide
📍 Cornwall & Eastern Ontario
All accept high school student volunteers. CDSBEO and UCDSB students — your guidance office has the official approved list each year.
Cornwall Community Hospital
Volunteer Services: patient support, wayfinding, department assistance.
Great for Medicine
Agapè Centre (Food Bank)
Food sorting, distribution, community meals. Very flexible scheduling.
Easy to start
Cornwall Public Library
Summer reading programs, children's events, shelving.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity Cornwall
Home builds, ReStore thrift shop. Physical work, great for trades.
Great for Trades
YMCA Cornwall
Youth programs, swim instruction assist, sports leagues. Must be 14+.
Health sciences
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Thrift store, food bank, community support programs.
Flexible hours
City of Cornwall Parks & Rec
Events, youth sports leagues, community programs.
Summer availability
FIRST Robotics Team
Robotics competition team volunteering, outreach, demos. Ask your tech teacher.
Great for STEM
Your Catholic Parish
Parish events, youth group, charity fundraisers — familiar and convenient.
CDSBEO students
Seaway Valley Community Health
Community health events, health education programs, seniors support.
Medicine path
Animal Adoption Centre Cornwall
Dog walking, cat care, adoption event support. Popular and flexible.
Any path
School Board Events (UCDSB / CDSBEO)
Board-sanctioned community events. Ask guidance each year for the current list.
School-facilitated
📍 Toronto
One of Canada's most volunteer-rich cities. Organizations below run structured high school volunteer programs.
SickKids Hospital
Teen volunteer program — patient support, wayfinding, family assistance. Highly competitive; apply early.
Medicine path
Daily Bread Food Bank
Food sorting, packing, distribution. One of Canada's largest food banks. Weekend shifts available.
Easy to start
Toronto Public Library
Youth programs, literacy events, tech help for seniors. Multiple branches across the city.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity GTA
Home builds and ReStore thrift shop volunteering across the GTA.
Trades path
Boys & Girls Club of Toronto
Youth mentorship, after-school programs, sports and arts programs support.
Social sciences
City of Toronto Parks & Rec Events
City-run seasonal events, community clean-ups, park programs. Easy to access through the city website.
Any path
📍 Ottawa
Ottawa has a strong volunteer culture tied to its government and bilingual community.
The Ottawa Hospital
Volunteer program for students 15+. Patient support, wayfinding, department help.
Medicine path
Ottawa Food Bank
Sorting, packing, events. Very flexible — one of the easiest places to start in Ottawa.
Easy to start
Ottawa Public Library
Reading programs, youth events, ESL support programs.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity Ottawa
Build days and ReStore. Great hands-on trades experience.
Trades path
Volunteer Ottawa (portal)
Centralized database of Ottawa volunteer opportunities. Search by interest and availability at volunteerottawa.ca.
All paths
Carleton University Science Events
STEM outreach, science fairs, campus events open to community volunteers. Contact outreach office.
STEM path
📍 London, Ontario
London has strong hospital and university volunteer pipelines through Western and LHSC.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC)
Teen volunteer program at University Hospital / Victoria Hospital. Apply through LHSC volunteer services.
Medicine path
London Food Bank
Sorting, packing, holiday events. Accepts students 14+ with parent permission.
Easy to start
London Public Library
Youth literacy, after-school programs, summer reading events.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity London
Build sites and ReStore. Strong trades mentorship program.
Trades path
Western University Science Outreach
Science demos at schools, science fairs, STEM community events. Strong application story for STEM applicants.
STEM path
City of London Recreation Events
Parks events, sports leagues, community clean-up days through the city rec department.
Any path
📍 Vancouver, BC
Note: BC high school students also have a community hours graduation requirement (30 hours). These organizations are well-known for accepting student volunteers.
BC Children's Hospital
Teen volunteer program through PHSA. Patient support, recreation programs, wayfinding. Apply via the hospital website.
Medicine path
Greater Vancouver Food Bank
Sorting, packing, community distributions. Flexible weekend shifts. Students 14+ welcome.
Easy to start
Vancouver Public Library
Teen volunteer program — youth events, literacy programs, tech support for seniors.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity Vancouver
ReStore thrift shop and occasional build days. Strong trades mentorship.
Trades path
Science World Vancouver
Youth volunteer program — demos, facilitation, STEM outreach events.
STEM path
City of Vancouver Park Board Events
Community events, park clean-ups, youth sports. Easy to access through the city website.
Any path
📍 Calgary, Alberta
Alberta does not have a mandatory community hours requirement for high school graduation, but volunteering still strengthens university applications significantly.
Alberta Children's Hospital
Teen volunteer program through Alberta Health Services. Apply early — competitive spots.
Medicine path
Calgary Food Bank
Sorting, packing, distribution events. One of Canada's busiest food banks. Students welcome.
Easy to start
Calgary Public Library
Youth programs, reading events, digital literacy support for seniors across 22 branches.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity Calgary
ReStore volunteering and build days. Excellent trades experience with mentored work.
Trades path
TELUS Spark Science Centre
Science demonstrations, youth engagement, public events. Apply through their volunteer program.
STEM path
City of Calgary Recreation Events
Parks events, festivals, community clean-ups organized through Calgary Recreation.
Any path
📍 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sample starting points for Winnipeg students. Search Volunteer Manitoba (volunteermanitoba.ca) for more listings near you.
Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg
Volunteer Services accepts teens 15+. Patient support, wayfinding, department help.
Medicine path
Winnipeg Harvest (Food Bank)
Food sorting and distribution. Very flexible — great for first-time volunteers.
Easy to start
Winnipeg Public Library
Youth programs, literacy events across multiple branches.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg
Home builds and ReStore. Trades-path students get real construction exposure.
Trades path
Manitoba Museum
Public programs, events, school group support. Good fit for arts and social sciences students.
Arts / Social sciences
City of Winnipeg Parks & Recreation
Community events, clean-ups, youth sports leagues.
Any path
📍 Regina / Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Sample starting points. Search Volunteer Saskatchewan or your local United Way for more listings.
Regina General Hospital / Royal University Hospital
Saskatchewan Health Authority volunteer programs. Apply through SHA volunteer services.
Medicine path
Regina & Saskatoon Food Banks
Food sorting, packing, distribution. Both cities have active food bank volunteer programs.
Easy to start
Regina / Saskatoon Public Library
Youth programs, literacy events, community workshops.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan
ReStore and build days in Regina and Saskatoon.
Trades path
Science Centre Saskatchewan
Youth STEM programs, public demos, school outreach events.
STEM path
City Recreation Events
Parks events, community clean-ups, youth sports — accessible through each city's recreation office.
Any path
📍 Halifax, Nova Scotia
Sample starting points for Halifax students. Check Volunteer Nova Scotia (volunteerns.ca) for more.
IWK Health (Children's Hospital)
Teen volunteer program for students 14+. Patient and family support programs.
Medicine path
Feed Nova Scotia / Halifax Food Bank
Food sorting, packing, community distribution events.
Easy to start
Halifax Public Libraries
Youth programs, literacy events, community workshops across branches.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia
ReStore and build days. Great trades exposure.
Trades path
Discovery Centre Halifax
Science and technology museum — public programs, school group support, STEM demos.
STEM path
Halifax Regional Municipality Events
Community events, clean-ups, parks programs through HRM Recreation.
Any path
📍 Moncton / Fredericton, New Brunswick
Sample starting points. Check Volunteer New Brunswick or your school guidance office for local listings.
Horizon Health / Vitalité Health Network
NB's two health networks both run student volunteer programs at regional hospitals.
Medicine path
Harvest House / Moncton Food Bank
Food sorting and distribution. Easy to start, flexible scheduling.
Easy to start
New Brunswick Public Library
Youth programs and literacy events across the provincial library network.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity NB
ReStore volunteering and build days in Moncton and Fredericton.
Trades path
Science East Fredericton
Science centre with youth programs, public events, STEM outreach.
STEM path
Municipal Recreation Events
Community events, parks programs, clean-ups through city recreation offices.
Any path
📍 St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
Sample starting points. Check Volunteer NL (volunteernl.ca) for more listings across the province.
Health Sciences Centre St. John's
NL Health Services runs a student volunteer program at HSC. Apply through volunteer services.
Medicine path
Community Food Sharing Association
Food bank and distribution network serving St. John's. Flexible scheduling for students.
Easy to start
St. John's Public Libraries
Youth programs, literacy events, community workshops.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity NL
ReStore and occasional build days in the St. John's area.
Trades path
The Rooms (Provincial Museum)
NL's cultural centre — public programs, events, school group support.
Arts / Social sciences
City of St. John's Recreation Events
Community events, parks programs, seasonal clean-ups.
Any path
📍 Charlottetown, PEI
PEI is small — your school guidance office and Volunteer PEI are the best places to find current opportunities.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charlottetown
Health PEI runs a volunteer program at QEH. Apply through the hospital volunteer office.
Medicine path
PEI Food Bank
Food sorting and distribution. Small, friendly environment — ideal for first-time volunteers.
Easy to start
PEI Public Library Service
Youth programs, literacy events across island branches.
Arts / Law paths
Habitat for Humanity PEI
ReStore and occasional build days. Great hands-on trades exposure.
Trades path
PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation
Public events, community programs, local history outreach.
Arts / Social sciences
City of Charlottetown Parks Events
Community events, clean-ups, seasonal programs through the city.
Any path
Smart Strategy

Match your hours to your future career

Your 40 hours are also a story you tell universities and employers. Make them count twice — fulfill the requirement AND build your resume.

Tech Volunteering
FIRST Robotics Competition
Volunteer at FIRST Robotics events as a field reset crew, pit crew helper, or event coordinator. Shows technical passion and teamwork.
Resume gold4–8h per event
Education
School Tech / Coding Club Helper
Help run the school's tech or coding club for younger students. Waterloo looks for students who teach and give back.
Recurring weekly1–2h per session
Community Tech
Tech Help for Seniors (Library or YMCA)
Help seniors learn smartphones, tablets, or computers. Many libraries run programs — they need student volunteers.
Easy to arrange2–3h per session
Environmental Tech
Local Conservation Authority Events
Tree planting, water quality monitoring, nature trails. Good complement to environmental engineering interests.
Seasonal4–8h per event
Hospital Volunteering
Cornwall Community Hospital
Patient visitation support, wayfinding, gift shop, administrative help. Direct healthcare exposure — very important for medicine path applications.
Must-do for medicineRegular shifts
Long-Term Care
Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge / Carefor
Visits with elderly residents, activity programs, companion care. Shows empathy and patient care experience.
Great for med school storyFlexible
Mental Health Awareness
Canadian Mental Health Association Events
Awareness walks, fundraisers, school campaigns. Growing importance in medical training.
Event-based2–5h per event
Fitness / Health
YMCA Youth Sports Helper
Assist with youth fitness programs, swim lessons, sports leagues. Physical activity connection to kinesiology.
Kinesiology pathWeekly
Fundraising
School DECA Chapter / Charity Events
Organize fundraisers, manage budgets for school charity events. Real business experience that Schulich and Ivey AEO interviews love.
AEO interview assetFlexible
Non-Profit Support
Cornwall Community Foundation Events
Event coordination, communications, fundraising support for local non-profits. Shows business + community combination.
Event-based3–6h per event
Financial Literacy
Junior Achievement (if available)
Help teach financial literacy to younger students through Junior Achievement programs. Business + education crossover.
Great story for apps1–2h sessions
Food Security
Agapè Food Bank (event coordination)
Ask specifically to help with logistics, food drives coordination — not just sorting. Shows initiative.
Consistent supplyFlexible shifts
Construction
Habitat for Humanity Cornwall
Actual home building — framing, painting, finishing. The single best community hours opportunity for trades-path students. Real tools, real work.
Must-do for trades4–8h builds
Community Maintenance
Church / Community Centre Maintenance
Ask your church or a community centre if they need help with repairs, painting, yard work. Supervised by an adult.
Flexible, easy to startFlexible
Sports Maintenance
Minor Hockey / Soccer League Setup
Help set up and take down equipment for community leagues. Physical, practical, community-connected.
Seasonal2–4h per event
Environmental
Cornwall Community Clean-Up Days
City-organized cleanup events. Physical outdoor work. Counts, and the City provides sign-off letters.
City-organized4–6h per day
Arts Education
Cornwall Public Library Kids Programs
Help run children's art, craft, or reading programs at the library. Shows teaching + creativity.
Portfolio storyWeekly sessions
Event Design
School / Parish Event Decoration & Graphics
Design posters, decor, social media graphics for school events or church fundraisers. Ask to be the "visual coordinator."
Portfolio material tooEvent-based
Community Arts
Cornwall Civic Complex / Aultsville Theatre
Front-of-house volunteering at performances. Exposure to professional arts production.
Event-based3–5h per event
Youth Mentorship
After-School Art Club (Primary Schools)
Ask a local elementary school if you can run an after-school art club. Principal usually says yes — they love it.
Very impressive on appsWeekly
Legal Aid
Community Legal Services (Ottawa / Kingston)
Some legal aid clinics accept student observers / admin volunteers. Ask your law teacher to help arrange.
Essential for law pathBy arrangement
Civic Engagement
City of Cornwall Council Meetings / Events
Volunteer at city events, engage with local government. Future lawyers benefit from understanding civic systems early.
Easy accessEvent-based
Social Justice
Seaway Valley Community Health / Outreach
Community health outreach, newcomer support. Relevant for social work and public interest law.
Social work pathFlexible
School Debate
Run a Junior Debate Club (for younger students)
Organize and mentor a debate club for Grades 7–8 students at a feeder school. Strong initiative for law applicants.
Impressive initiativeWeekly
Quick Log

Track your volunteer sessions

Keep a running log here. Print or screenshot it as a backup — your school will ask for your log at graduation.

Add a Volunteer Session
Next steps from here
🏆 Extracurriculars Strategy → 🎯 Career Streams → 📊 Grade Planner →