Would you like to:

• Make new friends?
• Learn about other countries, cultures or languages?
• Show a new community member around your town?
• Help a newcomer learn language skills?
• Play a part in building a welcoming society?

Can you volunteer a few hours every week for six months to a year?

As a Host Program volunteer, sometimes called a “Host”, you will become a friend to a newcomer to Canada. You will get together regularly to talk and do something together. This could be a walk, sharing a coffee, a shopping trip, or a social activity.

A Host Volunteer provides:

• Friendship and emotional support
• Conversation in English or French
• Social and cultural orientation
• Help in accessing resources within the community

Host volunteers get a lot in return! See what they say about the experience.

Some agencies offer Professional Mentoring or Youth versions of Host matches.

If you cannot commit to being matched with a newcomer, ask your local Host Program about other volunteer opportunities within the program.

There is no financial commitment to being a Host volunteer. The Host program asks you to share your time, your knowledge of the community, and your friendship.

About Host Matches

Host Program staff will look for a newcomer to match with you, based on criteria such as gender, age, similar interests, family size, and profession. The Host Program staff will make the introductions and take part in an initial "match meeting". They will follow-up to ask how the match is going, and they are available for support and for answers to questions.

It is up to you and your new friend to choose and schedule your regular weekly activities. Sometimes these are family get-togethers or outings.

Host Program staff will send you information about occasional group activities for all Host participants.