The TBG is a volunteer-based organization that relies upon volunteers to help run our many programs and events and to meet our goal of delivering horticultural information and services. Our volunteers take a great deal of pride in their many contributions to our organization. They strongly support our goals and are members of the community that we serve.
Interested in volunteering with Toronto Botanical Garden?
Look out for the next volunteer information session where you can learn all about Toronto Botanical garden, its mission, vision, current and future volunteer opportunities and have a chance to meet TBG staff and some current volunteers. Please bring an up to date resume or complete the volunteer application form on this website.
If a volunteer information session is not coming up soon you are welcome to complete the volunteer application form on this website (or submit your resume)
DOWNLOAD: Volunteer Application Form
If you have any questions, please call our Volunteer Office at 416-397-4145 or volunteers@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES (updated March 2014)
Garden Ambassadors
This is a roving information role. TBG Garden Ambassadors are out in our gardens on hand to greet visitors warmly, offer assistance if needed, answer any immediate questions they may have, direct visitors to areas in the garden/building that might be of most interest to them, promote what is in bloom (and where to find it); provide more information /brochures if they express interest in some TBG program/activity. In addition provide feedback to TBG leadership, you are our eyes and ears on the ground interacting with our visitors and the feedback you collect will be invaluable.
Skills required: an outgoing personality, good communication skills (listening as well as speaking) knowledge of and enthusiasm for TBG, a winning smile, comfort with an active on your feet role for a 3 hour shift, able to connect with people with ease and be responsive without being overwhelming.
Time commitment: May through October.
Weekdays: 9 a.m. to noon, noon to 3 p.m., 3 to 6 p.m.
Weekends: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 to 4 p.m., 4 to 7 p.m.
Training for this role will be provided.
TBG Tour Guides
Volunteer tour guides lead garden tours of the TBG gardens and Edwards Gardens, as well as the Toronto Music Garden and Allan Gardens. Excellent communication skills is a requirement for this role together with a love of meeting (and educating) people. This role entails on going learning (keeping up to date with what’s in bloom and other garden news of interest) as well as a degree of mental agility, adapting and tailoring the wealth of information in the tour script to the needs and interest of the group the guide is leading. There are opportunities to work with groups of seniors as well as visiting school groups with curriculum linked tours on off for the latter. Basic gardening knowledge would be an asset but not essential. Thorough training and support is provided to get you started in this rewarding role. If you are fluent in another language, we’d welcome your ability to translate our tours for visiting groups.
Reception
The TBG volunteer receptionist team needs some new members to join the floater group. This group is called upon to step in to cover a Reception shift when the need arises, either planned (vacation of regular volunteer) or unplanned (unexpected/unavoidable absences). These could be on a weekend or weekday so some flexibility of schedule is required. Thorough training is provided and the members of the Floater team keep their skills and knowledge up to date by undertaking one shift at Reception on a regular monthly or bi weekly basis. The reception role is one with a high level of interaction with visitors to TBG. A volunteer receptionist deals with the public in person, on line and on the phone, registers people for TBG courses and signs up new members.
It is an enjoyable role with interest and variety. It would suit those with good customer service skills including excellent verbal and written communication skill in English, an excellent telephone manner, flexible and adaptable, able to juggle numerous tasks while maintaining tact and patience. The ability to be comfortable with using a multi line telephone system, email and TBG’s on line systems and processes (training will be provided) is also a requirement. Shifts are 3 hours in duration and volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 6 months.
If you have an outgoing personality and would like a people oriented role which also keeps your computer skills up to date then this is the role for you!
Garden Shop
The shop team needs additional volunteers to help in this beautiful facility. Shifts are 3 hours in duration and volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 6 months.
This role has lots of variety as volunteers in the shop assist customers, handle sales transactions and put together and maintain displays of products.
Previous retail experience and comfort handling cash systems is an asset but not essential as training with an experienced volunteer will be provided.
Skills required:
- Excellent communication skills (first class English language ability – comprehension and verbal);
- Computer literacy;
- Patience; and
- An eye for accuracy.
- Volunteers need to enjoy an active mobile role (this is an on your feet role including trips up and down stairs).
This role also has the opportunity to be creative in putting together visual displays. If you want to use your expertise in visual merchandizing we would love to hear from you. In addition to helping TBG the benefits of volunteering for us include special volunteer rates for applicable TBG programs, special volunteer discount at the TBG gift shop as well as volunteering in beautiful surroundings!
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE TEAM?
DOWNLOAD & FILL OUT OUR FORM: Volunteer Application Form
Questions? Please call our Volunteer Office at 416-397-4145 or tourguides@torontobotanicalgarden.ca
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES (in addition to those listed above)
Many of our volunteer jobs are unique, the result of finding a volunteer with the particular skills and background to meet a specific need. If you don’t see the job you want listed here, it’s still worth giving us a call! A sample of volunteer jobs is listed below; all our jobs are accompanied by the appropriate training.
Administrative
We occasionally have positions available for volunteers with office skills. These usually require good competency in computer programs and system (e.g Microsoft Excel, Raisers Edge). If opportunities arise of this nature they will be featured on this website and in our ENews.
Adult Education Course Assistants
Course Assistants take on the role of greeting students, handling last minute arrivals, some handling of course fees if needed, taking attendance and assisting the instructors where appropriate. This role is typically evenings and weekends and most classes are free for the course assistant in attendance.
Children’s Programs
This is one of our most physically demanding programs: good physical fitness, including the ability to bend, lift and walk up steep slopes is necessary. Volunteers require the ability to relate to children of all ages, as well as having patience, creativity, excellent communications skills and a passion for nature/horticulture. The program takes place both indoors and outdoors throughout the year. Programs run from Mondays to Fridays; many special events take place on the weekend.
Communications
Volunteer graphic artists, writers, editors, photographers and proofreaders produce our members’ magazine, Trellis. We occasionally have positions available to assist this team and if these do arise they will be posted on this website and in our ENews.
Special Events
Join the great group of volunteers who are there for us at our many special events that take place throughout our calendar year. Starting with Get The Jump on Spring event in February, including Canada Blooms (March), the Plant Sale (May), Through the Garden Gate (June) and on to Harvest day (September) and Holiday Open house (December) there is something for everyone to enjoy and be part of. Special events also includes helping out at lectures (generally held weeknight evenings), and several fun roles on Thursdays helping our Farmers Market and Gardens of Song events.
Most roles are representing TBG as an ambassador, helping with setting up pre event or taking down post event and taking registrations. All have a high degree of interaction with members of the public and most are out of doors activities.
Garden Volunteer
Volunteers assist the head gardener in the care and maintenance of our beautiful gardens. This is a physically demanding role requiring good physical fitness, including the ability to bend, lift, kneel and function outdoors in all weather conditions! Volunteers are asked to commit to a regular weekly four hour shift (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) for the gardening season (April to September, recognizing that vacations/other commitments may require flexing this schedule from time to time). Training and supervision provided.
There will be an early spring (March) orientation session for all volunteers interested in this role. This is mandatory to attend as it covers practical details of how the role works, together with important safety information. We hope the gardening team is then in place for the gardening season. If there is a need to “top up” members by mid summer an additional orientation session will be scheduled. Watch for news on this on this website.
Library
This team run the library services such as borrowing, cataloguing, indexing, data entry, advising visitors, handling book donations and library displays. Some knowledge of library systems would be useful but not essential, an ability to work well in a team, handle large quantities of data and good organizational and administrative skills are a must for this role.
