Volunteer
Divided into teams, our committed volunteers oversee everything from stage, house management and box office to sales, site maintenance, greeting festival-goers, and assisting with on-site activities at Lebreton Flats and at Arts Court.
Contact volunteers@ottawachildrensfestival.ca today to find out how to volunteer.
The 2024 Festival runs May 10-14. All time and positions subject to change depending on the demands of the Festival.
VOLUNTEERS FOR MAY 2024 NEEDED
No Experience Necessary!
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Examples of Volunteer Jobs
Office and Information Agent
The volunteer works with the Festival Staff at the onsite box-office, which is usually open from 8:45am – 4:00pm every day of the Festival. Because of the nature of this job, we appreciate volunteers available for more than one shift. The box office generally needs 4 – 6 volunteers per day at Lebreton Flats and at Arts Court with duties including:
- Selling tickets
- Tracking sales
- Checking and confirming arrival lists for school groups
- Carrying items to/from the office and storage trailer
- Other tasks as assigned by the box-office manager
Report to: Box Office Manager
Shift:
Weekdays: 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Weekends: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
School Greeter
The Ottawa Children’s Festival needs greeters to meet busloads of school children (accompanied by their teachers and chaperones) and escort them to the performance venues. The greeters check the arrivals against a daily list provided by the box-office, and escort each group to the appropriate performance gate. This job is mostly outdoors and involves a lot of walking. Each school-day of the Festival requires 3 – 6 greeters.
- Monitor arrival of school buses
- Make contact with teachers and chaperones in charge of groups
- Check school information against box-office listing
- Confirm information to Head Greeter
- Escort groups to the appropriate performance gate
Report to: Group Sales Coordinator
Shift: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Site Host
A dining tent is maintained throughout the Festival. It is a gathering place for volunteers, staff and performers to relax, enjoy a cup of coffee, a light lunch and unwind. The Site Host is responsible for maintaining the tent, tidying up and other light house-keeping duties as required. This job requires good social skills. Each day, 2-3 hosts are required.
- Cleaning tables, setting up chairs
- Greeting people
- Tidying up at the end of the shift
- Alerting staff when supplies are needed
Report to: Dining Tent
Shift:
Weekdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Weekends: 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Site Maintenance
The Festival is held on the grounds of a museum which remains publicly accessible. It is important to maintain and to leave the grounds as clean as possible. The Site Maintenance crew is responsible for ensuring the grounds are safe and clean, especially because our audience comprises mainly of children. Each day, 4-6 volunteers are required.
- Walking
- Lifting and carrying
- Being alert to potential hazards
- Moving and assembling furniture
- Clean-up, etc.
Report to: The Volunteer Coordinator
Shift: 10:30 am – 4:00 pm throughout the Festival and later during the tear-down
Ushers
Ushers assist and report to the House Managers at the performance venues. They prepare the venue before and after each performance, assisting the audience and ensuring the house rules are being observed (e.g. use of cameras and audio equipment). Each performance requires 2–3 ushers meaning 16–20 ushers are required each day.
- Prepare House before and after each performance
- Collect/ scan tickets at the gate
- Open and close the gate as instructed by the House Manager
- Hand out programs
- Seat audience
- Enforce house rules when necessary
- Other tasks as assigned by the House Manager
Report to: The House Manager
Shift: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Flex Facilitator
The Festival’s most valued job! In all the excitement things can change on a dime. Flex volunteers are an integral part to making sure everything is running smoothly by filling in any gaps that may arise or providing backup should any department show signs of being overwhelmed. This is a great opportunity to gain lots festival experience and assist with a bit of everything!
Flex Facilitators may also be tasked with circulating a volunteer survey, completed on a tablet.
Report to: The Volunteer Coordinator
Shift:
Weekdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Weekends: 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Imagineland
The Imagineland area comprises a number of small tents in which there are mini performances, workshops and activities. It is a fun, friendly, and bilingual space for adults and kids of all ages to explore their creativity. Bilingual volunteers preferred.
- Informing guests when activities start and end
- Encouraging kids to try things out
- Alert staff of potential problems
Report to: The Volunteer Coordinator
Shift:
Weekdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Weekends: 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
WPBS MASCOT & Handler
Our Sponsor, WPBS, is looking for a volunteers each day to serve as a Mascot. You’d be wearing a costume, interacting with children and posing for pictures, accompanied by a handler there to assist you.
- The costume has a battery operated fan built in
- Frequent breaks, 20 minutes or so in the costume at one time
- Mascot volunteer should be no taller than 5’9” and of average weight and build
The handler ensures the safety of our mascot volunteer, helping to make sure they aren’t swarmed by enthusiastic children, assisting with photos taken, and generally ensuring a positive experience for both the mascot fans, and the mascot volunteer.
Handlers take breaks when our mascot breaks and helps ensure our costumed volunteer doesn’t overheat and stays hydrated.
ARTIST GREEN ROOM
We are looking for volunteers to assist our Green Room Manager at LeBreton Flats. The Green Room is where the Festival Artists go to relax and be fed. We are looking for people who are good hosts, have excellent manners, and can make everyone feel like part of the Festival family.
Shift:
Weekdays: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Weekends: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
VOLUNTEERS FOR MAY 2024 NEEDED
No experience necessary!
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