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 the Canadian War Museum.

Contact volunteers@ottawachildrensfestival.ca today to find out how to volunteer.

VOLUNTEERS FOR NOVEMBER 2026 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 open 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 2 – 3 volunteers per day at 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

School Greeter

The Black Bird 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 – 4 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

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, 2 volunteers are required.

  • Walking
  • Lifting and carrying
  • Being alert to potential hazards
  • Moving and assembling furniture
  • Clean-up, etc.

Report to: The Volunteer Coordinator

 

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.

  • 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

Floater

The Festival’s most valued job! In all the excitement things can change on a dime. Float 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!

Floaters may also be tasked with circulating a volunteer survey, completed on a tablet.

Report to: The Volunteer Coordinator

 

Click here to sign up!