Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) has proudly partnered with Kingston & Area Association of Administrators of Volunteers (KAAAV), and Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC), to be a host site for the Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference. This event brings together international subject matter experts in the field of Volunteer Engagement for a full day interactive hybrid workshop full of presentations, panel discussions and local conversation.
Embracing the Future of Volunteer Engagement – Building for Resilience and Sustainability
Date: Tuesday October 20th
Time: 11:30 am – 5:30 pm (Doors will open at 11:00 and participants are encouraged to come early for social time. The hybrid conference will start promptly at 11:30)
Location: Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) in the Auditorium. You are encouraged to come in the Johnson Street entrance of HDH, go up one flight of stairs, through the doors, and the auditorium is on your right. You can also enter through the main doors of HDH on Brock Street and receive directions to the Auditorium at the Information Desk.
Parking: Parking is available at many lots downtown as well as metered parking on streets surrounding HDH. Kingston Transit also has a stop right across from Hotel Dieu so participants may want to consider park and ride options.
Cost: Free for KAAAV members. Other volunteer engagement professionals are welcome to join us by becoming a KAAAV member. Membership forms will be available at the conference and the $35.00 membership fee can be paid at that time by cheque or cash only. Please visit the KAAAV website for more information on the benefits of membership.
Lunch: Please note that meals and refreshments will not be provided. Participants are asked to bring their own food and beverages for the duration of the conference or purchase items at the HDH Cafe or one of the many downtown restaurants. There will be a lunch break mid afternoon and eating and drinking in the auditorium is permitted.
This year’s speakers and session topics include:
Nostalgia Is Not a Strategy: Leading Volunteer Engagement Through Change
Presented by: Jessica Pang-Parks, CVA
Volunteer engagement is too often treated as an afterthought instead of a strategy for building trust. This session helps you spot the habits in your own organization that feel safe but no longer serve your cause — and gives you one concrete shift you can make right away.
Making the Data Work for You: Impact Reporting for Program Sustainability
Presented by: Michele Wiesner, MPA, CVA
You're collecting data — but is it working hard enough for you? This session introduces a practical framework for turning the data you already have into a compelling impact report that gets leadership's attention.
The AI Toolkit: 4 Free Tools to Transform Your Volunteer Program
Presented by: Veronica Torres Deally
AI is a catalyst for capacity by helping small teams do big things. In this practical session, you’ll discover how to use AI as your "digital assistant" to eliminate administrative burnout and reclaim your time. We will walk through four powerful, free AI tools that handle the heavy lifting of documentation and logistics, so you can focus on what truly matters: building deeper, more meaningful connections with your volunteers. Key Takeaway: Learn the "Human-First" workflow to automate the robotic and prioritize the relational.
Keeping the Heart Beating: Future-Proofing Volunteer Programs
Presented by: Bec Treby
Volunteer programs are being asked to do more than ever before—often with limited resources, increasing expectations, and a rapidly changing volunteer landscape. How can we move beyond reacting to immediate challenges and instead build volunteer programs designed to thrive for years to come?