Australian Journal on Volunteering, Volume 14, 2009 Refereed article: Number 13, pages 1–11 © Volunteering Australia. Available online: www.volunteeringaustralia.org 1 A SNAPSHOT OF IMMIGRANT VOLUNTEERISM IN CANADA In the most recent report by Hall, Lasby, Ayer and Gibbons (2009), 46% of the Canadian population aged 15 and over reported that they volunteered in 2006, largely unchanged from the 45% reported in 2004 (Hall, Lasby, Gumulka & Tryon 2006). National surveys on volunteerism in Canada reflect a growing interest in immigrant volunteerism in particular (Hall et al. 2006; Hall et al. 2009; Scott, Selbee & Reed 2006). Hall et al. (2009) found that immigrants volunteer slightly less than native-born Canadians (40% versus 49%) but are more likely to volunteer with religious organisations than Canadian-born volunteers. Scott et al. (2006) and Hall et al. (2009) found that, like trends in the general population, personal characteristics such as gender, age, and education level impact volunteer rates; women volunteering more than men, older more than younger, university educated more than high-school educated. Similarly, increased household income is positively related to volunteer rates. Unique characteristics of immigrant volunteer rates include differences between sports (7% immigrant versus 13% Canadian-born) and social service organisations (8% immigrant versus 12% Canadian-born), and higher rates of volunteerism with religious organisations (13% immigrant versus 10% Canadian-born). The length of time in Canada affects the volunteer rates among immigrants. For instance, established immigrants (in Canada for 26 years or more) volunteer more than recent immigrants (in Canada for 6 years or less). Beyond statistics, the literature on immigrant volunteerism falls into the following categories; motives, benefits, challenges, and recommendations for increasing immigrant volunteerism. MOTIVES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO VOLUNTEER In Building caring communities: The contributions of immigrant volunteers, Ashton, Baker and Parandeh (2006) highlight three primary motives for volunteering. Supporting immigrant volunteerism in Canada A collaborative research project FAY FLETCHER AND JENEANE FAST ABSTRACT Previous research and literature document the prevalence, motives, and beneits of immigrants’ participation in the voluntary sector, for both the volunteer and non-proit organisation. Despite these mutual beneits, the literature also documents challenges to increasing immigrant volunteerism. he goal of the research team was to explore ways of ensuring a positive experience for immigrant volunteers and host organisations. he objectives were to implement, document, and evaluate the impact of an informal education and support program piloted with a cohort of immigrant volunteers and non-settlement, non-proit organisations. his article provides readers with an overview of the literature on immigrant volunteerism in a Canadian context, outlines the resources that were developed to support immigrant volunteers, shares some of the formative and summative evaluations, and concludes with research outcomes. Further, this research expands on purely demographic information, sharing immigrants’ stories of their volunteer experiences and the experiences of the organisations where they volunteer.