Volunteer Stories
Why Volunteering with Ecology Ottawa is Awesome
Volunteers are presented with a large number of opportunities and they decide when and how they would like to contribute. Volunteers are always encouraged to use their own talents and give input towards furthering the goals of the organization. Ecology Ottawa volunteers are joining a community of passionate, environmentally-conscious individuals.
What Our Volunteers Have to Say:
“People should definitely consider getting involved because the huge range of opportunities lets volunteers move through areas of involvement and never be bored! The environment at Ecology Ottawa is very welcoming and everyone genuinely cares about making Ottawa the Green Capital of Canada creatively, efficiently and effectively!”
-Lindsey Li
“I have immensely enjoyed my time volunteering at Ecology Ottawa, because it’s taught me that there are people who care about the environment, who crave action, and who want their city to be more livable now and for the future. Anyone who is passionate about wanting the planet to remain healthy for themselves and their children has what it takes to be a grassroots volunteer. There’s nothing more fulfilling at the end of the day than knowing you’ve made a difference on some scale!”
-Victoria Putinski
“I’ve been involved in Ecology Ottawa’s Events Committee and have found it to be an amazing experience. It’s such a pleasure working with incredibly enthusiastic and friendly volunteers, and it’s always a blast planning and participating at events like the Great Glebe GREEN Garage Sale and the Annual Dinner. It’s an awesome committee and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in environmental issues or who is just looking to get involved and work with some amazing people.”
-Stephanie Elias
“I joined Ecology Ottawa’s volunteer team in February of 2011 because, as an Environmental Studies student at the University of Ottawa, I felt (and continue to feel) that it is important to become involved in environmental causes around the community. ECO Ottawa is the perfect opportunity to do so. I attended the Clean Energy demonstration at City Hall, and was proud to have been part of a community of people dedicated to sustainability and environmental protection.”
-Paulina Pisarek
“I have been a volunteer with Ecology Ottawa since May 2010, where I offered my help at the last Great Glebe GREEN Garage sale. Since then, I have manned booths, worked on the Candidate Outreach Committee during the last municipal elections and I translate the Ecology Ottawa updates. I love volunteering with Ecology Ottawa because it allows me to do my bit for the environment and I am learning so much about renewable energy and sustainable development. In addition, I work with dedicated individuals. It is an honour to be part of such a great team!”
-Irène Kumar
“I have been volunteering with Ecology Ottawa for a few years now and enjoy every minute of it. It gives me an opportunity to help Ottawa try to become the sustainable city it should be. I can help from the smallest detail, like telling people about what Ecology Ottawa does, to helping at a fundraiser or running a booth at an exciting event. I get to meet new people like me who think our environment is very important and want to help out as best they can. It’s organizations like this that make a difference and educate people on important issues and it’s my absolute pleasure to be involved and volunteer with them.”
-Jennie Videto
“It’s a great organization and volunteering with Ecology Ottawa is a great experience for anyone who wants to see how a grassroots organization can impact change through policies and advocacy at the community level. […] By voicing your concerns and working directly with an organization like Ecology Ottawa you can actually see how you can make your city a place you can be proud to call home!”
-Lital Khaikin
Volunteer Profiles
Ecology Ottawa is a volunteer led and driven organization—our volunteers are crucial and we appreciate all of the work that they do. Ecology Ottawa’s Volunteer Profiles are a way to acknowledge those volunteers who have made substantial contributions to our organization. Take a look at some of the work that our key volunteers have been doing and what they have to say about volunteering with Ecology Ottawa.
Maude Warren-Paquin
Maude Warren-Paquin started volunteering with Ecology Ottawa in March of 2011. Maude has been doing a great job of helping Ecology Ottawa to become more accessible to both English and French members of the community. Her main task has been translating web pages from English to French. She is also involved in drafting the texts for Ecology Ottawa’s weekly radio segments both in English (for CKCU, which airs Thursday mornings) and in French (for CJFO, which airs Friday mornings) and as well, she oversees the scheduling and coordination of these segments. Maude has been an active volunteer who has participated in community meetings to promote clean energy projects, attended writing workshops, and helped out with the Ecology Ottawa booth at the Great Glebe GREEN Garage Sale.
Here is what Maude had to say about volunteering with Ecology Ottawa.
I believe that appreciating and protecting our natural environment is something that everyone should be doing on a daily basis. Because of this, I share Ecology Ottawa’s vision that initiating positive changes for the environment at the community level will help build a more sustainable, cleaner and greener city. Being part of an organization filled with like-minded people has been a wonderful experience for me and keeps me motivated and engaged.
When Maude is not volunteering for Ecology Ottawa she works as a freelance scientific writer and editor. Her hobbies include: hiking, camping, reading, cooking, biking, traveling, and hanging out with her cats.
Charles Hodgson
Charles Hodgson began volunteering with Ecology Ottawa in the summer of 2011. Charles has been involved in many of Ecology Ottawa’s initiatives including monitoring City Council, researching the City of Ottawa’s stances and progress on a variety of issues, and writing Ecology Ottawa publications. As well, Charles has helped out doing technical work with our database and website.
Here is what Charles had to say about volunteering with Ecology Ottawa.
The thing that drives my involvement is my deep concern over climate change and how little we as a society are doing about it, including here locally in Ottawa. Ecology Ottawa is the sole organization working to change that tendency here where I live.
Aside from Ecology Ottawa, Charles has a passion for cross country skiing which led him to create a website dedicated to Gatineau Park. He has created a historical archive of Ottawa Ski Club newsletters and Gatineau Park maps that date back almost 100 years. In 2010 Charles raised money for the Canadian Ski Museum by reproducing and selling a 1967 Gatineau Park map that included the old trail names. Since then he has also been lobbying the National Capital Commission to bring some of the old trail names back.
Christina Popa
Christina Popa has been a volunteer with Ecology Ottawa for almost a year. She has been heavily involved in the Building Community Power project in Ottawa West. Christina has assisted in initiating and sustaining a Clean Energy Team in Westboro, integrating it in with SLOWest which is currently working alongside other community groups. She was also previously involved in the Green Energy Act campaign during the last provincial election and in the Keystone pipeline protest.
Here is what Christina had to say about volunteering with Ecology Ottawa.
I have volunteered with numerous groups, but none like Ecology Ottawa. I appreciate the way they are able to keep the balance between structure and flexibility: a volunteer could either choose to work on something specific, or initiate her or his own project and get all the help and support needed. Therefore, everyone finds its place, which in turn creates a heterogeneous, interesting group (various interests, ages, backgrounds etc.). In addition, I appreciate their transparency and openness. Last, but not least, what makes me be a part of Ecology Ottawa is the values they are striving for: ecological and social justice.
When she is not volunteering with Ecology Ottawa she works for a small branch of a large corporation in administration. She enjoys being in the outdoors, taking French classes, reading, and caring for her two rabbits.
Irène Kumar
Irène started volunteering with Ecology Ottawa in May 2010. Her major contribution has been as a translator. Making Ecology Ottawa a bilingual organization is a goal of ours and Irène is helping us get closer to that goal. In particular, she has translated the Ecology Ottawa candidates’ survey, pages of our website, and the bi-monthly Ecology Ottawa Update. She also served on the Candidate Outreach Committee during the last municipal election. Irène has also been involved in the Great Glebe Green Garage Sale, the Media Monitoring Team, and boothing at various events. Irène was a recipient of Ecology Ottawa’s 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award.
Here is what Irène had to say about volunteering with Ecology Ottawa.
I volunteer with Ecology Ottawa because I care for the environment and I care about my community. I want to make it a better place for people living here now and for the generations to come. I want to increase awareness on environmental issues in my community. Ecology Ottawa also allows me to learn more about renewable energy and sustainable development. Finally, I get to work with dedicated and committed individuals, many of which I now consider as friends.
When she is not volunteering with Ecology Ottawa, Irène works part-time both as an Administration Officer for the Circle of Nations Learning Centre at Natural Resources Canada and as a freelance translator with Cogitaction Communication Inc. In her spare time Irène enjoys aqua fitness, long walks in nature, meditation, and reading.
Alison Harman
Alison began volunteering with Ecology Ottawa in September 2008. She has mainly been involved in Ecology Ottawa’s Council Watch Committee, which produces annual reports grading the environmental performance of Ottawa’s City Council. For the past few years Alison has helped to coordinate the committee in her position as Co-Chair. Alison was a recipient of Ecology Ottawa’s 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award.
Here is what Alison had to say about volunteering with Ecology Ottawa.
I volunteer with Ecology Ottawa in order to be involved with and influence my community. In addition I gain skills in writing and researching, and learn a high-level view of the local environmental issues in the City of Ottawa. It is also a great way to meet like-minded, interesting people and exchange ideas about how to make our city a greener place to live.
Alison is a student at the University of Ottawa. In her spare time she enjoys cycling.
Jennie Videto
Jennie has been volunteering with Ecology Ottawa for the last four years. This past year she played a significant part in organizing Ecology Ottawa’s 5th Annual Dinner. Her ongoing role with Ecology Ottawa has been in updating the events calendar on our website. She has also done some photography work at special events. Jennie was a recipient of Ecology Ottawa’s 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award.
Here is what Jennie had to say about volunteering with Ecology Ottawa.
I volunteer with this organization simply because I believe in what they do. The small group of individuals is an inspiration and it’s my absolute pleasure to work alongside people who want nothing other than to make this world better. I very much enjoy meeting new people and being an Ecology Ottawa volunteer affords me that opportunity. It’s wonderful to meet and network with people who have the same values as I do and know that we are all striving for the same goal.
When she is not volunteering with Ecology Ottawa Jennie works for Ten Thousand Villages, an organization which sells Fair Trade crafts made from artisans in developing countries. Jennie also volunteers as the Fundraising Coordinator for The Canadian Organic Growers – Ottawa chapter. She believes strongly in promoting do-it-yourself gardening and is able to do that through this organization. Jennie is also a member of Fair Trade Ottawa-Equitable, an organization which seeks to achieve (and subsequently maintain) Fair Trade Town status for the City of Ottawa.