Volunteer Opportunities and Training

 Volunteers are needed in the Winnipeg chapter to assist with and present Advance Care Planning workshops; attend health and wellness fairs; witness signatures on applications for MAID (medical assistance in dying); advocate for end-of-life care and choices; and help set up or lead presentations about end-of-life issues.

ALL volunteers must read and support the organization's mission and values, found here: https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/about.
ACP Workshop Presenter
​Qualifications:
  • Retired or working nurse / clinician / hands-on healthcare experience
  • Comfortable doing presentations in front of 10 to 40 or more people
  • Available during weekdays (able to set your own days for workshops) and on an occasional weekend Saturday
Requirements:
  • Sign a privacy statement and have a criminal records check (paid for by DWD)
  • Agree to present at least 1 or 2 workshops a month from mid Sept to 1st week in Dec and from Jan to first week in June
  • Ensure there are more ACP workbooks/kits for sale than requested
  • Work closely with Event Coordinator (EC) to coordinate scheduling of workshops
  • Work with EC to make a detailed list of equipment, supplies and # of volunteers necessary for the event (EC will have a list of available equipment at the venue)
  • Fill out workshop evaluation and report on the ‘good, bad, and ugly’ (potential improvements)
  • Ensure sign-in sheet contact information is complete and passed on to appropriate person for entry into contact database
  • Ensure volunteer workshop assistants set up / take down at workshop if necessary
Training:
  • Attend at least 1 ACP presentation to understand the workshop
  • Attend 1 – 2 additional workshops as a ‘trainee’
  • Present at least one workshop under supervision
​​(Download printable version)
Workshop Assistant
(Assistant to ACP Workshop Presenter)
​Requirements:
  • Available during weekdays (Monday to Friday days) and an occasional weekend (Saturday)
  • Agree to help with at least one or two workshops in a two-month period from mid-Sept to 1st week in Dec and from Jan to first week in June
  • Sign a privacy statement and have a criminal records check (paid for by DWD)
  • Able to arrange room set up/ take down after presentation, i.e., push 6 – 8 ft tables around; set up chairs for attendees (if necessary)
  • Comfortable greeting people as they come in
  • Able to take money payments (usually cash, but eventually we hope to get an electronic credit card/debit card machine)
  • Keep accurate accounting of payments
Training:
  • Attend at least 1 ACP presentation to understand the workshop
  • Attend 1 – 2 additional workshops as a ‘trainee’
​​(Download printable version)
Tradeshow / Wellness Fair Assistant
Requirements:
  • Available during weekdays or a weekend Saturday
  • Sign a privacy statement and have a criminal records check (paid for by DWD)
  • Agree to help with at least one or two wellness fairs/tradeshows in a year, usually from mid-Sept to 1st week in Dec and from Jan to first week in June
  • Comfortable greeting people and speaking with them about why they should attend the Advance Care Plan workshop
  • Able to stand for long periods (2–3 hours) in a brightly lit, noisy environment
Training:
  • Attend at least 1 ACP presentation to understand the workshop
  • Attend 1 – 2 additional workshops as a ‘trainee’
  • Attend the Tradeshow 101 workshop (1 hour)
​(Download printable version)
MAID Application Form Witness
Roughly 50% of applicants don't have the required 2 people who are not in their will and not involved in their personal / health care to witness their signatures, so we have about 60 volunteers across Manitoba who serve as witnesses for the forms. Please note that you do not witness the patient's death; this is just the paperwork part of the application process.

Requirements:
  • Sign a privacy statement and have a criminal records check (paid for by DWD)
  • You must be personally vetted by Cheri Frazer and one of our experienced witnesses during a training session and during witness sessions as a trainee
  • Have a cell phone capable of texting
  • Have your own transportation or be able to easily acquire transportation
  • Be capable of printing forms
  • Be discreet with patient information and details
  • Be capable of remaining calm in emotionally distressing situations
  • Be willing to share your name, cell #, and e-mail address with all other witnesses in Manitoba
  • Be capable of handling a LOT of e-mails when an urgent witnessing is being arranged; we usually require a Reply to All until they get sorted
Training: 
  • Attend a 2-hour training session
  • ​Attend one or more witnessings as a trainee
​​(Download printable version)
Chapter Events Assistant
(Chapter meetings on end-of-life issues)
There are too many death-related topics to even list in one place! From wills and estates to points cards to burial options and more... endless options for fascinating chats. We have several volunteers willing to take the lead, but they need help and support!

​Requirements: 
  • Sign a privacy statement and have a criminal records check (paid for by DWD)
  • Able to arrange suitable meeting spaces
  • Able to arrange room set up/ take down after meeting, i.e., push 6 – 8 ft tables around; set up chairs for attendees
  • Comfortable greeting people as they come in
  • Comfortable dealing with grief
Training:
  • Attend 1 – 2 chapter chats to get a feel for what's needed

Advocacy Agent

Do the restrictions on accessing MAID make you want to DO SOMETHING to make things better? Do you believe that all Manitobans should have better access to palliative care, and that we need more beds? If so, advocacy might be for you.

Requirements:
  • Be willing to stay informed on legal issues and patient rights issues in Manitoba and Canada
  • Comfortable speaking with and writing to politicians
  • (Possibly) comfortable speaking with the media
Training:
  • Learn how to represent DWD: when you speak for the organization, your messaging must be that of DWD's, it can't be your own (although you're free to advocate for change as a private citizen, not as a DWD volunteer)
  • Get together with like-minded people, share resources with head office, and come up with a plan