Behind the Scenes: Real Stories of Volunteer Engagement in the Community - Part 4

• May 12, 2025

  Posted by: Kamillah El-Giadaa

  We're back with part four of our Behind the Scenes series, sharing stories about volunteer engagers in the community! From welcoming new volunteers to enhancing program efficiency, these stories showcase the real impact of our workshops and the essential role volunteer engagers play in our communities.

  Meet Colleen Mahon

  As soon as we met Colleen Mahon at Dakota Community Centre, you can feel the passion and connection she has to the centre and volunteers.
  She doesn't hold the traditional title of "Volunteer Manager" or even any formal education in Volunteer Management but she embodies volunteer engagement and runs an amazing volunteer program!
  Kamillah got to catch Colleen at the Community Centre a couple of weeks ago to chat all about volunteers and the program she coordinates.

  1. What is the Dakota Community Centre?

  Dakota Community Centre, or DCC, is a vibrant and growing facility in Winnipeg where people of all ages come together. It's changed a lot over the years. Back in the day, like many other community centres, it ran mostly on the energy of volunteer "parent" coaches and board members. Now, while larger sports are managed by their own associations, we still run programs like Mini Soccer and recreation programming. That's where our amazing volunteers come in. The centre is such a busy, welcoming place-it's a real hub for the community.

  2. What is your role at Dakota Community Centre?

  I'm the Volunteer Program Coordinator at DCC, a role I kind of fell into-but now I absolutely love it. I didn't have any formal training in volunteer management when I started. It originally fell under the Senior Resource Finder position, and over time, I took it on. During COVID, I took a free webinar series from Volunteer Manitoba, and that was the turning point for me. Since then, I've developed a full-fledged program, and it's something I'm incredibly proud of.

  3. What role do volunteers play at the Community Centre?

  Volunteers are at the heart of what we do. They fill so many roles-from Site Ambassadors and Skate Monitors to Gardening Team members and Event Helpers. Some help out casually at special events, while others have regular weekly shifts. We've gone from just a handful of volunteers to processing over 560 in just a few years. Right now, we have 145 active volunteers, with about 50 coming in weekly. We also work with a lot of student volunteers, and because we offer a yearly scholarship, there's never a shortage of interest.

  4. How long have you been engaging volunteers in your career?

  I officially started engaging volunteers in 2020, after taking that webinar series through Volunteer Manitoba. Even though I had been helping out before that, this was when I really got focused and intentional about building a volunteer program. That same year, I applied for and received a $25,000 New Horizons Grant, which let us purchase Better Impact Volunteer Management software, set up a volunteer office with uniforms, snacks, supplies, and plan appreciation events. That was a huge leap forward for us.

  5. What advice would you give anyone working with volunteers?

  Find ways to make the experience meaningful-for both the volunteer and the organization. Clear job descriptions and orientation go a long way. Communication is key. I send out a monthly "Volunteer Connection" newsletter using Canva, and I work with our local businesses to get small thank-you gifts during National Volunteer Week (see the last photo above).
  Get out to network with other volunteer engagers and take some training. It really does make the difference. Our sector is full of great ideas and advice.
  Honestly, I wish I had found this path sooner. Volunteer Management is my passion, and I'm so grateful I get to do this every day.

  Thank you to Colleen for sharing her experience and insights!

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