Front Desk and Museum Tour Guide

Purpose: Deliver engaging tours of the museum and support daily operations

As a tour guide, you will be lead tours through Dalnavert, a small Victorian mansion. Over the course of our 45-60 minute guided tour, bring Dalnavert's history to life for visitors from all over the world. While not on tours, you will work the front desk. Front desk duties include greeting museum visitors, checking in guests for tours, answering the phone, handling cash and debit/credit transactions using a POS system, and taking gift shop sales. The Front Desk/Tour Guide role is also an opportunity to forge life-long friendships with your fellow volunteers.

Please note that due to the nature of the historic house and its architecture, volunteers with limited mobility may not be able to be tour guides. The upper floors of the house are only accessible by stairs, and so, all tour guides must be able to use these stairs to deliver tours. Please see our website for more accessibility notes.

Do not hesitate to reach out with accessibility-related questions if you are interested in volunteering. We will do our best to accommodate you. Accessibility requests and questions relating to volunteering should be directed to volunteerservices@dalnavertmuseum.ca or 204-943-2835.

Skills required:

• Comfortable interacting with visitors


• Able to speak clearly and confidently to individuals and small groups


• Able to follow directions


• Willingness to learn


• Oral communication (English)


• Basic knowledge of Canadian currency (bills and coins) and basic math skills to give accurate change


• Able to work as part of a team and independently


• Able to navigate the three floors of the historic house on foot (the upper floors are only accessible by stairs)


• Able to represent the Museum a with friendly, informative, and positive attitude


• We communicate with volunteers via email and track volunteers using Better Impact. Basic computer skills and email access are required to volunteer.


• Minimum age = 15 (with parent's permission)

The following skills and qualifications are not required, but are an asset:

• An interest in history, arts, or culture


• French, ASL or any additional languages


• Customer service experience


• Cash handling and familiarity with POS systems


• Retail experience


• Experience working with diverse groups


• Experience presenting information to the public

We will train volunteers in many of these skills.

Develop your skills in giving tours, retail, tourism, public speaking, team work, cash handling, using POS systems, communication, problem solving, and history.

Gain experience in museum and heritage related fields, as well as in the non-profit, retail, tourism, and education sectors. The skills gained in this role are transferable to many careers/sectors requiring strong customer service and communication skills.

Volunteers are expected to sign up for a regular 4 hour shift once a week or biweekly for a minimum commitment of three months. Shifts are Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-4pm in the spring, fall, and winter. In the summer (June-August), shifts are either 10am-4pm (with 30 minute lunch break), 10am-1pm, or 12pm-4pm.

At this time, we are only seeking volunteers for Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for the 12pm-4pm shift (with an option to transition to a 10am-1pm or 10am-4pm shift once summer hours begin in June).

• Online Application Form Below
• Email: volunteerservices@dalnavertmuseum.ca (Include Opportunity ID)