Every year, volunteers at the Royal BC Museum contribute over 40,000 hours of their time, to lead school programs, assist visitors in our shops and coat check area, interpret exhibits, act as hosts and ambassadors for the corporation and support the collections and research areas including the BC Archives.
Our volunteers are a diverse and talented group of people, who enjoy sharing their knowledge and experience with others, making friends, and experiencing one of the most exciting and rewarding volunteer programmes in the city.
It’s easy! Just complete an application form, telling us about your background, interests, education, volunteer and/or work experience, skills and hobbies, as well as your availability and any medical conditions that might be pertinent. We ask for two references, and in some areas, a Police Record Check is required.
Click here to see our volunteer opportunities and enroll as a volunteer
If you are under 19 years of age click here to see our volunteer opportunities and enroll as a volunteer
Applications can also be picked up at the Royal BC Museum, call Volunteer Services at 250-387-7902, or email us at hhodgson@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
Because we want you to find your experience as rewarding and enjoyable as possible, we carefully match your interests and skills with suitable volunteer opportunities. This can take a little while, as not all placements are available at all times. We keep all volunteer applications on file for approximately one year, and will let you know as soon as an appropriate position becomes available for you.
Potential volunteers with a background in research from other museums, archives or educational institutions may be placed on an individual basis depending on their individual knowledge, skills and interests. Please contact Volunteer Services for further information.
When a suitable opportunity becomes available, we will ask you to come in and talk to us, to see whether the assignment is one that you are interested in, or if there are other placements that may be more appropriate. This may take more than one visit. You should consider carefully whether the position meets your interests, and whether the time commitment works for you.
We will ask you to make a commitment to volunteering here. The minimum commitment we ask for is 4 months – although some of our volunteers enjoy it so much, they have been with us for many years.
Once you are accepted as a volunteer, we will give you a written job description and arrange a schedule for your Royal BC Musuem orientation and training. Depending on the position, initial training may take anywhere from a few hours to several months. We will continue to support and train you throughout your involvement at the Museum and Archives – it’s an opportunity for you to learn new skills and discover hidden talents. You can expect guidance and supervision to help you perform your duties with confidence and skill.
We expect each of our volunteers to understand and support the Royal BC Museum’s mission, and be ambassadors for the Royal BC Museum in the community. The Corporation is a unique organization, with staff and volunteers that are dedicated to maintaining high professional standards in their work.
