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Volunteer Opportunities

Offering your time as a volunteer at The Royal can improve the lives of patients and enrich our community.

Engage / Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are critical to the success of The Royal.

Build your skills and work with a like-minded group of people who believe in improving the lives of people living with mental illness. We offer interactive roles in select treatment areas and behind-the-scenes roles in support or administrative capacities. Our volunteers improve the quality of patients’ lives, help raise funds, manage our annual Christmas tree sale and operate on-campus amenities such as our coffee shops, salon and clothing store.

Volunteer roles ask a minimum commitment of eight months for adults and youth 16 years of age or older. Please note that due to that time commitment, we are no longer able to offer four-month summer volunteer placements for post-secondary students.

Our volunteer services department works to ensure that each placement best fits with a volunteer’s talents and goals.

How do I become a volunteer?

Download two forms: application and references
Send the reference form to two references to complete.
Send the completed application form, two complete reference forms, and your resumé to volunteering@theroyal.ca or via mail.
If a match is found for your skills and availability, we will schedule an interview.
If you are selected for a volunteer position, you must complete a TB test (performed on-site free of charge at The Royal) and submit a vulnerable sector level Police Record Check.
Once a role is identified that fits your timing and ability, it can take one to two months to start volunteering.
If you are not selected at this time, you can reapply in four months.

Family Advisory Council

The Family Advisory Council speaks for families of patients at The Royal. Family and friends of patients advocate for caregivers from a lived perspective. The council represents families at events and in consultations and liaises between support groups in the community.

Learn more

Client Advisory Council

The Client Advisory Council serves as the patient’s voice at The Royal. The council advises and advocates on behalf of patients undergoing treatment. The council is comprised of current and former patients and works with staff and clinicians to ensure the best possible treatment and standards of care.

Learn more

A group of people talk during a therapy session

Volunteers talk at a table during a meeting

Board Recruitment

The Royal is always looking for dedicated people to serve on our boards—Hospital, Foundation and Research Institute. We seek mental health professionals, business and legal experts, and people who have been affected by mental illness in their lives and families. Reach out today if this sounds like you.

Learn more

Want to get involved in research?

There are lots of ways to participate in research at The Royal. Take part in a clinical study, join as an academic partner, or become an advisor.

Clinical studies

Participate in a study

Ottawa Campus

1145 Carling Ave.,
Ottawa, ON K1Z 7K4
(613) 722-6521

Long-Term Care

1141 Carling Ave.,
Ottawa, ON K1Z 7K4
(613) 722-6521

Brockville Campus

1804 Highway 2 E, P.O. Box 1050,
Brockville, ON K6V 5W7
(613) 345-1461

Community Mental Health

2121 Carling Ave.,
Ottawa, ON K2A 1H2
(613) 722-6521