Discover York Info, a one-stop destination for community information and volunteer opportunities

Yorkregion.com
November 14, 2018
Lorne Chase

Question: What do a newcomer to Canada, a high school student, and a retiree looking to stay engaged have in common?

Answer: They can all search for fulfilling volunteer jobs and helpful community information through the York Info Community Information and Volunteer Centre located at Newmarket Public Library and online at YorkInfo.ca.

For the newcomer, it’s where they’ll discover information on government and non-profit organizations that will help them become familiar with their new home, such as where to find ESL (English as a Second Language) classes and how to gain Canadian work experience.

For the student and retiree, York Info will help them find opportunities to volunteer within the community based on location and personal interests. This can be done in person by coming into the library to speak with a staff member at the York Info desk, or online through the York Info database.

“For anyone seeking volunteer work the database is very easy to use,” says Aislinn Lothian, York Info’s volunteer services co-ordinator. “We are always happy to talk to individuals about volunteering that would be best suited for them based on their personal interests.”

Organizations interested in posting volunteer positions can go to the York Info database and select ‘Suggest a New Opportunity’ under the ‘Volunteer Opportunities’ tab to have their position added. They can also contact York Info staff at volunteer@newmarketpl.ca with any questions.

Non-profit organizations can also use the York Info database to share information about their services. They can go to the database and search for their organization’s name under the ‘Community Information’ tab. If it isn’t there, they can select ‘Suggest New Record’ to request that they be added to the database. They can also contact York Info’s community information co-ordinator at communityinfo@newmarketpl.ca to learn more.

In addition, non-profit organizations can book the library’s Community Kiosk or one of the library’s display areas for free to connect with the public at the library. Any non-profits interested can contact York Info for more details.

York Info is also a source for information provided by government, non-profit organizations, and community groups. Brochures, flyers, and other printed material can be found on shelves, all organized into categories such as Skills & Training, Employment, Health & Nutrition, Legal, and more.

You can visit York Info on the library’s main floor, or contact York Info staff at 905-953-5110 Ext. 4860 or by email at yorkinfo@newmarketpl.ca.