Today’s Greatitude
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK focus on volunteers!
Today, volunteering is recognized as a highly effective form of giving, but how did it all begin?
Behind how a simple act of kindness became so popular around the world can be traced back to Britain in medieval times where there was an urge to aid the poor and sick. In Canada, the first ever National Volunteer Week was celebrated 75 years ago, in 1943!
That first National Volunteer took place in September, rather than April, from the 12th to the 20th in 1943. And it had a very specific purpose: to enlist women for wartime voluntary service. Major cities across the country hosted recruitment sessions and special events to raise awareness about the vital contributions women were making to the war effort.
Clearly, Canadians have seen the value volunteers bring to our country for a long time. The way we celebrate has changed a little through the years but celebrate we will indeed!
