Read This Page Before You Apply
Welcome to the Family Shed volunteer hub. Before you look at the open positions listed at the bottom of this page, you need to understand exactly who we are, what we stand for, and the reality of working with our organization.
We do things differently here. If you are looking for a standard, predictable, volunteer gig to passively pad your resume, you are in the wrong place. If you want to be part of a hands-on solution to social isolation, keep reading.
What It Means to Volunteer
Everyone has had a job they kept simply because they needed to pay the bills. That attitude has no place when you’re volunteering. Volunteering just to get in for free is going to get you bounced.
You volunteer with Family Shed because you understand the need for people to make connections and feel effective. You understand that Belonging is our most powerful need, and left unsatisfied, it will cause us to wither and die. So you are joining Family Shed because it is something about which you can be passionate.
The positions available right now are leadership positions. You need to have several years of experience and be ready to hit the ground with your feet running. The ideal candidate for any of these positions is actually retired. They have a career behind them and are in a position to share their knowledge and experience. You want to help others grow into your level of professionalism and expertise.
Our Philosophy: Solutions, Not Problems
At Family Shed, we operate under a simple, core framework:
“Family Shed is a safe space for soldiers and veterans. That means some civilians are going to be offended by our attitudes and our speech. Family Shed is a place where each person, military or civilian, can share their knowledge and skills and build healthy relationships. Those relationships are motivated by personal responsibility and demand community accountability.”
Our program has won approval from Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, allowing us to work directly with soldiers while building out our civilian support systems. Our starting goal is to build a program that encompasses the geographic area of 32CBG. That goes from Oshawa to Barrie and around the Golden Horseshoe to encompass the entire Niagara Peninsula.
However, our approach is explicitly contrarian. The rest of the world is fixated on studying problems—pouring resources into analyzing the loneliness epidemic and rising suicide rates. Family Shed focuses entirely on the solution: connecting neighbors through healthy relationships rooted in personal responsibility.
We believe every human has five basic Needs: Belonging, Purpose, Survival, Fun, and Freedom. We hold the distinct view that people turn to psychological labels, clinical drugs, and systemic excuses to fulfill those Needs because those options are easy. Being an adult is hard work. (Even the indolent get older.) We require community, accountability and real human connection.
What You Can Expect (The Reality Check)
Volunteering with us is deeply meaningful, but it is also a high-stakes environment. We believe in total transparency, so here is the unvarnished truth about what it takes to thrive here:
An Incredibly Demanding Founder: You will be working closely with our founder, Rev. Conrad Hall. (Remember, he was a combat soldier and then a carpenter/welder long before choosing ordination.)
While you will receive direct mentorship, and a consistently supportive team environment, Rev. Hall is incredibly demanding. He expects high reliability, clear communication, and proactive execution. Keep reading if you think that’s par for the course and far from demanding.
A Raw, Unpolished Audience: Our primary target audience consists of soldiers and veterans. You will be dealing frequently with individuals who are unpolished, strongly opinionated, and often intolerant. There is absolutely no room in their worldview for outsiders to offer correction, instruction, or even help. You must possess thick skin and a high level of respect for their boundaries. You must say what you mean and mean what you say.
The Longevity Economy is Welcome: Family Shed is about looking people in the eye, shaking hands, and building real-world relationships. We explicitly design our environment to welcome older, retired volunteers who want to keep their hand in the game and wish to pass along their life experience.
No Bureaucracy, Just Gumption: We do not care about traditional corporate fluff. Even for roles that feature independent or remote workflows, we require you to exercise self-motivation, time management, and discretion.
Contrary to popular opinion, Family Shed believes volunteers can absolutely be fired.
Open Positions
If you have read our philosophy, understand the demands of the environment, and possess the grit and gumption required to help us lower the suicide rate and end isolation, choose a role below to read the full description of responsibilities and access the interest form:
[Events Coordinator] – The logistical engine responsible for coordinating the physical gear, transportation, and manpower required for our Canadian Identity podcast shoots, monthly workshops, and speaking days (in and out of Toronto).
[Interview Scheduler] – The media relations point-person tasked with pitching outlets, managing calendars, and booking Rev. Hall on podcasts, radio, TV, and print platforms. You had best be an excellent proofreader, too.
[Volunteer Engagement Coordinator] – The organizational connector focused on vetting applicants, coordinating face-to-face meetings, and expanding our core team.
As you read this page, how do you feel about the balance between the explanation of our psychological philosophy (the Five Needs) and the blunt warnings about the demanding work environment? Make no mistake, you are volunteering, but this is a work environment. The goal is for each of these positions to build into a paid position. You need to prove your worth as a volunteer before being considered qualified to fill a position when the funding becomes available.
