Read This Page Before You Apply
Family Shed has an opportunity, but it might not be for you. This opportunity requires commitment, willingness to do what needs doing, and the desire to be of service to others.
We have three programs running and a growth plan that gives us nine (9) locations with an eight figure budget by July 2027.
- Restore Legion Stewardship
- Film Skills and Production
- Canadian Identity Podcast
What we need now are Jack-of-all-Trades type people. Everyone has things at which they are particular good. What we need are people willing to transfer that competence into willingness to tackle new tasks.
There’s no need for someone who just wants to do social media, or just wants to do post-production. Family Shed needs a small group of dedicated people ready to help us build into a powerful success.
We are doing things differently here. You know how people always say “Be the change you want to see,” right? That’s us. We focus on PEP over POOP, harness all five Needs to serve our Purpose, and recognise Choice as the one thing genuinely in our control.
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.
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, skills, and questions while building 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 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 Conrad Hall; veteran, carpenter/welder, bestselling author. Sounds simple enough, right? So what makes him demanding?
He expects reliability, clear communication, and proactive execution. When you have something to do, you get it done without delay. 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.
Think you have something to contribute? Fill in the form:
https://forms.gle/AgP1DAVfd8dwQbJo8
(This link opens in a new tab.)
