2026 is the International Year of Volunteers!
In 2026, Canada will celebrate International Volunteer Year (IVY 2026), a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recognize the power of volunteerism and strengthen Canada’s culture of civic participation.
Across Prince Edward Island, volunteers play a critical role in sustaining our communities. From supporting food security initiatives and youth programs to organizing community events, serving on nonprofit boards, and responding to emergencies, volunteers help make PEI a place where people look out for one another.
International Volunteer Year invites communities across the country to celebrate volunteer contributions, share volunteer stories, and inspire more people to get involved.
National Volunteer Week 2026
National Volunteer Week (NVW) is the largest celebration of volunteers in Canada. In 2026, it will take place April 19–25 and will align with the broader Ignite Volunteerism campaign.
This week is an opportunity for organizations to:
• Recognize and thank volunteers
• Share stories about volunteer impact
• Encourage new people to get involved
• Celebrate the role volunteers play in building stronger communities
CSNPEI is proud to support nonprofits and community organizations across PEI in celebrating volunteers during this special year.
Video challenge for organizations!
We’re inviting nonprofits, clubs, associations, and volunteer groups across PEI to take part in our Volunteer Video Challenge!
Create a short video (30 seconds to 2 minutes) that captures the spirit of volunteering in your organization whether through inspiring stories, valuable lessons, humour, or heartfelt moments.
Post your video on Instagram or Facebook between April 1st to April 25th 2026, and tag the Community Sector Network of PEI. Share as many videos as you’d like, each video counts as an additional entry.
By participating, you’ll be entered into a random draw to win a $1500 cash prize to support your organization’s work and we’ll feature your videos on our channels to celebrate your impact!
Video challenge for the public!
Anyone living in PEI can participate by either committing to volunteer or sharing their current volunteer experience.
Participants can enter in one of two ways:
Option 1: Make a volunteer pledge
Post on Facebook or Instagram that you are committing to volunteer with a PEI nonprofit or community organization.
Your post must:
- Mention the organization you plan to volunteer with
- Tag the organization
- Tag @CSNPEI
Option 2: Share your volunteer experience
Post a photo or short video of yourself volunteering with a PEI organization.
Your post must:
- Show you volunteering (past or present)
- Tag the organization
- Tag @CSNPEI
Important entry rules
To be eligible:
- Posts must be public
- Posts must tag both the organization and @CSNPEI
- Entries must be posted by April 25, 2026
Two winners will be selected:
- 1st prize: $1,000
- 2nd prize: $500
Free Resources to Help You Celebrate Volunteers
Volunteer Canada has created a variety of free tools and resources to help organizations celebrate National Volunteer Week and recognize volunteers.
These resources can help you quickly create professional posts, graphics, and recognition materials for your volunteers.
Available Resources Include
• Social media graphics and ready-to-post templates
• Customizable Canva templates
• National Volunteer Week logos
• Printable posters
• Volunteer certificates of appreciation
• Recognition graphics in English and French
Many templates can be easily customized with your organization’s logo, volunteer photos, and messages of appreciation.
These tools make it easy for organizations of any size to celebrate their volunteers and share their stories online.
Discover organizations to volunteer in PEI!
Roadmap to Volunteerism
In June 2025, CSNPEI hosted a full-day Volunteer Symposium with over 130 participants from across the Island. The event sparked conversations, shared lived experiences, and identified solutions for the future of volunteering.
From that work, we created the Roadmap to Volunteerism, a comprehensive guide full of practical strategies, success stories, and policy recommendations to strengthen volunteer engagement on PEI.
Key themes include:
- Recruitment and Retention: Clear roles, flexible models, and supports that reduce barriers.
- Inclusion and Belonging: Welcoming youth, newcomers, and seniors into meaningful opportunities.
- Volunteer Wellbeing: Preventing burnout through training, recognition, and support systems.
- Policy and System Change: Recommendations for government, businesses, and the nonprofit sector to ensure long-term sustainability.