The annual Volunteer Expo, hosted by Careerspace, is one of the first networking opportunities of the year for students, designed to help bridge connections to local organizations and gain career-related experience. 

"Volunteering can be a very enriching experience for students both by fostering personal growth and by supporting students’ educational and professional goals,” said Kevin Whitmore, director of Careerspace. “The Volunteer Expo connects students with impactful organizations in the region and adds yet another dimension to Peterborough's reputation as an exceptional community for both living and learning.” 

In addition to enhancing their resumes, Whitmore says that volunteering also allows students to build transferable skills and explore potential career paths before graduating from Trent.  

“By learning about different industries and roles, students gain a better understanding of themselves, their passions, and their preferred working styles.” 

This year, the Volunteer Expo brought together more than 50 organizations from the surrounding area, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, PRHC, Kawartha Nordic, and the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. 

“Our entire team of volunteers were blown away by the passion and curiosity of the students who stopped to talk with us," said Lois Tuffin, founder and steering committee member of Volunteer Peterborough, one of the organizations at the Volunteer Expo. “It reinforced our faith in the new generation to care for and build capacity in our communities.” 

Unable to attend the event in person? Trent students can explore volunteer positions on the Student Job Board at any time through the Student Experience Portal. 

Learn more about training, placement, and experiential learning opportunities through Careerspace.