Volunteering Trends - Canada, 1997 to 2003

The Institute of WellBeing has taken on the challenging task of developing a Canadian Index of WellBeing (CIW).  A number of the key indicators relate to community vitality; the table below was developed in that context.  The Institute reports that:

• 61% of Canadians were members of non-profit, voluntary organizations in 2003, up from 51% in the late 1990s
• 33% of Canadians volunteered with non-profit and charitable organizations in 2003; this was up from 31% in 1997, although the proportion had fallen to 27% in 2000.

Rate of Volunteering by Province - 1997, 2000, 2003

% volunteering with non-profit, voluntary organizations

population aged 15 and older

	1997	2000	2003
Canada	31%	27%	33%
Newfoundland	33	31	40
Prince Edward Island	36	37	40
Nova Scotia	38	34	38
New Brunswick	34	29	35
Quebec	22	19	23
Ontario	32	25	35
Manitoba	40	36	39
Saskatchewan	47	42	45
Alberta	40	39	39
British Columbia	32	26	37

Source: http://www.ciw.ca/Librairies/Documents/FirstReportOfTheInstituteOfWellbeing.sflb.ashx