Getting something done is often a matter of finding the right person for the right job, or vice-versa.
Along those lines, the Town of View Royal wants to establish an organizing body to guide the selfless efforts of View Royal volunteers. Tentatively named Volunteer View Royal, the group is intended to encourage community engagement and help get more projects off the ground.
Councillors Ron Mattson and David Screech are spearheading the project and are in the process of forming a committee to design the program and get the ball rolling.
"There are a lot of things we want to do. Some of them we haven't been doing because of the costs involved," Mattson said.
Many jobs are quick fixes, including scheduling work parties for cleanups of parks and beaches, or such natural restoration work as removing invasive species and maintaining trails.
Mattson envisions the committee working with the town to identify volunteer opportunities – with the town, local organizations or individuals – then connecting willing workers to those jobs.
"People want to volunteer; they're looking for things to do. They're not looking for permanent, long-term commitments, but they like to have activities they can go work on," he said. "For some people, it just gets them out and interacting with other people in the community. There's lots of benefits for both the volunteers as well as the town."
An organized structure would also help connect people with specific skill sets who are willing to volunteer for particular jobs in the community.
Mattson and Screech already have ideas for the initiative, but want to leave the program’s design up to members of the new committee.
"There's things set out in here in terms of broad principles or goals and objectives, but (the) vision can be improved upon and be implemented by somebody else," Mattson said.
Adds Screech: “We're encouraging people who not only want to serve on that committee, but people who also just want to volunteer with the town in any capacity.”
Committee members would meet about once a month for six to eight months, with the potential for time beyond that.
For more information on the committee or to express an interest to join, call Mattson at 250-479-7754 (email: rmattson@shaw.ca) or Screech at 250-479-1782 (email: davidscreech@shaw.ca).
kwells@goldstreamgazette.com