Voluntary Sector in Nova Scotia

The Voluntary Sector

Volunteers are an important part of our communities; they coach teams and direct community theatre, they respond to fires, and conduct search and rescue efforts.  Volunteers provide meals to the elderly, serve church suppers and sit on board of directors that deliver health care services. Volunteers and non-profit organizations play a critical role in every community across Canada.

The organizations within the voluntary sector represent a broad range of activities and touch almost every aspect of Nova Scotians' lives. They provide essential services upon which Nova Scotians have come to depend.  The voluntary sector also provides opportunities for Nova Scotians to become supportive, creative members of their communities.

Voluntary Sector in Nova Scotia

• 453,000 Nova Scotians volunteer
• Rates of volunteerism increased 7% between 2004 and 2007
  • Average hours of volunteerism declined between 2004 and 2007
• 65% of Nova Scotian youth volunteer
  • The highest rate of all age groups
• 44% of Nova Scotian seniors volunteer
• Volunteers contribute $1.8 billion worth of services to the Nova Scotia economy

Voluntary Sector in Atlantic Canada

• There are 5,820 registered Non-Profit Voluntary Sector (NPVS) organizations in Nova Scotia
  • 13,000 in Atlantic Canada
• The NPVS in Atlantic Canada sees $4 billion in annual revenue and has 83,000 paid staff

Voluntary Sector in Canada

• Over 12.5 million Canadians volunteered in 2007.
• Nationally, volunteers contribute the equivalent of $64.9 billion ($2007) worth of services annually to the national economy.
• Most of the volunteer hours that are contributed in Canada are from a small number of volunteers.
  • The top 25% of volunteers contributed 78% of all volunteer hours.