National Volunteer Week 2026 runs from April 19–25, recognizing the impact volunteerism has in our communities. Within the BC SPCA’s Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast region alone, more than 1,000 animal lovers contributed more than 52,000 hours of their time to care for BC SPCA animals in 2025 alone, a milestone the Society is celebrating during this important week.
Every week, animal lovers throughout the region volunteer hundreds of hours at various BC SPCA centres in their communities. They show up for a purr, a wagging tail, or a frightened bird that just needs a kind voice.
Whether reading stories and poems to animals in Sunshine Coast and Comox or creating new ways to enrich wildlife animals at the BC SPCA Wild Animals Rehabilitation Centre, volunteers come up with creative ways to connect with animals and people in their communities.
At the BC SPCA Comox centre, Gale reads to birds and rabbits, and they sure enjoy her kind voice. “I find it rewarding, especially when shy cats and rabbits open up and come closer after I read to them” says Gale, “the staff are very kind too, I’m amazed at the lengths they go to helping an animal.”
Meanwhile at the BC SPCA Parksville-Qualicum Beach Centre, there is nothing that Lisa cannot do. From organizing donation bins, helping clear out garbage, spending time with anxious dogs, to organizing the laundry room. “Not only is she a positive force in the centre, but Lisa is also an advocate in the community” said Janelle Hill, manager, BC SPCA Parksville-Qualicum Beach.
The kindness continues in Nanaimo, where the “three amigos” of the BC SPCA Nanaimo, as they call themselves, prove that the most vital work sometimes happens behind the scenes. Pat, Lou, and Karen’s impact isn’t only measured by clean kennels, but also in the visible relief expressed by the animals they tend to.
Heading further south to Victoria, the cat volunteer team led by volunteer Darleen helped more than 250 cats find their forever homes last year. On this team, every hour of the incredible 335 hours Sue donated last year made a difference. Meanwhile, superstar Louise fostered more than 200 kittens and cats in her 14 years volunteering. Similarly, the Garth Homer Society, supporting adults with disabilities, consistently dedicate hours assisting the BC SPCA every year.
In another area at the BC SPCA Victoria centre, Rebecca commutes 45 minutes each way twice a week to socialize dogs, support the Pet Food Bank and the Vets for Pets programs, where every month, underserved clients can access free pet food and free vet services. Adopters also acknowledge Rebecca’s efforts to socialize dogs as a major factor in their success stories. “Everyone is grateful, but the staff especially thank us for every task we take off their hands” shared Rebecca.
While the BC SPCA does not receive government funding for any of the services provided to B.C.’s most vulnerable animals and communities, its work is made possible by volunteers like Gale, Lisa, the three amigos of Nanaimo, and thousands of others that choose to show up for the kitten that needs a snuggle and the dog that needs a walking buddy. The BC SPCA is, at its heart, a volunteer story, and the BC SPCA’s volunteers on Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast are writing it every single day.