Every week in Cornwall and SDG, especially in the summer, people enjoy festivals, community events, fundraisers, youth sports, cultural celebrations, charity drives, and countless other activities that contribute to making our region a great place to live.
What many people don’t see is the growing struggle behind the scenes.
Volunteers are disappearing.
Yes, there are still many dedicated people giving their time to community organizations, myself included, but the problem is that the same people are volunteering everywhere. The same names appear on organizing committees, service clubs, event boards, fundraising teams, and community groups. I know. I’m on three! We work tirelessly because we care, but we are stretched thin.
Meanwhile, fewer people are stepping up to replace them.
This isn’t unique to Cornwall. Communities across Canada are experiencing the same challenge. People are busier than ever. Many are working longer hours, juggling multiple jobs, caring for children or aging parents, and trying to navigate the rising cost of living. And when time itself becomes a scarce resource, volunteering is often the first thing scratched from the calendar.
Yet our communities depend on it. Ribfest doesn’t happen because city hall writes a cheque. Food drives don’t organize themselves. Youth programs don’t run on good intentions alone. Festivals, charity events, community gardens, sports associations, arts groups, service clubs, and countless local initiatives exist because ordinary people choose to give their time.
In many ways, volunteers are the invisible backbone of our community.
We often talk about roads, bridges, water systems, and public buildings. Those things matter. But communities also rely on a social infrastructure made up of volunteers who coach sports teams, sit on local boards, organize fundraisers, staff countless events, mentor young people, and help neighbours in need.
Without them, many of the things we take for granted would simply disappear.
Think about it. No Ribfest. No Art Walk. No Farmers Market. No Youth soccer, softball or ball hockey leagues. No Alexander Park.
But volunteer burnout is real. When too much responsibility falls on too few shoulders, eventually people become exhausted. Some step away. Others scale back. And when they leave, there likely isn’t someone waiting to take their place.
We should worry about that. And be mindful.
Those who benefit from the hard work of volunteers need to rethink how they treat volunteers! Too many times, volunteers hear only complaints from those they serve. You have no idea what that does to their morale. So I beg of you, please be kind… Think before you post a negative comment. Try to put yourself in their shoes. Adhere to the old adage that goes “if you don’t have anything good to say, say nothing”. And remember, volunteers don’t HAVE to be there. They CHOOSE to.
At least, it seems like the spirit of community is still alive. For now. We see it every time a fundraiser succeeds, every time volunteers show up for a local event—even if it is for a rib sandwich (lol)— and every time neighbours help one another during difficult times.
The challenge, though, will be ensuring the next generation doesn’t see volunteering as an obligation, but as an opportunity to make a difference in the world they live in.
Because communities don’t run on tax dollars alone. They run on people.
Thank a Volunteer Today!
Speaking of volunteers…
On June 10th, the Cornwall Arts Community lost one of its pillars: Rose Desnoyers.
Rose was a tireless volunteer. I had the privilege of serving alongside Rose on the board of Focus Art years ago, and I don’t use the word “privilege” lightly. Rose was genuinely one of the most grounding people I’ve ever sat in a room with. She had this calming presence and quiet wisdom about her.
From the get-go, she was one of The Seeker’s biggest cheerleaders. She believed in what we were trying to do here, and she said so, openly, loudly, and often. She wrote for us for a while because Rose was not only the kind of person who showed up and said, “Keep going,” but also the kind willing to back her encouragement with action.
This is why she gave enormous energy to the arts community here in Cornwall. Among other things, she helped bring the Hall of Fame for the Arts to life. She also fundraised relentlessly for the soon-to-open Arts and Culture Centre.
She will be dearly missed.
The Seeker extends its most sincere condolences to her family and friends.
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