Over 120 people attended the Brant Regional Association of Volunteer Administration’s (BRAVA) fall volunteer fair on Monday, October 20, 2025.
Held in partnership with the City of Brantford, the event featured a variety of organizations looking to connect with potential volunteers.
“We have a little over 25 agencies that are here with us today, and it’s just a great way to help people understand what kind volunteer opportunities are available across the community,” said Kari Astles, BRAVA President. “We’ve had lots of adults, students, and families, coming in and looking for volunteer opportunities, and trying to get a sense of the organizations. It’s nice too because they’re also able to ask about the different services those organizations offer and so it’s sort of a community resource and volunteer fair all at the same time.”
From Crime Stoppers to the Grand River Council on Aging, the Brantford Food Bank, Kids Can Fly, the Paris Optimist Club, Nova Vita, Autism Dog Services, the VON and more, there were plenty of chances for residents to connect with different agencies.
Astles said that volunteers are important to the community because they often play a vital role in keeping a number of organizations functioning.
“Many of the organizations that you see around the room here, would not exist if volunteers didn’t help to run their programs to meet their mission,” she said. “Without volunteers, these organizations just don’t have the ability to run the programs they do to support our community.”
For people like Armanda Lambert, who chairs the East Ward Echo Place Neighbourhood Association and was representing the Neighbourhood Alliance of Brantford at the event, there’s something special about being able to give back.
“It really just warms my heart to volunteer and I believe it’s an invaluable part of anyone’s learning experience,” she explained. “And with the impact that loneliness has on people’s psychological and mental health, especially now that we’re post COVID, it’s a great way for people to meet other people in their community with similar interests, or at least participate in an activity that is designed specifically to remind them that they belong here in Brantford with us. That they are welcomed and we are a fair and equal space.”
Lambert added that she thought the event was a good way to see what kind of volunteer opportunities exist in the region.
“I really love this event because there’s so many people and organizations here that are all like-minded. I didn’t necessarily have something like this to go to when I was younger and so it’s great to see,” she said. “A lot of the groups that are here, as much as it may look like they have only one mandate, ultimately teach people how to work together and how to make really significant, impactful differences in the community. I’ve already chatted with a lot of people here tonight and even if we aren’t exactly what they’re looking for as far as volunteering goes, I have no doubt that they will find something that sparks their interest.”
Katherine Tran, who recently moved to Brantford a few months ago, said she had never been to a volunteer fair before and thought it would be a good way to see what kind of opportunities there were.
“I’ve been looking online but it can be so hard to find something that’s more tailored to you,” she said. “I find that when you can really talk with the volunteer directors and get to know what their organization is about, then you connect more and can find those opportunities that speak to you.”
“I always want to help out when I can, especially if I have time,” continued Tran. “I feel like, if I’m able to give a piece of myself when other people maybe aren’t able to, that’s something I definitely want to do because we all should help each other as a community.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
