Volunteer at Sinai Health
Volunteers are valued members of the Sinai Health team. They help create a welcoming environment for patients and caregivers during their time in hospital.
Each volunteer role plays an important part in providing compassionate, inclusive support to patients and their families while giving volunteers the opportunity to develop new skills, build meaningful connections and make a positive impact in our hospitals.
Becoming a volunteer
To volunteer at Sinai Health, you must:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Have lived in Canada for at least one year
- Be fluent in English, with strong written and spoken communication skills
- Complete a health screening, including tests for tuberculosis and immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis B — you are responsible for any associated costs
- Purchase a volunteer uniform and photo ID badge
- Commit to a three- to four-hour shift once a week for a minimum of 12 months
Please consider your schedule carefully before applying. Consistent attendance is essential. If your studies or other commitments may affect your availability, you are welcome to apply when your schedule is more certain.
Volunteering at Sinai Health is a meaningful, ongoing commitment, not a one-time or short-term placement.
- Shifts are available Monday to Friday, with limited morning and afternoon shifts on weekends
- Parking is free for all volunteers
- Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to and from shifts; we do not provide TTC fare
- Uniforms are required and purchased by the volunteer
Please review the open positions at each hospital location. Each role requires different skills and abilities.
When you have found a role that interests you, email the relevant address below with an updated résumé, your availability and a brief note about yourself:
- Mount Sinai Hospital opportunities:
[email protected] - Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital opportunities:
[email protected]
We require a commitment of at least one year.
Please note that due to high application volume, only selected applicants will be contacted.
Volunteer Resources works to place as many applicants as possible, but placement is not guaranteed. With high application volume, we are not always able to accommodate every applicant. Past volunteer experience, skills and availability are considered when making selections.
We thank everyone who applies, but only applicants selected for further consideration will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within six months, you are welcome to reapply.
Does Sinai Health provide TTC fare?
Transportation to and from shifts is the volunteer’s responsibility. We do not provide funding for transportation.
Do volunteers get free parking?
Yes, parking is free for all volunteers.
Do volunteers need to wear a uniform?
All volunteers must wear a uniform and photo ID badge while on duty. You are responsible for the associated costs.
What shifts are available?
Shifts run Monday to Friday, with morning, afternoon and evening options. Limited morning and afternoon shifts are available on weekends.
Can high school students complete their 40 hours of community service with Sinai Health?
We do not provide community service hours for high school graduation requirements. All volunteers must commit to a weekly shift for a minimum of 12 months.
Are research or shadowing opportunities available?
No. We do not offer research or shadowing placements.
What if I am an internationally educated professional or trained in another health-care field?
We do not offer volunteer roles that allow you to practice or gain experience within a licensed or regulated profession. Volunteers do not perform tasks carried out by physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, lab technicians or other regulated health professionals.
Does volunteering lead to employment at Sinai Health?
Volunteering does not lead to a paid position. For all career opportunities, please visit our Careers section.
Our volunteer programs
Our goal is to create a meaningful and rewarding experience for our volunteers, patients, families and caregivers alike. We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities designed to match a wide range of ages, interests, and skill sets, including MAUVE, our award-winning signature program that supports frail, at-risk older patients during hospital stays.
MAUVE is the flagship program of Volunteer Resources at Sinai Health, operating across Mount Sinai Hospital and Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital. Specially trained volunteers work alongside the care team to provide one-to-one, patient-centred support that helps meet the personal and social needs of hospitalized older patients that are not always met in a fast-paced hospital environment.
Volunteers provide friendly visits, mealtime support, delirium prevention techniques, specialty activities and more, with the goal of improving quality of life, reducing the risk of functional decline and helping to shorten hospital stays for at-risk older patients.
Award-winning program
MAUVE received the Ada Berney Award for Enhancing Patient, Family and Caregiver Experience in 2022 and 2024.
Evidence-based results
A study of Sinai Health's MAUVE program found that 94 volunteers delivered more than 31,000 interventions to older patients across emergency, acute and transitional care settings in a single year — improving patient well-being and increasing front-line staff satisfaction.
"Using volunteers to improve the experience of older patients in the emergency department"
The MAUVE and ED program pairs trained volunteers with older adults in the Emergency Department, providing social visits, orientation support and hydration assistance. In its first six months, volunteers completed nearly 900 encounters with more than 700 unique patients.
Volunteer training
New MAUVE volunteers complete a four-step training process:
- Onboarding and clearance (six to eight weeks or more), including specialized MAUVE learning modules
- General volunteer orientation (two hours)
- MAUVE in-person training (3.5 hours)
- MAUVE in-person shadow shift (three hours)
MAP volunteers support patients at mealtimes on the units at Hennick Bridgepoint. They provide one-to-one bedside feeding assistance, help with meal tray setup and offer verbal encouragement, while building direct patient support skills.
Mount Sinai ACTT supports people living with severe and persistent mental illness from a range of ethno-racial backgrounds, with a focus on Southeast Asian and Tamil communities. We serve clients between the ages of 19 and 65.
Music volunteers bring live music to patients on our inpatient units, offering comfort and connection during their stay. We are often looking for skilled piano, guitar and ukulele volunteers to play on our inpatient units.
Current opportunities
MAUVE on the units volunteers
We are looking for dedicated volunteers interested in working with older adults. Volunteers interact with patients on the units and support care teams with non-clinical duties, including one-to-one bedside activities, friendly visits, mealtime support and more.
Skills and abilities
Ideal candidates can:
- Interact with older adults who have cognitive impairments
- Draw on personal or professional experience when working with older adults
- Communicate comfortably with the care team
Available shifts
- Monday: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
MAUVE Emergency Department volunteers
We are looking for dedicated volunteers interested in working with older adults in the Emergency Department (ED). Ideal candidates are mature students or individuals with relevant life experience working with older adults.
Skills and abilities
Ideal candidates can:
- Interact with older adults who have cognitive impairments
- Communicate comfortably with the care team
- Work well in a dynamic, high-pressure environment
- Problem-solve in ambiguous situations
Available shifts
- Monday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Music volunteers
We are looking for skilled piano, guitar and ukulele volunteers to play on our inpatient units.
Skills and abilities
Ideal candidates can:
- Maintain professional boundaries and follow safety protocols
- Maintain exemplary attendance, including during busy academic or work periods
Available shifts
- One two-hour shift per week, weekday daytime hours only
MAUVE on the units volunteers
We are looking for dedicated volunteers interested in working with older adults. Volunteers will interact with patients on the units and support care teams with non-clinical duties, including one-to-one bedside activities, friendly visits, mealtime support and more.
Skills and abilities
Ideal candidates can:
- Interact with older adults who have cognitive impairments
- Draw on personal or professional experience when working with older adults
- Communicate comfortably with the care team
Available shifts
- Monday: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wednesday: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Music volunteers
We are looking for skilled guitar and ukulele volunteers to play on our inpatient units.
Skills and abilities
Ideal candidates can:
- Maintain professional boundaries and follow safety protocols
- Maintain exemplary attendance, including during busy academic or work periods
Available shifts
- One two-hour shift per week, weekday daytime hours only
Mealtime Assistance Program (MAP)
MAP is looking for dedicated volunteers at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital. Volunteers build direct patient support skills by supporting patients one-to-one at mealtimes, assisting with bedside feedings, meal tray setup and verbal encouragement.
Skills and abilities
Ideal candidates can:
- Interact comfortably with patients who have varying cognitive impairments
- Draw on personal or professional experience in a caregiving role
- Demonstrate patience and strong interpersonal skills
- Interact comfortably with the care team
Available shifts
- Monday to Friday:
- Breakfast: 7:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
- Lunch: noon to 2 p.m.
- Dinner: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Mount Sinai Wellness Centre support volunteer
We are looking for dedicated volunteers to join our team at the Mount Sinai Wellness Centre, a community mental health program based in Scarborough. We serve the Greater Toronto Area’s Chinese community, focusing on older adults aged 65 and older, along with their family caregivers. The volunteer supports the program support coordinator with paperwork, preparing for clinical appointments and special events.
Please refer to the How to apply instructions for Mount Sinai Hospital above.
Skills and abilities
Ideal candidates can:
- Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Communicate effectively in English; proficiency in Cantonese or Mandarin is an asset
- Demonstrate excellent customer service skills
- Interact comfortably with a diverse group of individuals
- Take initiative and work independently
- Maintain professional boundaries and follow safety protocols
Available shifts
- Flexible 3–4-hour shifts, Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Location
Mount Sinai Wellness Centre
3660 Midland Avenue, Unit 201
Toronto, Ontario M1V 0B8
Mount Sinai Wellness Centre group support volunteer
We are looking for dedicated volunteers to join our team at the Mount Sinai Wellness Centre, a community mental health program based in Scarborough. We serve the Greater Toronto Area’s Chinese community, focusing on older adults aged 65 and older, along with their family caregivers. The group support volunteer assists with group activities and community education sessions for patients, family caregivers and the broader community. Classes are held remotely on Zoom and in person.
Please refer to the How to apply instructions for Mount Sinai Hospital above.
Skills and abilities
Ideal candidates can:
- Demonstrate proficiency with Zoom, including the ability to assist in live classes
- Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Communicate effectively in English; the ability to speak Cantonese or Mandarin is required, with writing ability in either language an asset
- Demonstrate excellent customer service skills
- Interact comfortably with a diverse group of individuals
- Take initiative and work independently
- Maintain professional boundaries and follow safety protocols
Available shifts
- One two-hour shift per week, held remotely or in person
- Flexible class times between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday
Location
Mount Sinai Wellness Centre
3660 Midland Avenue, Unit 201
Toronto, Ontario M1V 0B8
