Volunteer for the Festival

We have many volunteer opportunities to choose from and welcome people of all ages. 

Join us Today

Be Part of the Action! Join our Team of Volunteers

Over 100 volunteers are needed annually to make the Sudbury Dragon Boat Festival a success.  Volunteers assist with a variety of duties leading up to, during, and after the festival. We’d love to have you on board! 

This is an outdoor event, and all volunteers should be prepared to work in ANY kind of weather. Volunteers must be a minimum of 12 years of age. Volunteers under the age of 18 must submit a signed, manual Waiver  to complete their registration. Volunteers will receive: pizza lunch and snacks, water, a volunteer T-shirt, and following the Festival, there will be a volunteer appreciation dinner where you can mingle with other volunteers and win prizes.

Every year since 2012, we recognize an outstanding Male and outstanding Female Volunteer of the Year. This award has been graciously provided by the McColeman family as a memorial to Judy McColeman, a long standing volunteer for the festival.

Judy McColeman Female Volunteer of the Year

Judy McColeman Male Volunteer of the Year

If you are a high school student who needs community credit hours, bring your form with you on the day of the event and turn it in to your supervisor.  On completion of your hours, go back to your supervisor to get the form completed.  Once completed the Festival Coordinator will sign the form.

 

Click here to apply online

Volunteer Positions Required:

Festival Day - Saturday July 13

Awards

Help set up and monitor the awards area

Children Area

Help run various children’s activities including craft and games, and possibly assist face painter

Dock Crew 

Help teams embark and disembark from boats, redistribute paddles and life jackets as needed

Equipment  – Day of Festival

Help load and unload SDBF equipment for return to SDBF. Help move dragon boats across the lake to NWSC.

Floaters

Fill in for other volunteers who need a break (various areas)– on and off all day

Greeters

Hand out programs to people entering the park from 8:30 am to 12:30

ID Verification

Check ID at beer tent entrance between 11 am and 5 pm

Marshalling

Help teams prepare for the races. Could involve being gate keeper, manning a lane, helping with check in, among other responsibilities available in that area

Parking

Ensure only vehicles with parking pass enter the Elizabeth Street parking lot. Shifts start at 7 am, 10 am, and 1 pm.

Tear down

Help pack up and remove signage, load into cube van and boats for  return to SDBF garage

Unload/Reload GWN Boats

Assist with unloading boat that arrive from Toronto.  Do inventory of GWN  rentals.

Day Before Festival - Friday July 12

Equipment  – Day Before Festival

Help load truck at SDBF garage and unload when it gets to park. Help move   dragon boats across the lake to the park.

Set Up – Beach area

Help with Race and beach set up on July 13. Put up fencing, set up docks, arrange paddles and lifejackets, set up results and timing area

Set Up – Festival area

Help with Festival set up on Friday July 13, place tables, chairs, distribute blue barrels and hang signage in the park,

Lake Training - June and July

We run a six-week program  that runs from June 3 to  July 11, 2019,                             Monday to Thursday from 5:30 pm to 9 pm on the docks at the Northern Water Sport Centre.

Volunteers aid the Festival’s Training Assistant with various tasks including

  • Help team embark/disembark during their practices.
  • Make sure waivers are signed
  • People are wearing lifejackets before they head out on the lake.

Typically lake training volunteers come once or twice a week for the full evening.

Long Term Volunteer Opportunities

Become a Board Member

The Festival is currently seeking  Board Members willing to assist in the following areas;

  • Sponsorship
  • Policy and Governance
  • Northern Water Sport Centre SDBF Representative

For more information visit our Become a Board Member page.

Join a Committee

Be part of the team that plans and  executes  the Festival. We are seeking individuals  to chair various sub-committees or help chairs complete  a variety of tasks.

Sub-Committee Chairs

  • Children’s area

Committees looking for members

  • Sponsorship
  • Race Admin /Volunteer Services
  • Marshalling

 To join a committee please communicate with the Festival via email at sudburydragonboatsfestival@gmail.com.