Every graduating student must complete a minimum of 40 community hours, as part of the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). The purpose of the community involvement requirement is to encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility, and the contributions they can make in supporting and strengthening their community.
For a submission of 40 or more hours, students require a letter from their sponsor.
Community Service Letter Requirements
- Name of student – first and last name
- Name of organization – on organization letterhead is preferred
- Number of hours completed
- Detailed list of duties completed (ex. Sarah H completed 40 hours serving food for our veterans…)
- Contact information of organizer for follow up
Please contact our school office directly if you have questions about community services hours and which activities are accepted.
You can pick up a blue community service form in student services, or you can download one below:
Choose an Eligible Activity
The ministry has developed guidelines about what kinds of activities are eligible. To list a few:
- Supports a non-profit organization
- Structured programs to promote tutoring, mentoring, coaching whose purpose is to assist others
- Promotes environmental awareness
- Promotes and contributes to the health and well-being of any group
- Affiliated with a club, religious organization, arts or cultural association or political organization that seeks to make a positive contribution in the community
- Benefits the community
Examples of Eligible Activities
- Fundraising – Walk-A-Thons, wrapping, participating at events
- Sports/Recreation: coaching, pool assistance, Special Olympics
- Community – Helping run events, participating in food drives and support services for community groups, library programs
- Religious Organizations – Programming for children, child minding, helping with religious Sunday school, special events and clerical tasks
- Seniors’ Programs – Assisting in seniors’ residence or community programs
- Youth Programs – Scouts, Girl guides, drop-in centres, breakfast programs, after-school programs, camps
- Work with Animals – Helping with animal shelters, horseback riding programs, local zoo or petting zoo
- Activities for Individuals – Tutoring, chronic hospital care visits, Best Bubbies programs, working with special needs individuals
Ineligible Activities
- Displaces paid workers
- Office work done in an office that is not a non-profit organization
- Any activity where one can be normally paid
- “Take Your Kids to Work” experience in grade 9
- Co-operative education experiences
- Playing on a sports team
Volunteer Opportunities
Need help getting started? Check out these local opportunities!
Big Brothers/Big Sisters Homework Club
United Way of Halton and Hamilton
Community Service