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Interview with Mr. William J.S. Boyle, CEO

William “Bill” Boyle has been at Harbourfront Centre for 30 years. He started as Founding Director of the Power Plant Gallery. In this capacity, he presided over the transformation of the 1920s powerhouse into a public art institution devoted solely to contemporary art. He also oversaw the conversion of the former ice house into what is now the Enwave Theatre.

In 1991, Mr. Boyle was appointed the Founding General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of HFC when it was created as a non-profit organization. As CEO, he oversees all of HFC, from dealing with financial matters to interacting with the three levels of government and corporate sponsors. In addition, department directors report to Mr. Boyle, and he in turn reports to the Board of Directors.

Mr. Boyle remembers that thirty years ago, the volunteer department was a very small operation. Volunteers were given simple jobs. Over the years, volunteers have become an integral part of the organization and have been given much more complex tasks. They are an “on-the-ground” force that provides a distinct perspective. Mr. Boyle believes HFC could not operate without them.

The volunteers mirror the diversity of the population that they welcome to the site. According to Mr. Boyle, the public responds well to venues staffed by capable volunteers because they are morale boosters for staff and energy boosters at events. They foster the feeling of a community-run environment, and visitors are impressed by the volunteers’ commitment to the centre.

As a member of many volunteer boards and committees himself, Mr. Boyle recognizes that the volunteer force at HFC is composed of busy, active people who bring a wide variety of expertise. In addition, volunteers must be very flexible due to the ever-changing nature of the events presented. Mr. Boyle believes that, in the future, HFC volunteers will need to become even more flexible and sophisticated, displaying skills in new and interesting ways.

It was an absolute pleasure to interview a man as busy as Mr. Boyle. He states that the highest compliment an organization can receive is to have busy, capable people willingly offer their free time to help it meet its goals. On behalf of HFC volunteers, thank you Mr. Boyle, for your kind words.

By Lynn Allen

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 April 2013 October 2012

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Genevieve’s Update

This year marks the 71st National Volunteer Week. According to Volunteer Canada, “National Volunteer

Week pays tribute to the millions of Canadian volunteers who graciously donate their time and talents to our

communities. Canada’s volunteers make a tremendous contribution in communities across the country and

around the globe. They make our communities resilient and our country vibrant.”

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we acknowledge the amazing contributions of our volunteers at

Harbourfront Centre. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, from high school students to seniors who are

well into their eighties. Our volunteers come from nearly all the different communities in Toronto and speak

over 25 different languages. They come together as one at every festival and event, and they are truly the

lifeline that supports the programming at Harbourfront Centre.

On behalf of Harbourfront Centre, I extend

my utmost gratitude to you and thank you

for your dedication and commitment. We

could not function without you.

We pay tribute to the 28,186 hours you

have contributed and the more than 7,095

shifts you worked in 2012. We hope that

we can continue to count on your support.

Thank you so much.

Genevieve

I hope you enjoy the quotations on volunteerism included throughout this page.

The Universal Declaration on Volunteering adopted by the International Association for Volunteer Effort states:

"Volunteering is a fundamental building block of civil society. It brings to life the noblest aspirations of humankind - the

pursuit of peace, freedom, opportunity, safety and justice for all people. The complexity of the problems the world faces

reaffirms the power of volunteering as a way to mobilize people to address those challenges.”

“ Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart”

~ Elizabeth Andrew

“Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless”

~ Sherry Anderson

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Canadian Code of Volunteer Involvement

Harbourfront Centre has been singled out by Volunteer Canada from a pool of over 161,000 non-profit and voluntary organizations for its commitment to engaging volunteers and as a model of excellence. Volunteer Canada’s mission is to raise the profile of volunteering and the value of community engagement, and, by doing so, make it easier for volunteer organizations to attract, evaluate, and retain volunteers. During the International Year of Volunteers in 2001, volunteer coordinators from around the globe met in Toronto for the International Conference on Volunteer Administration. Following this conference, Volunteer Canada created the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement (referred to as “the Code” from now on) to support organizations that engage volunteers. The Code states that volunteering must be well planned, adequately resourced, and effectively managed in order for it to have the greatest impact and to be as inclusive as possible.

In 2012, Harbourfront Centre adopted the Code as part of its commitment to strengthening volunteer engagement. After staff and volunteers reviewed each of the 14 standards of the Code and compared them to current practices, the Harbourfront Centre Executive Committee declared its support for the Code. In addition, the Board of Directors expressed its gratitude to the management and staff and to the volunteers for their many hours and years of service on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of this very successful volunteer program.

. Volunteer Canada has published a case study outlining Harbourfront Centre’s process of adopting the Code, so that it can be used as a template for other organizations considering adopting the Code. Congratulations to the volunteers and staff of Harbourfront Centre!

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Family Day at Harbourfront Centre

Monday, February 18 was Family Day. Harbourfront Centre hosted a variety of fun-filled activities on February 17 and 18. The HarbourKIDS: Skating Party was as popular as ever. In addition, there were musical and rap performances, snow castle building by the Natrel Rink, artwork activities planned by the Children’s Own Media Museum, and an RBC Play Hockey Shoot-out. The LEGOland Discovery Centre encouraged lots of families to get creative. An added feature this year was building classes from Toronto’s Master Model Builder. A very exciting event was the Street Dance Canada Showcase, which served up some of the country’s best youth

dancers, ages 7–16, for some high-energy performances.

Artists-in-the-making at HarbourKids Elnora and Gayatri at the snow activity

Street Dance Canada showcase Ice skating performance at the Natrel Rink

Below: Volunteers assisting at the craft activities

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April Volunteer Meeting

On Saturday, April 13, the volunteer general meeting was held in the Brigantine Room. Volunteers had a chance to learn about the HarbourKIDS: The Toronto International Circus Festival which kicks off Harbourfront Centre’s summer season in May, as well as meet the new sub-committee members. The food was delicious as always; thanks to the new social sub-committee for preparing the refreshments.

Katherine Sanders presented the variety of fun filled activities and volunteer opportunities at the upcoming HarbourKIDS : The Toronto International Circus Festival.

This festival runs from May 18–20 (Victoria Day weekend).

Genevieve welcoming the new members of the volunteer

sub-committees

Volunteers enjoying meeting refreshments

Kat presenting the awards to the photo challenge winners – Larry (left) and Angie (right)

Katherine Sanders presenting HarbourKIDS opportunities

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Spotlight on Volunteers

Meet Janet O’Brien

Janet won the February 2013 Photo Challenge. Congratulations Janet, and thank you and for providing us with interesting historical background! (See next page). When she moved to Toronto in June 2009, after living in Ireland since 1972, she became a HFC volunteer as a way to become familiar with the city.

She had always volunteered throughout the years, so it suited her well. Janet also works part-time as a psychotherapist. Janet loves the diversity at HFC. She thinks that the visiting families really enjoy the programs and that they are always impressed with the variety and the fact that the activities are free. “It is great to be a part of that,” she says. When she is not volunteering, Janet likes to hike, try new sports, such as cross-country skiing, and read. She also enjoys going to concerts, plays and movies.

Meet Cynthea Penman

The International Festival of Authors (IFOA) is Cynthea’s favourite HFC festival due to its breadth and to the variety of authors (many of whom were new to her). The best part of this event was working with great volunteers, meeting an eclectic mix of authors, and watching the arrival of friends and families from all over the world at the airport.

Cynthea, who has volunteered at HFC for a year and a half, is currently a part-time professor at a community college, after 30 years in the corporate sector as an information professional. Some of her favourite pastimes are attending theatre, doing needlecrafts, and working in allotment gardens. She loves to share her experience and knowledge with others, so volunteering at HFC is a good fit. She also enjoys learning from the visitors she meets. But what Cynthea likes best about volunteering at HFC is the enthusiasm of the staff and volunteers. “It feels good to contribute towards a more involved and vibrant city.”

Volunteer Talent Showcase: November 16

Come one and all to a great event! It won’t take much time but it will be well

spent! Come sing or dance or play or recite

Your fellow volunteers will enjoy the sight. We’ll support & enjoy any effort you make

You don’t need to be shy it’s a piece of cake!

Handel, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Brahms We promise we will hum along! Stories, jokes, juggling, singing

If we’re all involved the air will be ringing With heartfelt laughter, joy and care Because our talent was fun to share!

Please contact the volunteer office as soon as possible so that we know how many volunteers are interested. If you have an idea, but want some help, let us know and we will buddy you up with like-minded volunteers. E-mail soon! Lynn

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Harbourfront Mystery Spot Do you know the area around Harbourfront Centre?

(photo by: Kathleen-Sonja Moony-Childs)

Can you name this mural and where it is located? The first person who can correctly identify the above mystery spot will have their name mentioned in the next issue of the newsletter. Please send your answer to the volunteer office: volunteers@harbourfrontcentre.com. Good Luck!

Congratulations to Janet O’Brien and Larry Lewis for correctly identifying February’s mystery spot!

Janet tells us that the figures in the newsletter are of the Irish immigrants to Canada during the Irish famine in the 1870s. The park is right at the foot of Bathurst adjacent to Billy Bishop airport. Unfortunately the park has been closed for 2 years because of construction work there. The same sculptor who did these figures initially sculpted famine survivors leaving Dublin and these are on the North Quays in Dublin. Larry added that, for him, this is the saddest place on the lake front. He takes all his visitors to see it. Its historical roots make Canada look like the great country it is.

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Volunteer E -Newsletter Sub -Committee : Lynn Allen, Coordinator/Writer; Lidia Jarmasz, Writer/Editor; Nida Haroon and Ming Lau, Design/Layout; Kathleen-Sonja Mooney-Childs, Contributor; Genevieve Peng, Advisor/Editor Photos courtesy of Tom Bilenkey, Ricky Yu, Stefano Rodriguez, Holmes Pasiminio, Alex Luc, Michelle Paquot

Apologies The Volunteer Department wishes to apologize for an omission in the February newsletter’s reporting on the number of volunteer hours accumulated by volunteers over the year. Due to an oversight, Carissa Chiu’s name was unintentionally left off the list. Carissa has logged 313 hours. We congratulate her and thank her for her outstanding efforts. Once again, we apologize for the omission.

Kat’s Korner: Blur Challenge

Kat is introducing a new challenge for spring. Below are two photos at the volunteer general meeting. Can you identify both? One photo is of a well-known staff member. The other photo is of a sub-committee member.

If you think you can identify both of them, please send your submissions to the volunteer office by Sunday, May 19: volunteers@harbourfrontcentre.com

Mark your Calendar

May 11-12 Forest of Reading® Festival of Trees™

The largest children’s literary event in Canada, Forest of Reading® Festival of Trees™ returns for two days of award ceremonies, fun workshops, author signings, and other exciting activities that celebrate the shared experience of reading. In 2010, this children’s choice award programme welcomed more than 8,000 students!

May 18-20 HarbourKIDS:Circus

It's time again for the Toronto International Circus Festival! This Victoria Day weekend, dazzling daredevils, amazing acrobats, hilarious buskers and more take over our site.

June 30 Argentine Tango Class with Alberto Gomez

Grab a partner and experience the flavours of Alberto Gomez during this exciting Argentine tango class.

June 8 at 11 am Volunteer Meeting - Summer festivals overview by Diana Webley