I'd been following Toronto International Film Festival and Cannes for about a decade before moving to Canada: TIFF for the films, and Cannes for the creativity that goes into the red-carpet outfits. I wouldn't buy those outfits, but I would make a point of watching films screened at TIFF. So many stood out to me for their strong stories, beautiful cinematography and the questions they left me thinking about.
Fast-forward to moving to Canada, and my first home in Toronto was right next door to the TIFF building. You can probably sense my excitement even as I write this! All I had to do was wait for the festival to come around. I applied to volunteer in 2025, returned in 2026, and have now been part of two editions of a festival I'd followed from afar for years.
Through conversations with fellow volunteers, I discovered other film festivals in Toronto and learnt that I could volunteer at cultural events across the city, too. What started with my interest in TIFF soon gave me plenty of reasons to step out throughout the year.
Since arriving, I've volunteered at more than five festivals and cultural events, including Doors Open Toronto, TIFF, Reel Asian Film Festival and Luminato. I've also photographed Indian community festivals and was a photographer at Luminato this year.
Looking at that list, you can probably tell where I like spending my time. Art, films, photography and culture have always interested me. Volunteering in Toronto gave me a way to spend more time around them while getting to know the city and the people who live here.
It also gave me something I needed as someone who works from home: a reason to step out and meet people I had something in common with.
Step Out, but not for Coffee!
Working from home means I don't have colleagues beside me to chat with during the day. That also means, no water-cooler conversations alongside a coffee break.
That's one reason volunteering in Toronto has worked so well for me. You volunteer to contribute and meet other people who have chosen to be there. There's already a shared interest and a reason to talk.
For me, that made meeting people feel easier. I could spend time around others who enjoyed films, art or cultural events, and conversations had somewhere natural to begin.
Over time, those conversations went beyond the event itself. I learnt about navigating Toronto, opportunities I hadn't heard of, and how other people were figuring out their lives. Sometimes, hearing someone else's experience gave me a perspective I wouldn't have found on my own.
When you're settling into a new country, these everyday exchanges matter. There's a lot you learn simply by being around people.
I Value My Time!
And Canada respects my volunteering time as well!
The experience felt different from what I had known in India. By Toronto appreciated my time and contribution. I was sent a thank you kit, the volunteer captains checked on my multiple times during my shift, I wasn't expected to know it all, and they even give breaks multiple times a shift. That overall feeling of respect for me and my time made me want to return.
There are perks, too, and I've enjoyed them. There are opportunities to spend more time around the city's arts and culture. For someone who already loves these things, that's a lovely way to spend a day.
Finding Room for things I love!
Festival volunteering in Toronto has also brought my interests together.
Photographing Indian community festivals and Luminato gave me a way to contribute through something I enjoy doing. Being involved in cultural events also let me spend time around different forms of expression, people and ideas.
That's what I've loved about moving between Doors Open, film festivals and Luminato. Each experience gave me another way to get to know Toronto.
Festival volunteering in Toronto has also brought my interests together.
Photography is a good example. Photographing Indian community festivals and Luminato gave me a way to contribute through something I enjoy doing. Being involved in cultural events also let me spend time around different forms of expression, people and ideas.
That's what I've loved about moving between Doors Open, film festivals and Luminato. Each experience gave me another way to get to know Toronto.
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That's also my another tip for you…
People have plenty of advice about volunteering in Canada. You'll hear about networking, experience and the opportunities it might lead to. Those can be useful, but my own reason for recommending it is simpler: it gives you a place to show up, do something you care about and meet people along the way.
If you're looking for volunteer opportunities in Toronto, begin with your interests. What would you happily spend a few hours around? Films? Architecture? Music? A neighbourhood event or a cause you care about?
Then look for a role that fits the time and energy you can offer. Read what the work involves, check the commitment and choose something you can reliably turn up for. You don't need to fill your calendar.
Volunteer Toronto is a useful place to search. You can also explore the City of Toronto's volunteer programmes and the volunteer pages of festivals that interest you, including TIFF and Luminato. Check each organisation's current requirements and recruitment dates before applying.
You don't have to be a newcomer to try it. If you've lived here for years, work from home or simply want to spend more time doing something you enjoy with other people, it's worth considering.
I'm glad I did. Volunteering has given me more reasons to leave the house, more people to talk to and a much more personal connection to Toronto.
If there's something here you care about, see whether you can be part of it.
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