April 19 – 25 is National Volunteer Week. The theme of this year’s special week designed to celebrate Canada’s volunteers is “It’s time to applaud Canada’s volunteers.”

Now, more than ever, we applaud our volunteers across the country.

Our Board of Directors – a team of dedicated professionals and surgeons who volunteer to lead the Foundation – works all year to uphold their fiduciary responsibilities. The Board works virtually for most of the year, as Directors from across Canada gets together by teleconference to approve the budget and monitor finances, approve research grants, and assure that the strategic plan is being implemented and programs carried out.

Now, more than ever, Directors are called on to contribute extra time to manage through a challenging and changing environment.

Former orthopaedic patients provide peer support through Ortho Connect, a program that matches orthopaedic surgery patients with volunteers who have had similar surgeries. These volunteers lessen the anxiety and isolation that some patients experience prior to surgery.

Now, more than ever, our Ortho Connect volunteers are being called into action, as many surgeries are being postponed and patients need a friendly ear for support.

Teams of surgeons and researchers volunteer their time and expertise to serve on Review Panels to adjudicate the grant applications we receive, helping to identify the top research projects for funding.

Now, more than ever, we rely on our Research Panels. With the introduction of a new research award, and increased applications across the board, our reviewers are working extra hard.

Community volunteers organize fundraising events (such as our Saskatoon Hip Hip Hooray! walk, local Pedometer Challenge events and our Bad to the Bone golf tournament. Funds raised by these volunteer organizers are critically important to our ability to deliver COF programs.

Now, more than ever, our volunteers are working to re-imagine fundraising events in this constantly shifting fundraising environment, to ensure the Foundation has the resources it needs to continue its programs.

To all of our volunteers, THANK YOU for spending your time and donating your skills to the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation. Thank you for demonstrating your commitment to our vision: Pain free mobility for all Canadians.