CASE STUDY | Carman Wellness Connections

A group of people smiling and holding up chocolate moustaches. This is the team at Carman Wellness Connections.

Written by Lisa Lehmann, Lorna George, Chantal Chevalier, and Susan Weppler
of Carman Wellness Connections and Maureen Owens and Liz Weaver of the Tamarack Institute

 

Reigniting Community Spirit: engaging, motivating, and recruiting volunteers

Why do community initiatives often start with a bang but fizzle out as time passes? How can nonprofits and similar organizations maintain motivation and engagement with their volunteers? How can we effectively recruit volunteers? These were the challenges in Carman, Manitoba, a vibrant rural community with a rich agriculture, arts, and volunteer scene. Volunteers at Carman Wellness Connections (CWC) were excited to get to impact, but the potential for momentum dwindled as processes became more formal. CWC’s leadership team was determined to revive the momentum, renew excitement, and foster more community engagement.  

recruiting, managing, and engaging volunteers effectively

Now, thanks to their strategy, CWC has volunteers who are actively engaged in their work and the volunteer recruitment process is efficient! Learn from CWC’s story and dive into their valuable insights for any collaborative effort. 

Planning Canvas for an Innovative Volunteer Strategy - Carman Wellness Connections

build your own innovative volunteer strategy

This article is accompanied by our volunteer recruitment planning canvas, a tool to help you optimize your volunteer recruitment and engagement, just like CWC.

Photograph information: The dedicated CWC team, copyright Carman Wellness Connections



Recent Publications

A Community-Driven Approach to Affordable Housing in Antigonish, Nova Scotia
A Community-Driven Approach to Affordable Housing in Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Working Together to Prevent and End Poverty and Increase Well-Being in Niagara
CASE STUDY | Working Together to Prevent and End Poverty and Increase Well-Being in Niagara
People sitting in the grass playing cards
CASE STUDY | Identity and Social Connection in CBYF – Yellowknife
Group of people laughing and smiling together
CASE STUDY | Youth Engagement and Leadership in CBYF – Oxford County
Friends embracing and smiling together
CASE STUDY | Service Navigation and Access to Supports in CBYF – Sudbury
A soccer team laughing and smiling together
CASE STUDY | Holistic Health and Wellbeing in CBYF – Alberni-Clayoquot
People laughing and talking together
CASE STUDY | Employment and Mentorship in CBYF – Grande Prairie
Accessible Education in CBYF – Portage la Prairie
CASE STUDY | Accessible Education in CBYF – Portage la Prairie
SPARKS 2024 participants walking and learning about the land around Wanuskewin.
CASE STUDY | From Idea to Impact – SPARKing Imagination
A group of people speaking at a conference-like event in a gymnasium. Some of the speakers are wearing traditional outfits.
CASE STUDY | Our Ancestors' Wisdom
A group of people smiling and holding up chocolate moustaches. This is the team at Carman Wellness Connections.
CASE STUDY | Carman Wellness Connections
CASE STUDY | A Place to Call Home: Cultivating Belonging in Housing Co-Operatives
CASE STUDY | A Place to Call Home: Cultivating Belonging in Housing Co-Operatives
CASE STUDY | The Future of Work
CASE STUDY | The Future of Work
CASE STUDY | Building on the Strengths of a Collective Culture: The Case of the États Généraux du Collectif des partenaires en développement des communautés
CASE STUDY | Building on the Strengths of a Collective Culture: The Case of the États Généraux du Collectif des partenaires en développement des communautés
CASE STUDY | Supporting Indigenous Innovation: The Case of the First People’s Innovation Centre
CASE STUDY | Supporting Indigenous Innovation: The Case of the First People’s Innovation Centre
CASE STUDY | Harnessing the Power of Networking: The Case of the National Table of Community Development Corporations
CASE STUDY | Harnessing the Power of Networking: The Case of the National Table of Community Development Corporations
CASE STUDY | Building Capacity Through Knowledge Mobilization: A Case Study on Projet collectif
CASE STUDY | Building Capacity Through Knowledge Mobilization: A Case Study on Projet collectif
CASE STUDY | Citizen Mobilization as a Tool in the Fight Against Systemic Racism: The Case of the City of Montréal
CASE STUDY | Citizen Mobilization as a Tool in the Fight Against Systemic Racism: The Case of the City of Montréal
CASE STUDY | Building Housing Co-Operative Communities
CASE STUDY | Building Housing Co-Operative Communities
CASE STUDY | Empowering Strong Communities in a Cambridge Neighbourhood
CASE STUDY | Empowering Strong Communities in a Cambridge neighbourhood