Fort Simpson (May 02/03) - Volunteers keep things running, but how do we keep from running out of volunteers?

Forty-five participants from six Deh Cho communities tried to answer that question at a volunteer symposium in Fort Simpson over the weekend.

Roslyn Smith, senior advisor of volunteer development for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, said the most direct approach is sometimes overlooked.

"I don't know sometimes if people have been asked (to volunteer)," she said. "Everyone has gifts. Everyone can be involved."

Although it's been estimated that Canada lost one million volunteers between 1997-2000, according to Smith, figures specific to the NWT are non-existent. However, the picture could soon become clearer as the territory will be part of a national survey on voluntarism that will be updated every three years, she noted. The North's transient population also has to be considered, she added.

There does seem to be a healthy number of "informal" volunteers for events such as carnivals and feasts, Smith said.

George Tsetso of Nahanni Butte agreed with Smith's assertion that approaching people with an open request for help is the best approach.

"You've got to ask or you'll never get it," he said. "They can't read your mind."

He noted that volunteers tend to wear more than one hat, so recruiting an extra person or two can help ease the load.

"Without volunteers nothing ever turns out. A lot of the communities, especially the smaller ones, really rely on them," said Tsetso.

He added that delegating responsibilities to students can also be a good strategy.

Maggie Levavasseur of Fort Providence also endorses the idea of involving youths as volunteers.

"It seems like it's the same people who volunteer and they're getting tired. So I thought maybe this way we could try and involve the youth," said Levavasseur. "Plus it makes them feel good and it builds up their self-esteem."