Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Calgary Outlink!
Peer volunteer applications are currently closed.
Applications to be on our Board of Directors are currently closed.
If you have any questions about the peer volunteer roles and applications, please contact the Manager of Volunteers and Programming at [email protected].
Questions about board member applications can be directed to [email protected].
Facilitator volunteers run our Community Groups. Please see our Groups page for more information about the groups we offer.
If you’re interested in being a group facilitator:
- You are age 18+
- You want to learn how to facilitate a group or want to build your facilitation skills
- You want to contribute to supporting and holding space for 2SLGBTQ+ community members through conversation and/or activities
- You can commit to volunteering with us from July-December 2026. Facilitation commitment will vary depending on which group you facilitate and how much group meeting preparation and planning is needed, approximately 2-5 hours per month. This includes, admin work, setup and takedown, and group meeting planning.
- Have access to the internet and a device with a camera and audio (for group meetings held on Zoom)
- You are able to provide a police check with a vulnerable sector check if involved in our youth programming (we will cover the cost)
- You can attend a mandatory 30 hour training with multiple sessions from April 28th-May 30th (see below for info on training)
While we are seeking facilitators for all of our groups, we do have more need for the following:
- Facilitators for Between Men
- Facilitators for Grabba Java
- Facilitators for Colleqtive
Since September 2022, Outlink has been piloting the You Matter: 2SLGBTQ+ Peer Support and Resource Line . You Matter is a non-crisis peer support line offering resources, information, and support to 2SLGBTQ+ community members in Calgary. Volunteers provide support through phone calls and text and chat conversations. This is a remote opportunity, so folks can volunteer right from home!
How it works:
Volunteers answer calls on their own phones and text and chat conversations through our software. Because calls and conversations come through our software, your phone number won’t be given out to anyone!
The support line operates Monday-Thursday from 5-8pm and Saturdays from 1-5pm. Shifts are one hour long each. Volunteers are on-call for their shift and taking calls and responding to messages as needed. Debriefing is available either with Outlink staff or fellow volunteers if needed.
The commitment is 4 hours per month volunteering on the line itself in addition to approximately 1 hour of admin work (check-in forms, caller tickets, and scheduling shifts).
If you’re not able to fulfill this requirement but would like to volunteer on the line, please contact Zak, the Manager of Volunteers and Programming, at [email protected]. We’d still love to have you!
If you’re interested in being a peer support line volunteer:
- You are age 18+
- You’re a friendly human who wants to connect with, support, and hold space for fellow community members of various identities and backgrounds
- You’re comfortable supporting folks with various issues (you will receive training on these)
- You’re comfortable supporting someone through talking on the phone and typing or want to work towards being more comfortable
- You have consistent access to a phone, internet, and a device with a browser
- You can commit to volunteering with us from July-December 2026
- You can attend a mandatory 30 hour training with multiple sessions from April 28th-May 30th (see below for info on training)
Find out more about our Mentorship Program.
If you are interested in being a mentor:
- You’re age 25+
- You can be a mentor from August – December 2026 – if not matched this time you have the option of volunteering in another role at Outlink and/or wait for the next round.
- Your commitment will vary depending on how much time is spent with your mentee and how much preparation and planning is needed. Approximately 0.5-1 hour of admin work (check-in forms, communication with Outlink staff, etc), will be required per month.
- You want to have a positive impact on someone’s life
- You feel that you have good communication skills or are working at it
- You consider yourself to be friendly and approachable
- You’re willing to provide a police check with vulnerable sector search if mentoring a minor (we will cover the cost)
- You will adhere to any public health and safety protocols in place through Outlink
- You can attend a mandatory 30 hour training with multiple sessions from April 28th – May 30th (see below for info on training)
While we are seeking mentors of all diverse identities and backgrounds, we are looking for more applicants of the following (based on prior and current need):
- Trans and non-binary folks who are open to sharing insight into identity, transitioning, and coming out
- Gay/bi/pan/queer men who have experience with navigating identity and community
- Folks who have navigated immigrating to Canada
- Folks who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of colour
We are excited to pilot this new role! These volunteers provide 1-on-1 peer support on a drop-in basis to community members who are looking for support. This will include having support conversations about various issues and topics in-person and on the phone, as well as potentially other tasks in the office as needed.
Volunteering for this role will solely take place at our office in 3-4 hour shifts from 10am-5pm Monday-Thursdays. The monthly commitment will be a minimum of 3-4 hours per month, plus approximately an additional hour to complete admin work (like filling out forms).
If you’re not able to fulfill this requirement but would like to volunteer on the line, please contact Zak, the Manager of Volunteers and Programming, at [email protected]. We’d still love to have you!
If you’re interested in being a drop-in peer support volunteer:
- You are age 18+
- You’re a friendly human who wants to connect with, support, and hold space for fellow community members of various identities and backgrounds
- You’re comfortable supporting folks with various issues (you will receive training on these)
- You’re comfortable supporting someone through talking on the phone and in-person, or want to work towards being more comfortable
- You can consistently get to the Outlink office for your shifts (located at 750 11 St SW)
- You can commit to volunteering with us from July-December 2026
- You can attend a mandatory 30 hour training with multiple sessions from April 28th-May 30th (see below for info on training)
Sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays OR Sundays during the day from April 28 – May 30, 2026. Weekday sessions will be online, and weekends will be in-person.
Weeknight sessions will be 2-2.5 hours, and weekends will be 2.5-3 hours each. We will usually have two sessions on weekends, so we will be together for the day.
While training sessions are mandatory, we recognize that things may come up that are out of your control. If you miss two sessions, we will follow up with you, and you may be asked to re-evaluate your ability to commit to our volunteer program. Missing more than two sessions may result in you being asked to no longer participate in this round of our training program.
Onboarding processes will take place in June, after training. The mentorship pairing process will take place in July.
If you have any questions about our volunteer program, please contact [email protected].
Outlink’s Board of Directors is made up of dynamic and skilled individuals who engage in meaningful work to make Calgary a better place for 2SLGBTQIA+ people to live. We seek passionate community members who can contribute to the leadership and growth of our organisation in a fun and collaborative environment.
What we’re looking for
- Passion for 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy and community support
- A commitment to learning and growing in an anti-oppression, anti-racism, and anti-discrimination framework
- A desire to make a tangible difference in Calgary’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community
Key details
- Term: 1 year (elected annually at AGM)
- Time Commitment: Approx. 5 hours/month
- Responsibilities: Governance, strategic planning, financial oversight, and community representation
Qualifications: Lived experience or strong knowledge of 2SLGBTQIA+ community issues, and a willingness to contribute to positive change. Previous Board Member experience and knowledge of consensus-based decision making is highly preferred, but not required.
We encourage diverse applicants and value experience in areas such as finance, human resources, non-profit governance, fundraising, and legal expertise. Applications are currently closed.
For more information or support with the application process, including if you need alternative accommodations, please email: [email protected]
Volunteer Spotlight
AIME (she/her) - Group facilitator
Published On: July 27, 2023
I’m a group facilitator with the downtown Grabba Java group. I [facilitate] it now by myself. I started out doing it with somebody in September last year [2022], and then came New Year’s, Zak [Manager of Volunteers & Programming] asked if I would be willing to do it by myself. I said, “Sure, if I can stay in the same location at the same date and time, then that would be perfect.”One of my core values is community and inclusion – having a place to come to where I feel that I belong. That’s what I want to create for others. In my space, I create a very open and welcoming environment for the Grabba Java [attendees] who come. It’s just a really wonderful feeling, having that sense of community and that sense of inclusion where everyone can feel that they belong.
Another one of my values is safety. Right now, with the climate in [regards to] the city and the 2SLGBTQ+ community, it’s not always safe. I want to make our Grabba Java events a safe place where people can share about XYZ, about whatever is going on. I hold space and let the conversation unfold. Those are three of my values that I feel align quite nicely with Calgary Outlink.
One gentleman has come twice. He is probably close to my dad’s age, so he’s late 60s – early 70s. He’s originally from England, so it’s really cool to hear his stories. That’s one thing I like about Grabba Java – the storytelling that unfolds and happens.
We had another lady that has come twice also. The first time she came, she [was] brand new to the country. She fled her home country to come to Canada because it wasn’t safe for her to be herself in this country. Then she came back the next month; she was very excited. [She] got [her] first job, and she’s now working in Calgary. She feels amazing to be living in Calgary and being a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Third, we had a younger man come with two of his support workers. This individual was on the autism spectrum with a developmental disability. He came to meet us and check us out. His support staff came with him and also engaged in conversation with all of us as well, which was really cool.
It was really neat to see the diversity [of people that] come to Grabba Java. I enjoy it every month.
Brave, bold, and authentically myself. (I know, it’s four words!)I would love to do more things with my business, [particularly] the speaking aspect is what I’ve really gotten into. It’s needed in society – doing more facilitation around diversity, and making inclusive workplaces for 2SLGBTQ+ communities.My partner. They have come to Grabba Java a couple of times. She’s just so supportive and proud. She’s come to different events I’ve spoken at, and it’s just amazing.
I hope to volunteer [for Grabba Java] for as long as I am physically able to. I enjoy it that much!
Aime is a youth coach, professional speaker + trainer, and an international best-selling author. Inch By Inch Empowerment is a company founded by Aime that helps 2SLGBTQ+ youth on their coming out journey. For inquiries, you can reach Aime at [email protected], or (825) 438-0079. You can follow Aime on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Grabba Java is our community group for everyone in 2SLGBTQ+ communities and their allies. They meet on Thursdays, with the downtown meeting on the third Thursday of the month at Element Café (331 17 Ave SW).
