Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Calgary Outlink!

Peer volunteer applications are currently closed. If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please add yourself to our Volunteer Waitlist Form so that you can be notified when applications reopen in the Fall. 

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

    CATHERINE (she/her) - Peer mentor

    Published On: August 10, 2023
    Catherine Robertson Bio Photo

    In December of this year, I will have been on this planet for 70 years. Every time I actually think about it, it still drives me crazy, because six months ago, I was 25. Believe me, time flies. Background-wise, I knew something was not the norm. This was back in the 50s. Before I even started school, I started wearing my mom’s clothes. At five years old, you don’t worry about whether or not there is a label to describe [yourself]. As time went by, I labeled myself as a cross-dresser, and I did [for] my entire adult life up until January 2015.

    In January 2015, I was paragliding down in Bucaramanga, Colombia. On January 30th, I made three short flights in the morning. My next memory is just over a week later in the Medivac flight back to Calgary. I had flown [the] wing [of] my paraglider into a set of power lines directly adjacent to where we launch. I fell the better part of 70 ft and broke my entire body – crushed my pelvis, broke my back, massive concussion. All sorts of stuff that ended up with me being 3.5 months in [a] hospital in Calgary. While I was lying on my broken back, I realized that my 60 years [of life] had been a lie. I’m a woman, and I had been touching whatever little bits [of it], calling it cross-dressing simply to get through each day.

    I went under the knife three times while still in Colombia. Each time, the surgeon said to Gordon [my emergency contact] that they did not know if I was going to wake up from all three operations. The realization [was like] an epiphany. I thought, “I’ve lived the first 60 years as a lie. I am not going to live the next 60 as a lie.”

    Now, that’s a bit of a positive attitude, that I’ll make it to 120. But, Catherine became real and the acceptance [of that] has been wonderful.

    I was put into a group, TransJourneys. They offered me a safe place and were helpful on many different levels. At that point, I had already been almost completely through the physical transition. I’ve received a whole bunch of support. I figured it was time to give back.

    When the opportunity to mentor [at Outlink] came up, I was all over it. [Along with] doing the mentorship training, I have volunteered for a few casino [fundraisers].

    I’ve done a number of presentations to groups over the last eight years, including one that I just did down in Fort Calgary. The mayor was at it, [and] I was one of four panelists. I was there representing Rainbow Elders as [a] moderator. We were asked to share something relevant to aging. I started off saying to the group that there was a belief of mine that they were going to hear a dozen times more: Respect everyone.

    I can tell [that] everyone I have interacted [with] at Outlink has exactly my attitude and belief. Human beings, simply by being human, are entitled to respect. Having benefited from help from so many resources, and wanting to give back, [volunteering at] Outlink was the way to do it.

    At this point, I have only mentored one person. [They were] a young transgender person. The trust I was given by them was huge. I was absolutely non-judgmental in my capacity as a mentor, [acting as] someone there to help. They were having trouble making ends meet and [they were] very young. They were going to [engage in] sex work. I had peripherally been aware through listening to people at TransJourneys, [about] the difficulties they were experiencing. This just really brought it home.

    As a mentor, you have to be an active listener. The first thing that came to mind was, “How do you ensure your safety? Have you thought of what might heighten your safety?”

    Working through that entire portion, [it was an] eye opener. As an adult, I’ve got 50 years of life experience that gives me a whole bunch more ammunition in the battle when something untoward happens. I’ve got stuff that I can dig deep [to] gather myself, and then withstand whatever the incident might be. When you’re 30, let alone [in your] early twenties, you don’t have the legs to stand on. You don’t have the comparison from life experience. When [I was] put together with [my mentee], I know how to listen, [whether you’re] 20 or 80.

    As I always say: If you want to paint your belly button blue, go right ahead. [But] don’t ask me to paint mine blue. I’ve got things that I do, like my woodworking. [Some people are] like, “How can you spend that much time, that much money, just to make wood dust?”

    That’s their attitude, their belief. I am not forcing them into my shop, nor do I expect the belly button painter to force me to do [that]. [It] goes back to that first word – respect.

    Decisive; never quit.

    Gordon Lightfoot – one of his lesser-known songs is called “Wherefore and Why.”

    [I have] two all-time favorite movies. The original Music Man (1962). [The main lead] is a salesman in Iowa, coming in selling the concept of boy bands. He gets people to buy uniforms, instruments and everything. [The lead actress] is the town librarian. It’s a musical – I am a lifelong musician. Professionally, trumpet, flute, and guitar are my three main instruments. I play and teach all three. The whole movie [has] tremendous quality music in it [that] just really speaks to me.

    The other movie is The Princess Bride (1987). Do you remember the sword fight [scene]? I think that’s the best ever.

    [As for] hobbies, remember the three words I gave – never quit? I don’t do anything halfway. I started [playing the] trumpet at six. In 1970, the World Expo that year was in Osaka, Japan. I [was] living in British Columbia. [The province] put together a full 55-piece concert band from all over the province. It was a highschool to college age group, and you had to be recommended to even apply to be tested to see if you would make it in the band. There were 200 trumpet players who applied for trumpet and cornet. There were two trumpet positions and six cornet positions. I not only made it, but I was picked as the solo cornet player in the band for the trip to the World Expo.

    I made my first skydive right around the end of October 1984, and then 3.5 years later as team captain of the Canadian national team. We went to Australia for the World Championships – which we won. I spent eight years as a competitive skater, dance and free dance. Never competed outside the country, but I have national medals. [I also do] archery. I’m a certified scuba diver.

    I am also a competitive shooter. I [was] competing fifteen years ago in Red Deer. The nationals were there that year. I won in my category, and that was indoor 10 meter air pistol.

    One of the joys of being on the planet for a while [is that] as long as you keep your mind open, you get to experience a whole pile of new stuff. I’ve never had the attitude of, “Oh, I can’t do that.”

    [For] people that label it as “just a hobby,” I feel sad for them. If it’s “just” a hobby, you’re not experiencing life. They are dabbling in life; they are not jumping in [with their] full body.

    I am married. My wife, Sherry, [and I] had our 21st anniversary on March 21st. 20 years ago, when [we] started going out, she met “Catherine” half a dozen times before she met my male persona, and [she] was 3 000 000% supportive.

    Everyone, you and I included, have quirks that contribute to making us individuals. I’ve heard that if you’re not prepared to grant your friends one iota of idiosyncrasy, craziness, or whatever, you’re never going to have any friends.

    She and I come at stuff very differently. We have clashed many times. She continues to support me. For each of my medical transition procedures, I asked if she’d be able to take care [of me] once I got out of the hospital. [It] was not even a question. Top and bottom surgery, she was here. [She] drove me to and picked me up from the airport.

    We are still a couple, still married. I’ve been married three times. My first two [marriages] ended because of my cross-dressing, let alone any transgender stuff.

    I’ve had a number of friendships who, when I transitioned, made not one iota of difference in our friendships. I’ve got Ian, John, Gordon, Marco, Michelle, Melvee. I’ve been blessed with friends that are fringe to the level that if I’m [wanting] a “holy shit,” experience moment, they’ll be there.

    I have been asked, on at least a few occasions, “Did you ever have suicidal thoughts?”

    Not only [is my answer] no, but for myself intrinsically, I can’t even imagine wanting to end it. There have been some fairly substantial occurrences. One year, I lost my wife, I lost my dad (he passed away), I lost my home, I lost my job, and I was diagnosed diabetic – [all in the] same year. My take on it was, “Oh shit, that was a bad year,” [and I] moved on, rather than thinking, “Oh well, after all that, life is not worth living.”