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Hot Tip -- by Sherri Liddle
When you think of Calgary what comes to mind? Some think of the friendly people, some think of the Calgary Stampede but most think of the wonderful, rich cultural heritage. Two fantastic places in Calgary which do a great job of retaining, restoring and sharing Calgary's heritage and cultural background are the Glenbow Museum and Heritage Park.
Calgary is not only known as one of Canada's friendliest cities, but it is also known as one of the biggest volunteer centres, per capita, in Canada. Did you know most Calgarians, in one way, shape or form, volunteer? Did you know that volunteering is an excellent way to gain important job
skills and a great opportunity to network with potential employers?
This Hot Tip focusses on volunteer and job opportunities available at the Glenbow and Heritage Park. If you are interested in pursuing a career or education in historical or museum studies, or are just plain interested in working in a fun environment for the summer, you may want to read on.
Glenbow Volunteers
Volunteering at the Glenbow Museum (click here for its history) is easy and fun. Volunteers have the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people and work with a diverse population. The Glenbow recruits for specific volunteer positions such as customer service representatives in the gift shop, or newspaper clippers for the library. People are welcome to pursue other opportunities when they become available.
Glenbow asks for a minimum three-month commitment while the hours of "work" vary. Volunteers do go through a security check. Volunteers at the Glenbow also have first dibs on jobs before the general public, another great reason to volunteer. The Glenbow's volunteer co-ordinator, will accept your resume by fax, email, mail, or if you drop it off at the Glenbow's information desk. You can find contact information here.
Heritage Park Volunteers
If you want to volunteer at Heritage Park, there are always lots of opportunities to do so. The basic abilities required are people skills, being willing to take on new challenges, and of course, spare time. There are volunteer positions available such as food servers, in marketing and promotions, or retail.
You have the option to volunteer on an on-going basis, or for special events such as Canada Day or the 12 Days of Christmas (just to name a few). As a volunteer you will receive on the job training, a job description, orientation, evaluations and RECOGNITION! Contact information for the volunteer co-ordinator can be found here.
Glenbow Jobs
When it comes to jobs at the Glenbow, they are traditionally advertised internally for current employees and volunteers. If no internal candidates apply, the jobs are posted on-line or in the career section of the Calgary Herald. Because resumes are retained on file for a period of six months, the Glenbow's human resources department will review those resumes as well.
Jobs are union based and range anywhere from basic administration to managerial positions which usually require a masters degree in a related discipline such as museum studies, education, art conservation or history (depending on the job posting). Regardless, all positions require good interpersonal and communication skills. The Glenbow Museum also offers summer jobs.
Heritage Park Jobs
Heritage Park hires on an on-going basis and if you are a student you may wish to check out the seasonal/summer opportunities. Some examples of jobs available throughout the year are housekeepers, general warehouse workers and porters. If you want a taste of seasonal positions, they include: gate hosting, grounds keepers, housekeeping, transportation, midway and retail opportunities.
Jobs at Heritage Park mean you may need to work most summer weekends and may need to wear a costume. (Heritage Park is open seven days a week during the summer.) There are a variety of shifts available. You must be at least 16 years old to apply, or have parental consent if you are 15 years old. Candidates are encouraged to apply in person or via email. An application form is required and can be found on-line.
You may also want to look at some other web sites with information on volunteer and job opportunities in culture:
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