Community Involvement

Every student is required to participate in 40 hours of community involvement and submit their hours in order to receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students may start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before they enter Grade 9. The purpose is to encourage students to develop an understanding of the various roles they play in their community and to help develop a greater sense of belonging.

Students are encouraged to choose an activity of interest or try out a future career area. Some students may wish to complete more than the required hours, especially in a particular area of interest or destination pathway. Contact your secondary school’s Guidance Department for more information about eligible activities, and the process for recording community involvement hours.

Parents should help their child select community involvement activities and are also encouraged to contact the community sponsor and the school with questions or concerns.

With the help of parents, students select an appropriate activity. If the activity is not on the list of approved activities (see list below), the school principal must sign a “Notification of Planned Community Involvement Activities” form before you begin earning your hours. Students then must complete and submit the Community Involvement Form. Principals are responsible for sharing information with parents, students, and community sponsors as well as ensuring that completed community involvement hours are entered on the student’s official transcript.

Eligible activities

The activities listed below are approved by Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) for completion of the community involvement requirement:

  • Help the elderly, sick, isolated, disabled, or disadvantaged in organized settings or on an individual basis.
  • Work for non-profit organizations.
  • Serve as a youth leader.
  • Work for service clubs, community organizations, and church groups.
  • Tutor/mentor.
  • Provide childcare.
  • Work in the public sector (e.g. community policing, hospitals, schools, libraries).
  • Community development and beautification of environmental concerns.
  • Ambassadorship work for political parties/causes.
  • Coach, referee, score keep.

Students must discuss with the principal any activities not listed above before starting a volunteer activity in order for time to count toward the total hours.

Ineligible activities

Ministry of Education list of activities not eligible for community hours include:

  • Are already a requirement of a class or course in which the student is enrolled (e.g. cooperative education, job shadowing, or work experience).
  • Take place during class time; however during lunch breaks or “spare” periods is allowed.
  • Would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace.
  • Take place in a logging or mining environment.
  • If the student is under 16 years of age and the activity takes place in a factory.
  • If the student is under 15 years of age and the activity takes place in a workplace other than a factory.
  • If the student is under 14 years of age and is not accompanied by an adult and involves the operation of a vehicle, power tools, or scaffolding.
  • Involve the administration of any type or form of medication or medical procedure to other persons.
  • Involve handling substances classed as “designated substances” under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
  • Require the knowledge of a tradesperson whose trade is regulated by the provincial government.
  • Involve banking or the handling of securities (stocks/bonds), or the handling of jewelry, works of art, antiques, or other valuables.
  • Consist of duties normally performed by the student in the home (i.e. daily chores) or personal recreational activities involving a court-ordered program (e.g. community-service program for young offenders, probationary program).

In addition to the Ministry of Education’s list of ineligible activities, TLDSB does not permit the following:

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