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Volunteer Opportunities

Want to Volunteer and make a difference in our community? Sign up with Nanaimo Emergency Support Services (ESS)

The Nanaimo Emergency Support Services (ESS) volunteers are the heart of disaster response, providing assistance to residents forced to leave their homes because of fire, flood, or other emergency situations. This assistance includes food, clothing, lodging, emotional support and family reunification. Volunteers may help evacuees at an emergency site, in a reception centre, or at a group lodging facility.

Although ESS is designed to provide services to individuals affected by large disasters or emergencies, Emergency Support Services may also be provided during smaller emergencies involving only one or two displaced families.

The ESS Program plays an important role in emergency management by:

  • Helping people to meet their basic survival needs during a disaster
  • Reuniting families separated by disaster
  • Providing people with accurate and up-to-date information about the emergency
  • Giving people a "breathing space" to help them start the process of recovery

If you are interested in giving back to your community and helping those in need when they need it most, then sign up to become an ESS Volunteer. All training and equipment is provided.

To become a Nanaimo Emergency Support Services volunteer, email ess.coordinator@nanaimo.ca 

Please reach out to the email address above if you have any questions about the ESS program.

EMERGENCY RADIO VOLUNTEER – Coast Emergency Communication Association (CECA)

The Coastal Emergency Communication Association (CECA) provides back-up communications services for the City of Nanaimo when traditional communication services are unavailable. Members use various radio systems to provide two-way communications in times of disaster to deliver messages for the municipality. To find out more on how you can volunteer visit the Coast Emergency Community Association's website.  

 

Last updated: June 16, 2025

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