Volunteer Facilitator Application

Step 1 of 2

50%

Overview

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer workshop facilitator with Writers Collective of Canada (WCC)! We extend opportunity, dignity, and respect to everyone who wishes to write, celebrating authentic voice inclusive of race, ethnicity, class, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, and mental health. Your participation will ignite voice, free unheard stories, and celebrate magnificent and undiscovered creative genius.

Our extensive training program will support your volunteer workshop facilitator journey. We ask that all facilitator candidates please:

Watch this WCC introductory video
Attend at least two (we hope more!) workshops before training. Please review the workshop calendar for our current virtual and on-site workshop offerings.
Complete the full weekend of training. To be certified, participants must attend the full three-day interactive training session (15 hours): Friday, 7-9:30pm / Saturday, 10am-4:14pm / Sunday, 10:30-4:45pm (NOTE: Schedule is listed in Eastern Time).

We also highly recommend reading the following texts to deepen your understanding of WCC’s history and methodology:

Writing Alone and with Others by Pat Schneider - a valuable resource that provides the core values and structure of what we do. Order online or through your local bookstore or library!
Why We Write: Ten Years at Writers Collective of Canada - this chapbook breaks down the intention and action behind each of WCC’s six essential practices. This chapbook is available to order online - we will also share a FREE PDF of this book to all accepted applicants ahead of the training session.

Post training:

Attend a 1 ½ hour post-training orientation session (held on Zoom).
Report on-site workshop attendance in the Attendance Sheets provided.
Stay connected with the Director of Volunteers and Programs and the Manager of Volunteers and Programs.

Please note that because space in each facilitator training session is limited, preference will be given to those who have:

A commitment to and understanding of WCC’s philosophy of creating a respectful and positive environment where people can write and share their stories.
Availability to facilitate workshops on-site in Toronto, Peel, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Kelowna.
Ties to the community/ies you are interested in working with.
A history of community engagement.
Experience with writing groups as a participant or facilitator.
Facilitation, leadership, or teaching experience.

Graduates will be paired with experienced co-facilitators before leading their own workshops, 1½ - 2 hours per week. A minimum commitment of 10 weeks (not necessarily consecutive) is required.

Thank you for your interest in touching lives through the power of words! Select “Next” to begin the application process.

Thank you for your interest in touching lives through the power of words! Please, answer each of the questions as fully and concisely as possible. We recommend you complete this on a desktop/laptop computer or use a QWERTY keyboard. You can save your answers and continue at a later time.

Contact Information

Name:(Required)

First Last

Pronouns:

Telephone:(Required)

Email:(Required)

Preferred mode of communication(Required)

Phone

Text

Address:(Required)

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Main Intersection:(Required)

Are you over 21 years old?(Required)

Yes

Note: Public WCC workshops are open to adults aged 19+. WCC also partners with community organizations to offer workshops for youth and other specific populations. As a facilitator, you must be aged 21+ unless facilitating peer-led youth workshops. Reach out to contact@wcc-cec.org if you have any questions!

Are you willing to have a Police Reference check?(Required)

Yes

Note: Police reference checks are only requested for certain WCC workshops that are offered through partner organizations that serve vulnerable populations. WCC will always communicate with you before requesting a reference check.

Are you fluent in any language other than English? If yes, please specify which language(s).(Required)

Availability

Please indicate which training sessions you are available to attend (select all that apply):(Required)

February 27 through March 1, 2026 (VIRTUAL)

May 29 through 31, 2026 (VIRTUAL)

September 18 through 20, 2026 (VIRTUAL)

Are you interested in facilitating workshops...(Required)

Virtually

On-Site

Either / Both

When are you available to facilitate a WCC workshop? (Please type "morning", "afternoon", and/or "evening" for each day of the week to indicate your typical availability.)(Required)

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Please indicate what time zone you are located in (i.e. Pacific Time, Eastern Time, etc.)

Approximately how far are you willing to travel to facilitate on-site (i.e. 1 hr. by public transit)?(Required)

Please indicate any plans in the next year that may affect your availability for facilitating WCC workshops (Approximate dates)

(e.g., travel plans, changing work schedules)

Questions

Please answer each of the questions below as fully and concisely as possible. You cannot save this page and return to it; however, you can keep this window open as long as desired while entering your responses.

Describe the role creative writing plays in your life.(Required)

WCC focuses on deep, exploratory, brave writing. Are you comfortable writing in a confidential setting and in a courageous way about your family, scars, or secrets?(Required)

Briefly describe any previous volunteer and/or social service experience you have had.(Required)

What experience have you had in writing workshops as a participant and/or as a facilitator?(Required)

What does the phrase "safe space for writing" mean to you?(Required)

In your opinion, what is the distinction between “teaching” and “leading” or “facilitating”?(Required)

What life experiences have you had that will be helpful to you in leading writing workshops with WCC, or that have led you to want to volunteer with us?(Required)

If you have previous facilitation or teaching experience, whether in writing or other areas, are you open to learning and practicing new ways of facilitating?(Required)

What groups are you most interested in working with? Are there any groups that you do not feel comfortable working with? (This question is purely to determine your interests for possible future placements and bears no weight in considering your application).(Required)

Please list any Organizations or Agencies you are affiliated with (if any) that you are interested in providing workshops for, and describe your association with them. (This question bears no weight in considering your application).(Required)

How did you find out about WCC?(Required)

For more information, please contact contact@wcc-cec.org.