Volunteer Hours in Durham Region
Last reviewed October 7, 2026 by the Durham Happening editorial team.
Every Ontario high school student needs 40 hours of community involvement to graduate. For students in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock, this guide has the school board forms, the rules both Durham boards apply, and places to earn the hours.
Get the Community Involvement Form
If you are here for the form, start here. The two Durham boards handle it differently.
Public board (DDSB)
Community Involvement Activities (PDF)The same form at every DDSB high school. Your supervisor signs each activity, then you hand the form in to your school.
Catholic board (DCDSB)
Community Involvement Record, from your guidance office
Each DCDSB high school uses its own record. Ask your guidance counsellor for it, and get the activity approved before you start, or the hours may not count.
The DDSB form is hosted by the school board and opens in a new tab. The rules are on each DDSB school’s community involvement hours page. Boards update their forms from time to time, so if a link looks out of date, ask your school’s guidance office.
Not sure where to volunteer yet? Skip to where to find volunteer hours or browse upcoming events across Durham Region.
Upcoming Events That Mention Volunteers
From the Durham Happening calendar, next 45 days. Confirm with the organizer that the role counts toward your hours before you go.
Steve Snoddon Mini Forest Planting
57 Elgin Park Drive, Uxbridge ON · 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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The 40-Hour Requirement
The Ontario Ministry of Education requires 40 hours of community involvement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). People also call them community service hours, volunteer hours, or simply “the 40 hours”. The rule is the same for the Durham District School Board (DDSB) and the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB); only the paperwork differs.
The activities must:
- Take place outside scheduled class time
- Not be part of a credit course
- Be unpaid
- Add up to at least 40 hours by the end of Grade 12
You can start in the summer before Grade 9.
How to Earn and Record Your Hours (DDSB)
- Plan the activity. Students under 18 plan it with a parent or guardian. It should be a service to others and fit the DDSB list of eligible activities.
- Confirm the details with the person who runs the activity.
- Fill in the Community Involvement Activities form and give it to your school. If the activity is not on the DDSB list of examples, or it is school community service, the principal signs first.
- Do the activity and have the community supervisor sign the form. The supervisor cannot be a parent or a member of your immediate family.
- Repeat until you reach 40 hours, then hand in your records so the school can enter them.
DCDSB students follow the same idea with their school’s Community Involvement Record: approval from a guidance counsellor first, a signature from the contact person at the activity, and the record back to guidance.
Where to Find Volunteer Hours in Durham Region
Community Festivals and Events
Town festivals, fall fairs, holiday parades and markets across Durham need people for set-up, information tables, games and clean-up. One festival weekend can cover a large part of your 40 hours. Browse upcoming events and ask the organizer about student volunteers.
Public Libraries
Each Durham municipality has a public library, and libraries often take teen volunteers for reading programs, homework help and special events. Ask at your local branch, or check events in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa.
Volunteer Durham
Volunteer Durham lists volunteer roles with organizations across the region. It is a good place to look when you want something regular rather than a one-day event.
Charity Runs, Walks and Fundraisers
Fundraising runs and walks need help at water stations, registration and the finish line. Most of them are in spring and fall.
Food Banks, Seniors’ Homes and Faith Communities
Food banks, community meal programs, long-term care homes and churches, mosques and temples across Durham welcome student help, especially around the holidays. Some ask you to attend an orientation first.
Municipal and School Events
Your town’s recreation department and your own school run events that may count. School community service needs approval first, so check with guidance before you start.
Tips
- Start early. Hours from the summer before Grade 9 count.
- Get the signature on the day. Finding a supervisor weeks later is hard.
- Keep a copy of every signed page. A phone photo is enough.
- Ask before you start if you are not sure an activity counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get the DDSB volunteer hours form?
DDSB students use the Community Involvement Activities form. Every DDSB secondary school posts the same PDF on its website. Fill in each activity, have the community supervisor sign for the hours, and hand the form in to your school so the hours can be entered on your record.
Where do DCDSB students get the community involvement form?
Durham Catholic District School Board high schools issue their own Community Involvement Record through the guidance office. Ask your guidance counsellor for your school’s form, and get the activity approved before you start: DCDSB school forms say hours done without approval will not be counted.
How many volunteer hours do Ontario high school students need?
40 hours of community involvement, to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students can start in the summer before Grade 9 and must finish by the end of Grade 12.
Does an activity need approval before I start?
Often, yes. DDSB students need the principal’s signature before an activity that is not on the DDSB list of eligible examples, and for school community service. DCDSB schools ask students to get every activity approved by a guidance counsellor first.
Can a parent sign my volunteer hours form?
No. On the DDSB form, the supervisor who signs for your hours cannot be a parent or a member of your immediate family, such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle.
What does not count toward community involvement hours?
Paid work, activities that are part of a credit course, activities during scheduled class time, and work that would normally be done by a paid employee do not count. Check with your school’s guidance office before you start if you are not sure.