October 10, 2026
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, my mom and I volunteered at the first International Arts Festival hosted by the Atlantic Cultural and Arts Exchange Association at Oakview Terrace Reception Centre. Alongside many other high school students recruited by York Region Caring Lions Club, we had a fruitful afternoon of helping the participants and enjoying the various art pieces on display.
One of the best parts of the afternoon was seeing familiar faces. I saw friends and met fellow volunteers I had previously worked with through A2ZLiteracy and York Region Caring Lions Club’s art workshops and community cleanups. I also had the chance to meet my mom’s fellow Lions and the president of York Region Caring Lions Club.
It felt very special to meet so many people in one place who cared about artistic expression while volunteering. Also, this afternoon reminded me that volunteering is an opportunity to learn something new and connect with others in ways that we may have not have thought were possible, and I’m grateful to everyone who made this event possible and to all the volunteers who helped bring our community together.
