‘Many city employees will be volunteering far more than that, so it's seen as kind of just a small part of their total commitment’
The Newfoundland and Labrador government and the municipal government of St. John’s is boosting their efforts to support Canada Games by offering public sector workers access to paid leave in exchange for their volunteering at the event.
At the provincial level, the Treasury Board Secretariat confirmed that public service employees will be granted up to six days of paid leave to volunteer at the Games, provided operational requirements allow, according to a CBC report.
Employees who have already booked annual leave during the Games may convert it to special paid leave if they meet the eligibility criteria. The exact number of employees who will take part in the program has not yet been confirmed.
Meanwhile, the City of St. John's is offering municipal employees up to 16 hours of paid leave—eight hours per week during the two-week Games period—to support volunteer participation, pending managerial approval.
"It's a way that we can support the Canada Games, a way that we can support the volunteer capacity and allow our staff to volunteer," Breen said in the CBC report.
"Many city employees will be volunteering far more than that, so it's seen as kind of just a small part of their total commitment."
Premier John Hogan endorsed the plan, highlighting the importance of community involvement. “It’s a big production, and it needs lots of volunteers,” Hogan told CBC. “It’s an honour to host the Canada Games here and have all Canadians from across the country coast-to-coast-to-coast come to St. John’s.”
Many workers previously decided to skip work because of the FIFA Women's World Cup games, according to a report.
Volunteer goal of 5,000 already exceeded
The announcement has already contributed to a surge in volunteer sign-ups. CBC reports that approximately 500 individuals stepped forward after the leave policy was introduced, pushing the total number of volunteers past the initial goal of 5,000.
Host society co-chair Karl Smith acknowledged the impact of employer support in reaching the milestone, according to the report.
The Canada Summer Games are scheduled to take place in August 2025, bringing together athletes, spectators, and volunteers from across the country.
Previously, ahead of the Summer Olympic Games 2024, one expert noted that companies should be seizing the opportunity to engage employees and boost morale.
Photo from Jeux Du Canada Games
