Volunteering in PEI: What the Numbers Say
We all know that Islanders are known for their generosity and community spirit. But new data from Statistics Canada shows that volunteering trends in Prince Edward Island are changing, and it’s something we should talk about.
The Big Picture: A Dip in Numbers Comparing data from 2018 to 2023, we can see a shift in how much time Islanders are able to give.
- Volunteer Rate: In 2018, about 81.6% of Islanders volunteered. In 2023, that number dropped to 73.2%.
- Time Given: The average number of hours an Islander volunteered dropped from 212 hours per year to 147 hours.
This reflects a trend seen across Canada, likely due to the pandemic and the rising cost of living making people busier than ever.
The "Busy Parent" Surprise You might think that people with young children are too busy to volunteer. Interestingly, the data suggests the opposite! Back in 2018, households in PEI with pre-school aged children had a volunteer rate of 92%—the highest of any group. It goes to show that busy parents are often the ones driving our sports teams, school committees, and community events.
Why This Matters With volunteer rates and hours down, community organizations need help more than ever. The good news is that 73% of Islanders are still showing up. Whether you can give 100 hours or just 10, every bit makes a difference in keeping our Island connected.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 45-10-0044-01 Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, by definition of volunteering and presence of children in household