I volunteered at Mackenzie Health Hospital for a m...

I volunteered at Mackenzie Health Hospital for a month earlier in the summer, totalling to approximately of 20 hours of service in the Mammography department. The technicians and staff at the clinic were super kind and welcoming, and were constantly expressing their gratitude for having volunteers there. The work basically comprised of prepping items for each mammography (cutting cleaning sheets, folding the linen), and greeting the patients who came in for their appointment. In sum, repetitive, mindless work for 4 hours a week, but that was expected as a volunteer.

However, my primary issue was with the volunteer department at Mackenzie Health. When I first started, the admin assistant, Stephanie, was pleasant, and flexible with paperwork. In hindsight, I think its likely because in the summer, they receive an influx of high school and university hopefuls providing the hospital with free labour work. I was asked to submit a $30 refundable deposit, and received a receipt outlining that I was borrowing hospital property (golf shirt uniform, ID badge). I realized after my month that I didn't want to continue volunteering there, because I felt that I could better spend my summer elsewhere. I think that as I was providing a service with no compensation, I deserve the right to decide whether I want to continue or terminate my position at any time. When I went to return my "hospital property," she (Stephanie) was on the phone, and just grabbed the ID badge and waved her hand at me when I tried to return the shirt. She then quickly said that my deposit would be returned in the mail. More than a month later, I received only half of the deposit back. Although it does not seem like that big of a deal, I think it really says a lot about the character and fitness of the department to be misleading and in a sense, fool their volunteers. $15 is not a lot to the hospital, but for me, it's an hour of minimum wage work, but calling it a refundable deposit while simultaneously issuing a receipt is deceitful. Additionally, when I called to inquire, the woman on the phone simply said she would let her bosses know.

I hope that this can help future volunteers be fully conscious of their agreement.