As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That Employment and Social Development Canada develop, in partnership with the provinces and territories and with charitable and non-profit sector stakeholders, a national volunteer action strategy to promote and support volunteering in Canada, including intergenerational volunteering.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada take action to strengthen the evidence base on intergenerational volunteerism, including by investing in the creation and dissemination of research and data on:

• the benefits and impacts of intergenerational volunteerism;
• effective models for intergenerational volunteering opportunities; and
• the volunteering behaviour, motivations and barriers of diverse demographics, including youth and seniors of different backgrounds, and individuals living in urban versus rural locations.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada consider increasing the availability of both episodic and longer-term federal funding for intergenerational volunteering initiatives, for example, by:

• introducing a distinct funding stream for intergenerational volunteerism; and/or
• amending existing programs that fund volunteering initiatives (such as the New Horizons for Seniors program and the Canada Service Corps) to better support intergenerational volunteering opportunities.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada consider, through new or existing programming, increasing the funds available to charitable and non-profit organizations for creating incentives that help to recruit and retain volunteers, such as meals and transportation.

Recommendation 5

That Employment and Social Development Canada develop a program to support and encourage the acquisition of employment skills during intergenerational and other volunteering opportunities.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada leverage opportunities such as National Volunteer Week and Intergenerational Day to bring awareness to intergenerational volunteering and shine a light on high-impact intergenerational volunteering initiatives.