DMS has established three separate categories of volunteers, namely:

1. Those who volunteer their time, resources and skills behind the scenes at DMS Foundation’s Home Office, planning, researching fund raising, carrying out a number of administrative and office functions, educationalists trainers and others who help prepared Volunteers wanting to serve in the various DMS   Centres either in Canada or abroad.
2. Volunteers who posses specialized and/or professional skills includes trades, that are needed at the DMS      Centres to work with the various local communities and local volunteers to help deliver the services offered by the DMS Centres wherever they may be located; and
3. Volunteers made-up of trainers, first responders and disaster response, search and rescue operations,            each a specialist in his or her own area of competence in emergency disaster operations. 

You have to be over 18 years old and have the desire to become involved in the type work that the Charity does.

You must agree to be bound by our By-Laws, rules and regulations. Any criminal record must be notified and may preclude you from serving in a DMS Centre.

Offer your services. People can volunteer their time/help with fundraising, office duties, 'Supporters of DMS etc, and therefore, could be considered even if they have mobility or disability problems.

The first step to be taken in this process, is to become a DMS Volunteer Member.

To obtain the necessary application, write or E-mail us under which category you would like to serve as a Volunteer, tell us something about yourself, (Resume or a short Bio) and request for the necessary forms and further details.

The skills required for those volunteers serving at our DMS Centres including those involved in Disaster Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness, Response, Search and Rescue operations is essential. However, you will bring along from your everyday life skills that could help others. We can teach you new skills. Those you don’t have you can learn.

It is a certain mindset we are looking for in each of the categories of Volunteers who join DMS.

No. Everybody seeking a place on the Operations Program MUST undergo a training program. The training is rigorous before a Volunteer can become part of the team. To be selected as a team member to serve at one of our DMS Centre’s or be sent out in an overseas mission is an earned position, which is gained through commitment, rigorous training and hard work.

Yes. Volunteers wanting to work at a DMS Centre doing field work and/or be a member of a search and rescue team in Canada or  overseas must be psychologically and physically fit.

This type of work can be both emotionally taxing and physically demanding. We are looking for a good overall level of fitness in our team members. Don't think you could join and then get fit - you would not pass the first assessment.

Being fit does not mean that you must have the stamina of a world class athlete.  It's a balance between brute strength and endurance.

No – You require a Valid Passport if you wish to work towards joining a DMS Centre or its Operations Program as a first responder, search and rescue Volunteer,

Training can take up to six (6) months, so if you have not got a passport there will be plenty of time to get one.

If visas are required to enter a country, DMS will make the necessary arrangements relating to visas for any postings overseas or missions.

If you are serving as a Volunteer at our home office in Toronto, the answer is no. However, if are intending to serve at a DMS Centre the answer is yes. During training you will have to provide yourself with outdoor clothing, overalls, boots, hard hat, sleeping bags personal hygiene items and all usual bits. 

Once you qualify to serve as a Volunteer working abroad, must provide your own personal hygiene items but all uniforms identity tags, working equipment will be provided by DMS.  If you qualify as a Volunteer to work at a DMS Centre or as a First Responder, search and rescue Volunteer, then all your waterproofs, tent, bags, etc will be issued by DMS. For an up to date list of basic requirements, ask for and obtain an up-to-date list.

Traveling to training weekends and other events are difficult for us to “cost” due to the geographical locations that Volunteer Members travel from. You will need to cover your own costs to travel, on average, from your home to Toronto once a month for training - including post training sessions after you qualify to ensure that you are kept up-to-date with developments. You also need to budget for some small personal items of equipment (personal hygiene, books et al.), your food during the training weekends and your working overalls.

Yes. However, once you have arrived at Toronto onwards travel will be on DMS transport. Traveling to training is all part of the commitment. If you can’t show up for your training sessions, then this program is not for you. You will never make it onto an operational team if you aren't committed to meeting our standard training requirements.

Personal travel, phone and food expenses are not reimbursed unless you have purchased items or services on behalf of DMS and completed the required claims form for payment. Currently, the traveling to training is at your own expense.

At least one weekend every month during your training and once you have passed your Operational Assessment there are other training activities that you will become involved with. On average, most people will need to set aside at least one weekend a month if on the Operations Program.

We would like you to get involved with fund raising talks and events.  If, for example, you wanted to be a member of the First Responder Team or the DMS Disaster Mitigation and Prevention Team, then that would be on top of your normal commitment. You must be a qualified First Responder before you would be allowed to 'specialize'.

It depends, if you are Volunteering to serve at a DMS Centre for a period of 3 or 6 months, we would expect that you would have made those arrangements with your employer beforehand. However, if you are attached to the DMS Centre in Toronto as a first responder and are a part of a rapid deployment team and need to join in a response, search and rescue mission, then we would expect that either you have organized a pre-authorization arrangement with your employer or have to seek his permission at short notice (which is not advisable), if you wish to keep your job. 

 It is important to be honest in the amount of time you may be away from work; if you will need to cover shifts etc. Self employed people must remember they might be away from work for several weeks if on a mission. Whilst away it is unlikely you would be able to ring clients or be hooked-up to your BlackBerry every few minutes, so make sure they know where you are going and that you could be away some time. It is often difficult to give an exact date we would return to Canada in the early stages of a disaster.

Almost any Volunteer work makes inroads to your spare time. This by its very nature is time that you would have been spending with your family, and DMS is no exception.

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Overseas operations can be very stressful. DMS has a Stress Manager, available 24 hours a day should you require assistance after an overseas Operation.  Rescue work, by its very nature, is a very dangerous job. There is always a risk of a serious or even fatal injury. It is important that your partner and yourself understand this. We train very hard to minimize the risk and take all the necessary precautions, but working in such a hostile environment is extremely hazardous and its importance cannot be minimized here.

In the first instance contact the DMS Foundation as shown on the contact details of our webpage.

Yes. During the “Introduction to the DMS course that you will have to attend, members will be available for you to talk with during the day. Speaking to an staff and other Volunteers with field experience is a must before volunteering or making any fast decisions. We also recommend that you bring your spouse, partner or friend so that they understand what is expected of a Volunteer and what is involved in the process.