New uOttawa volunteer centre applauded by Governor General

The University of Ottawa with its brand-new Centre for Global and Community Engagement is leading in the notion of service to others.

This statement was made by Canada’s Governor General David Johnston during his address at uOttawa’s Convocation on Sunday, June 12, 2011, where he was  receiving an honorary doctorate. “It’s so wonderful to see this university leading in the whole idea of service to others, a foundation point for all of Canada, and I will watch with great interest as this unfolds in the years to come,” His Excellency said.

The Governor General’s words are not surprising. The Centre is an on-campus one-stop shop for information on volunteer opportunities in Ottawa and around the world—not just for students but for the entire university community, including faculty and support staff. It also provides support to members of the university community who start their own grassroots initiatives.

One of the Centre’s signature pieces is Community Service Learning, which enables students to perform meaningful volunteer work as part of their course work. 

With the Global and Community Service Office, uOttawa redefines community service as a tangible way to effect positive social change, apply studies to real-world situations, develop a network of like-minded peers and learn practical skills that will last a lifetime.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston is the 28th Governor General of Canada.

Watch His Excellency’s message on Flickr.