The Volunteer Team Behind Bluesfest
Here you can find answers to our most frequently asked questions.
FAQs
Popular FAQs
WHEN AND WHERE WILL CITYFOLK 2024 BE TAKING PLACE?
This year CityFolk will take place at Lansdowne Park, September 11-15, 2024!
You can check out this year’s event specific information on our festival website: https://cityfolkfestival.com/
WHERE CAN I SEE THE 2024 SITE MAP?
The CityFolk 2024 site map is available on the CityFolk website, HERE!
FAQs
Registration FAQs
Why should I consider volunteering with the Volunteer Team Behind Bluesfest (VTBB)(Bluesfest and Cityfolk)?
We are proud to host hundreds of volunteers at our event every summer, and are always looking for enthusiastic and qualified volunteers to join our team. We have a variety of volunteer opportunities, both on and off the festival grounds, meaning there is an opportunity for everyone. We work directly with volunteer leaders to ensure our community is well-supported, trained and supervised effectively, and given ample opportunities to connect with each other in a fun, exciting, and memorable way.
I want to volunteer at CityFolk — when and how can I sign up?
Public registration typically opens in August and will remain open for the weeks leading up to the festival. We are continuing to use Bloomerang (formerly Initlive) as our registration and scheduling platform. You can access the registration link on our Opportunities Page and you can read about navigating your Bloomerang account HERE.
Please ensure the following email addresses are in your Safe Senders list so you don’t miss a message from us!
volunteers@cityfolkfestival.com
do-not-reply-vms@bloomerang.com
RETURNING VOLUNTEERS:
We are so excited to welcome you back to CityFolk as a member of the Volunteer Team Behind CityFolk (VTBB). Our Early Bird registration period will be taking place in June.
Note that if you receive an Early Bird invitation, but miss the Early Bird registration period, you can still register for your Crew during the general registration period!
Please ensure the following email addresses are in your Safe Senders list so you don’t miss a message from us!
volunteers@cityfolkfestival.com
do-not-reply-vms@bloomerang.com
HOW DO I UPDATE MY BLOOMERANG ACCOUNT?
For steps on how to update your Bloomerang (formerly InitLive) account please see our How to Update Your Bloomerang Volunteer Account page on our website. This will provide you with detailed, step by step instructions.
NEW VOLUNTEERS: PUBLIC REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.
Check out our CityFolk Volunteer Opportunities page to view our public Crew job descriptions and read over the registration steps.
All volunteers, whether new or returning, will need to create a Bloomerang account (formerly InitLve) in order to access Opportunities with our Organization. You can read more about Bloomerang’s Privacy Policy HERE.
To see video demonstrations on how to register with Bloomerang click HERE.
What is Bloomerang (Formerly Initlive)?
InitLive is now called “Bloomerang”! But do not worry, as it will continue to work that same.
We are always looking for the best ways to manage our volunteer’s information and make registration as easy as possible. We have been using Bloomerang (formerly InitLive) since 2019 as our registration and scheduling platform.If you’re looking to learn more about how Bloomerang manages the data collected, you can find all the information through the links below.
Read Bloomerang’s Privacy Policy HERE
Read Bloomerang’s Terms and Conditions HERE
I want to sign up with someone — friend, child, partner, sibling — is there anything special that we need to know?
No problem! We often have volunteers working together in Crews throughout the festival site. To increase the chances of this happening, you and your friend or family should sign up for the same shifts at the same time, using separate computers.
Please note that there is no guarantee that you will be able to register for the same shifts, due to volunteer maximums in each shift. We also can not guarantee that you’ll work together while on shift, as volunteers are placed where they’re needed within a Crew and your Crew Leader may need you to work separately during your respective shifts.
As a volunteer, do I get access to free shows at CityFolk?
Definitely! This is one of the many perks our volunteers get. New this year, ALL volunteers can have access to free shows starting on the first day of the festival, no need to complete a shift beforehand! To keep your access to free shows throughout the festival, you must attend all of the shifts that you sign up for and make sure that you otherwise stay in good standing.
Why can’t I volunteer in more than one Crew?
Having our volunteers work all their shifts in one Crew helps us to keep things consistent and means that you don’t have to learn the ropes for a new activity every time you come in. Our Crew Leaders also depend on the experience of their team to keep things running smoothly, and to help new volunteers get the hang of the day-to-day activities and expectations of their Crew.
If, however, you thrive on new experiences and get tired of doing the same things day in and day out, check out our Floaters team to get the chance to work all over the festival site!
FAQs
Specialized Recruitment FAQs
Why are some Crews privately-recruited?
Some Crews are privately recruited because they require volunteers to have additional experience in that area. These Crews might also have additional responsibilities than the average Crew. Typically, specialized positions are staffed from within, or they require volunteers to interview for the position in order to highlight their relevant experience.
How do I apply for specialized positions if they're not open during Public Registration?
Each privately recruited Crew accepts volunteers through an application process that is unique to their crew. The ONLY way to be considered for a privately recruited Crew is to complete their application process through our website.
Not all of our Privately Recruited Crews are looking for new volunteers at this time. To find out which privately recruited Crews are looking for new volunteers, what requirements each team has and how to apply, you can check out our Private Recruitment page.
Note: We recommend that if you do not hear back from the Crew leaders of a privately recruited Crew before September 10th, that you register with a public Crew in order to ensure you have a spot volunteering at CityFolk!
To see the requirements for our publicly recruited crews, please check out our Opportunities page.
I want to volunteer with a specific crew, but i do not see their job description or application on the website. How do I volunteer with them?
Our privately recruited Crews recruit internally, from their dedicated group of experienced volunteers, before opening up their application process to the new volunteers. If you do not see a specific Crew’s job description on the website it means that they are already full and are not accepting any new volunteers at this time.
FAQs
Youth Volunteers FAQs
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
While we accept any age over 18, our Youth volunteers are the youngest team of volunteers at the festival! Youth volunteers must be 14 years of age by September 11th, 2024 to participate. All youth initiatives and opportunities are designed for individuals between the ages of 14-17 years old who have the permission of their legal guardian to participate at the festival.
Where can I download the Parental Permission Form?
All of our Youth volunteers must submit a signed Parental Permission Form can be found on our CityFolk Training Page, HERE.
Can my time spent volunteering count for high school hours?
Absolutely! Make sure to bring your school-issued form with you and have your Crew Leader sign it immediately following each shift.
Your Crew Leader will not sign your form for any shift that you do not attend or complete.
FAQs
Volunteering Training FAQs
Will there be an Orientation and/or Training session for CityFolk 2024?
Yes! Our orientation/training night will be taking place at Lansdowne Park (1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa, ON), on September 10th at 6pm. You can meet us at the Fasken stage for a group orientation, before breaking of in your crews for some crew specific training.
What is the Accessibility Standards Customer Service Training and why do I have to do it for the festival?
Accessibility Standards for Customer Service is a provincially-driven act created to increase awareness and services for people with disabilities. All organizations that provide goods or services directly to the public are affected by this act, and that includes CityFolk and our volunteers. We strive to provide the most inclusive and accessible experience for all of our patrons and volunteers each year, and by completing the Accessibility Standards Customer Service training, we make that possible.
Do I have to complete the Accessibility Standards Customer Service Training before registration? How do I do that?
Yes! All volunteers are required to complete the Accessibility Standards Customer Service training. Training can be completed anytime between now and when the festival starts. The training takes approximately 45 minutes and is available for free online at: https://accessforward.ca/customerService/.
*Please note, although there is a certificate for completing the training available, we do not require that you send it in to us. If you’ve done the training before, you do not need to do it again.
HOW DO I UPDATE MY REGISTRATION INFO ON BLOOMERANG AFTER I’VE COMPLETED MY ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING?
Any changes to your account should be made on a desktop computer. In order to update your registration questions, you will need the confirmation number found in your confirmation email, which you received after you completed your registration.
- Click on the link to your volunteer account found in the CityFolk registration email and then enter your case-sensitive confirmation number (which can also be found in that email).
- Select the button that says “Modify Registration”.
- Review your registration questions and ensure the entered information is correct, then add any information that may be missing or need to be changed. Once you’ve finished, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select “Next”.
- The next page is your shift selections. Here, you can scroll all the way down to the bottom of this page and select “Next”, which in turn will take you to a summary page, where you can select “Finish”, which will save the changes you made to your account.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not select Finish, your changes will not be saved.
FAQs
Volunteer Conditions FAQs
What happens if I can’t attend one of my shifts?
We can’t run the festival without our volunteers, so we’re counting on your attendance! It’s expected that you’ll show up for all of your scheduled shifts, even if you signed up for more than the minimum. In order to avoid missing shifts, make sure not to sign up for more shifts than you can commit to!
In the event of an emergency, please contact your Crew leader.
Remember: In order to keep your Free Show privileges, you must attend ALL of the shifts that you’re scheduled for
Where can I find information about festival policies?
Reviewing and signing off on our VTBB Code of Conduct and Harassment Policy are a mandatory part of volunteering with us. These updated documents are available on our Training Page, HERE!
What forms of I.D. (identification) are valid onsite?
Volunteers must bring Valid I.D. (identification) each time they are onsite. Volunteers may also be working in positions that require them to ask patrons or other volunteers for their I.D. (volunteer check in, beverage cashiers, will call/box office, etc.)
Acceptable forms of photo identification include:
-Ontario Driver’s License with a photo of the person to whom the license is issues
-A Canadian Passport
-Canadian Citizenship Card with a photo of the person to whom the card is issued
-Canadian Armed Forces Identification Card
-A photo card issued by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), entitled Bring Your ID (BYID)
-A Secure Indian Status Card issued by the Government of Canada
-A Permanent Resident Card issued by the Government of Canada
-A photo card issued under the Photo Card Act, 2008
Other forms may be accepted, though they must be physical forms of ID (no pictures).
FAQs
Shift Requirement FAQs
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM SHIFT REQUIREMENT FOR EACH CREW?
Most Crews have a 3 shift minimum, with some Crews having a 2 shift minimum. This difference depends on the Crews shift length requirement and their duties throughout the festival. When registering for a Crew, there will be note that indicates the number of shifts you will be required to sign up for within your Crew.
If you are registering for a Crew with a 2 shift minimum, you must ensure that you select the “Buffer Shift” along with the 2 shifts that you have selected.
HOW LONG ARE THE SHIFTS FOR EACH CREW?
Shift lengths are unique to each Crew and the duties that they carry out before, during, and after festival hours. If you would like to know the shift lengths of a specific Crew, before you register, you can email volunteers@cityfolkfestival.com.
WHY AM I NOT ABLE TO WORK OVERLAPPING SHIFTS IN MY CREW?
Rules around overlapping shifts are unique to each Crew based on their shift lengths and the duties that they carry out before, during, and after festival hours.
FAQs
Fundraising FAQs
What do funds raised through silent auction and 50/50 tickets go towards?
These funds directly benefit three festival-created charities, What’s in the Song and Folk in the Schools (FITS). All three of these programs have been extremely successful and are sources of community pride.
- Folk in the Schools is a program that offers a unique and inspiring opportunity for students of all ages to draw on the energy and experience of award-winning musicians through presentation workshops and hands-on instructional techniques. It is an annual education program created to promote, preserve and perpetuate the art, culture and heritage of traditional and roots-based music. Since its inception, Folk in the Schools has engaged tens of thousands of Ottawa-area students from Kindergarten through High School. Program Goals
- Use music to promote acceptance and to provide this opportunity to students regardless of their race, gender, or ability to afford such a program
- To promote the use of music in other areas of education including art, history, geography and creative writing
- To develop core classes into performing groups and to showcase their talent and expose them to a larger audience
- To provide a two-week residency in Ottawa-area schools – Phase 1: Assembly-style Presentations • Phase 2: Core Group Learning Sessions
- What’s In The Song was launched in 2018. This initiative pairs
professional local songwriters with youth from around the city to work on
the craft of songwriting. The eight week program examines various genres of
songwriting with weekly exercises and collaborative work culminating in a community ‘coffee house style’ performance for family and friends.
FAQs
Transportation FAQs
How do I get to the festival? Can I park onsite?
Lansdowne is in a fairly central location and is very accessible to the public, so getting down to the festival should be a breeze!
● Walking: Our Bank Street location means that volunteer pedestrians will have sidewalks and street lights to make their trek to and from the festival a safe and pleasant experience
● Biking: There are a number of bike paths leading directly to the festival site. Please take a look at this City of Ottawa Cycling Map to explore possible routes. You can also use Bike Ottawa’s Interactive Routing Map to plan your best route.
● Bus*: OC Transpo has service on the 6 Greenboro/Rockcliffe and 7 Carleton/St-Laurent routes during event hours. Use the OC Transpo Travel Planner to chart your journey.
● Para Transpo: For Para Transpo drop off location please see our CityFolk 2024 site map, HERE.
● Car drop-off: There are a number of spots around the festival site where you can arrange to be dropped off for your shift and picked up after.
● Driving: There is no on site parking for volunteers. We highly recommend taking one of the other modes of transportation listed above.
*Please note that free access to OC transpo is not available for CityFolk volunteers.
Is there any volunteer parking onsite?
No, there is no volunteer-specific parking onsite. We recommend using public transportation, biking, getting dropped off, or walking when possible.
WILL VOLUNTEERS HAVE ACCESS TO BIKE PARKING ON SITE?
Although we do not have a Bike Park for CityFolk, there will be limited bicycle parking around TD place and the surrounding neighbourhood. He can not guarantee that there will be a spot to park your bike, so please keep that in mind when choosing your mode of transportation to the festival.
FAQs
Smart Serve FAQs
WILL I NEED SMART SERVE TO VOLUNTEER AT CITYFOLK?
Yes! If you are volunteering with a Crew that serves or handles alcohol in any capacity, you will need to get your Smart Serve certification. To check if your Crew will require you to be Smart Serve certified, please read the Crew’s job description on our website.
WILL I BE REIMBURSED FOR MY SMART SERVE CERTIFICATION/ RECERTIFICATION?
Yes! We are reimbursing volunteers who need to be Smart Serve certified on a first come first served basis. If you know that you will need to do your Smart Serve certification for the first time, or will need to be recertified, please fill out our Smart Serve reimbursement form.
Once your training is complete, send your certificate and invoice or proof of payment to volunteers@cityfolkfestival.com by September 15, 2024. Certificates dated August 1 – September 11 or date of your first shift will be accepted.
Note: We will only be reimbursing volunteers registered in shifts with Crews that serve or handle alcohol.
The Volunteer Team Behind Bluesfest
- Keanna Louis-Charles (she/her) musician, educator, community advocate Volunteer Services Manager
- Jamine A (volunteer services assistant), Hannah S (volunteer services assistant)
- Holmer B., Debby D., Christina C. (Volunteer Advisory Team)