In Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, a volunteer program is quietly reshaping how high school students think about their futures while addressing a critical shortage in Canada's health-care sector. The initiative—run by the health authority with backing from the Ministry of Education—has drawn students from nearly every high school in the city, offering them something increasingly rare: a chance to explore a career while earning an official Grade 12 credit.
The appeal is elegantly simple. Students commit to 100 volunteer hours spread across Grades 10 through 12, working two hours once a week from November to May. About 20 young people participate each day, Monday through Thursday, rotating through different activities and visiting opportunities designed to give them a genuine taste of health-care work. As program coordinator Senga explains, many teenagers are drawn to the idea of health care but uncertain whether it's truly their calling. "There's kids who are interested in health care but don't really know for sure if that's the right thing for them," she said. "So this is an opportunity to kind of see what health care is all about, get a little taste, and figure out whether that's the right thing for them or not."
What began as a practical exploration has become something deeper. Students report building unexpected friendships across school lines, discovering their capacity for empathy, and developing leadership and communication skills by pushing beyond their comfort zones. The experience of simple acts of kindness—regular games and conversations with residents—leaves a mark. "A lot of them comment that they've gained some empathy toward other people," Senga said. Many ultimately decide to pursue careers in health care, a outcome that matters enormously in a field facing persistent staffing challenges across the country.
This year, the program also recognized exceptional student achievement through eight bursaries totaling $3,000 in support. Four $500 Hannah and Hudson bursaries were funded by a private donor in honour of her grandchildren, while four additional bursaries came from funds donated by the former Victoria Hospital Auxiliaries. The recipients—Nrutya Patel, Jaedeeleigh Amador, Milka Kiflay, Mishael Adepoju, Emaan Chaudhry, Izzah Hashim, Gabriella Puentespina, and Annica Choresca—represent the breadth of Prince Albert's student population pursuing this path.
The program's significance extends beyond individual career choices. Health-care systems across Canada are struggling to fill positions, and early exposure to the sector can be transformative. By allowing students to explore the work before committing to post-secondary education, the program helps match passionate, empathetic young people with roles where they're needed most. The connections formed between volunteers and residents ripple outward too—in hospitals and care facilities, meaningful human interaction matters as much as clinical skill.
Looking ahead, opportunity is expanding. When the new Victoria Hospital expansion space opens, the health authority will need additional volunteers, particularly "way finders" trained to help patients and visitors navigate the building. For Prince Albert's teenagers, the volunteer program has already opened a door. For the health authority and the residents they serve, those students are walking through it.