Volunteers are the foundation of Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health

Tanya Thompson volunteering for Gateway.

At Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH), volunteers are not just a support system; they are the foundation that allows us to serve our local communities.

Like many rural organizations, we rely heavily on the time, skills, and dedication of volunteers to keep our work moving forward.

Our Research Chairs, Research Assistants, and Board of Directors are entirely volunteer driven. The guidance from them helps us grow thoughtfully while staying grounded in our mission.

Volunteers are also essential to the delivery of our programs and events. Some lend their expertise behind the scenes, assisting with coordination and technical support to ensure workshops, events, and presentations run smoothly.

Others bring professional backgrounds in healthcare, generously sharing their knowledge with community members through presentations, discussions, and educational sessions.

Volunteers are the hearts of rural communities. They bring people together in ways that go beyond programs or events—they create connection, trust, and a shared sense of care for one another.

At Gateway CERH, this isn’t something we take lightly. Working alongside our volunteers means building real relationships with people who genuinely care about their community.

This isn’t just supporting, it’s partnership. That connection keeps us grounded and reminds us why this work matters.

At Gateway CERH, we see every day how volunteers sustain our programs and strengthen our community.

Their commitment is what allows us to keep growing, adapting, and moving this work forward together.

Karissa Overholt is the Operations Manager at Gateway CERH