Get Involved!
The “OMATSURI – Calgary Japanese Festival” wouldn’t exist without our dedicated and hardworking team of volunteers. We are currently recruiting volunteers (18+) for our 2024 Festival to be held on August 9th & 10th at Max Bell Centre and hope you will consider joining our team.
We welcome all volunteers regardless of background and invite you to “Get Involved” with this annual celebration of Japanese culture.
All we require is your time commitment (hours vary depending on shift), mandatory participation in a Volunteer Orientation evening (@7:00 PM, Thur, August 8th, 2024 at Max Bel Centre) and your willingness to pitch in where required. In exchange for your time, you will receive free entry on both days, a volunteer T-Shirt, and refreshments during your shift. This is a terrific opportunity to meet new people, experience Japanese culture, and help support the Japanese community in Calgary.
We are looking for volunteers to help with:
Friday, August 9th, 2024
- Friday Festival Setup involves 2 sites: Calgary Japanese Community Association center and the Max Bell Centre
- Setup times: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Night Market: 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Saturday, August 10th, 2024
- Setup & Festival: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
- Festival & Tear Down: 1:30 PM – 7:30 PM or until cleanup is complete
We also need help on Sunday, August 11 to from 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM.
NOTE: Once the event is finalized, the shift times may be adjusted to the needs of the Team you are on.
We encourage all volunteers to use the LRT as parking will be limited at the event.
Volunteer Teams
ADMISSION
OVERVIEW
Admissions duties, outside area, must be able to stand and move comfortably.
DUTIES
Manage admissions outside, standing and moving required
SHIFTS
Fri Evening, Sat Morning, Sat Afternoon
NOTES
Outside area, ability to stand and move
KIDS' ZONE
OVERVIEW
Outside volunteer area, no shifts Friday evening.
DUTIES
Assist in children's activities, outside area
SHIFTS
Sat Morning, Sat Afternoon
NOTES
Outside volunteer area
CJCA COMMUNITY
OVERVIEW
Inside area, requires knowledge about CJCA or being on shift with knowledgeable volunteers, covering for each other over breaks. Legacy Project, Happi Coats/Event costumes/Lost and Found
DUTIES
Assist at CJCA table with various duties, inside area
SHIFTS
Fri Evening, Sat All Day
NOTES
Inside area, knowledge of CJCA preferred
ENTERTAINMENT
OVERVIEW
Assistance with stage setup and takedown, resetting stages, liaising with performers, ensuring schedule adherence.
DUTIES
Setup/takedown of stages, assist performers, manage equipment
SHIFTS
Fri Evening: 6pm-11:30pm, Sat: Multiple Shifts
NOTES
Direct interaction with performers, setup/takedown duties
SAKE & BEER GARDEN
OVERVIEW
Setup the sake/beer garden table, cashier duties, carrying sake/beer from refrigerator truck to booth, serving sake/beer (pro-serve certification required), cleanup.
DUTIES
Setup, cashier, carry and serve drinks, cleanup
SHIFTS
Fri Eve: 5:30pm-11pm, Sat Morning: 9am-1:30pm, Sat Afternoon: 1pm-5:30pm
NOTES
If you have AGLC pro-serve, please let us know in advance.
SITE OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
Activities for setting up the Max Bell site, requires physical ability to lift and carry.
Activities for packing and removing festival equipment, requires physical ability. Transport and unloading of festival supplies, requires physical ability.
DUTIES
- set up of tents, canopies and small movable structures
- set up of tables, and chairs for both inside and outside vendor areas
- set up of all special signage, decorative materials, displays, lanterns and special lighting
- Calgary Japanese Community Association center (Friday time to be determined) - 6-10 people
- loading of all equipment for transport to the Max Bell Centre
- dismantling tents, canopies and movable structures
- tables and chairs stacked for pick up by supplier
- dismantling of all special signage, decorative materials, displays, lanterns and special lighting
- site clean-up
- transport and unloading of all festival supplies
SHIFTS
tbd
NOTES
Physical ability to lift 10 to 20 lbs required
VENDOR MANAGEMENT
OVERVIEW
Researching new vendors, contacting previous and new vendors, reviewing Vendor Contract, securing vendor spots, ensuring vendor needs are met.
DUTIES
Contact and meet vendors, review contracts, manage vendor needs
SHIFTS
Fri, Sat: During Event
NOTES
Contact previous and new vendors, manage vendor spaces
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT
OVERVIEW
Assist in PreFestival Volunteer preparations, Festival Volunteer Desk setup/takedown, Volunteer/Entertainment Check ins, provide general information support to the volunteers, organizing/helping with pizza event and distribution of Volunteer refreshments
DUTIES
PreFestival Preparations(T-shirt distributions, organizing Lanyards etc), Volunteer Check-ins on Festival Days, Set up and Take down of Festival Volunteer Center, provide general support to volunteers, Distributing refreshments at the Volunteer Meal Centre which also will involves its own setup and takedown
SHIFTS
Friday Set-Up and Check-In: 11:30am-6:00pm, Friday Evening Check-In: 4:30-8:30pm, Saturday morning: 6:45am-1:00pm, 1:00-7:00pm or until cleanup and volunteer wrap up is complete. Refreshment distribution shifts TBD for both festival days
NOTES
Flexible, Fast paced at check-in times and distribution, direct interaction with volunteers, organize pizza event
Volunteer Application Form
Omatsuri communicates primarily through email. Please check your email regularly and add omatsuri.volunteer@calgaryjca.com on your safe senders list as we have had occurrences where our emails were flagged as spam.
If you have any questions or concerns please send us an email to Omatsuri.Volunteer@calgaryjca.com