High school students in Brockville, Ontario, can now receive official certificates for completing extra volunteer work before they graduate this spring. While all students must finish 40 hours of community service to get their diploma, the Upper Canada District School Board is highlighting a new program that rewards those who do more.
The Ministry of Education is offering three levels of recognition based on how much time a student spends helping their community. A bronze certificate is awarded for 50 to 99 hours, silver for 100 to 199 hours, and a gold certificate for anyone who completes 200 hours or more.
Local students at Brockville Collegiate Institute and Thousand Islands Secondary School can find tracking forms and lists of approved activities at their school guidance offices. These certificates are designed to help students stand out when applying for jobs or college and university programs after high school.
To receive a certificate at their June graduation ceremony, students in the Class of 2026 must submit their verified hours by April 1, 2026. Students are allowed to start counting their volunteer time as early as the summer before they enter Grade 9.
