Volunteer Opportunities

The Fool's Run is not just for runners and walkers — it's for the entire community. Not running? Volunteer instead! You'll get a 'Race Crew' T-shirt, BMO gloves, access to volunteer refreshments, invite to the Orientation Party, and the chance to win a draw prize — plus a first-hand view of the race and the boundless appreciation of the participants and organizers!

Volunteer for 2021!

Volunteer Questions:

Captain hoodie 2019

Area Captains

Are you a natural leader age 19+ and living on the Sunshine Coast? We need key volunteers (captains) to be in charge of each area. Must be able to attend the orientation party, be comfortable using email, and possibly picking up some supplies for your area. Special garment for captains: a hoodie! Select the appropriate Captain job on the application form if you'd like to be an area leader. Priority will be given to returning captains.

Planning Committee

If you want to be more involved and really own your area of responsibility, please join our planning committee! No boring formal meetings every month. Just a few casual get-togethers per year in a local restaurant or brewery, with most of the communication and work done by email or phone. Contact us at the email above for details.

Volunteer Instructions

Available here (multiple pages). Some sections have been expanded.


Job Descriptions

One person can do more than one job where the times required do not overlap, for example: volunteer check-in + marshal in Gibsons + marshal in RC or Davis Bay. Please read over the descriptions below and choose the job(s) best suited to your abilities and interests.

Race week

Wednesday race kit assembly

Time: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: PaceSetter Athletic, 103 - 622 Hough Rd, Gibsons
Description: Help assemble race kits: envelope with label, bib number, event instructions, shirt if ordered, and sponsor flyers or samples, if applicable.
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Saturday package pickup / late registration

packet pickup volunteers

Time: 9:30 am to 2:00 pm / 2:00 to 6:00 pm (2 shifts)
Location: PaceSetter Athletic, 622 Hough Rd, Gibsons
Description: Help hand out race kits and take new registrations. First shift begins by setting up tables and materials to be ready for 10am opening. End of second shift helps move everything to Community Centre and sets room up for race morning.
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Saturday volunteer check in

Time: 1:45 to 5:30 pm
Location: PaceSetter Athletic, 622 Hough Rd, Gibsons
Description: Check in volunteers; sign out volunteer equipment as required (vests, paddles), give out t-shirt, lanyard, and instructions. During last 45 minutes, help move supplies to Community Centre and set up the volunteer check in area for race morning.
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Saturday preparation of finish area

Time: 6:30-7:30 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Help set up stage and finish line, ready for race morning.
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Race day (Sunday): pre-race

Course setup and takedown driver

Time: 5:00-7:30 am and 9:30 am-1 pm
Location: Gibsons to Davis Bay, race route
Description: Help course director mark the race route. Drive a 1-ton truck slowly along the route. Must be a very smooth driver with excellent focus/attention/listening skills.
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Volunteer check in

Time: 7:30-9:00 am
Location: Gibsons & Area Community Centre, Park Road
Description: Check in volunteers; sign out volunteer equipment as required (vests, paddles), give out t-shirt, lanyard, and instructions. At end of shift, pack everything up neatly.
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Start area setup

Time: 7:30-8:00 am
Location: Gibsons & Area Community Centre, Park Road
Description: Help timing company set up start line on Park Road.
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Package pickup

Time: 7:30-9:15 am
Location: Gibsons & Area Community Centre, Park Road
Description: Hand out race envelopes (pre-stuffed and sorted alphabetically). Be able to answer basic questions about the event (e.g. buses, start line location, gear check). After 9:00 am, count how many envelopes were not picked up; pack everything up and put tables and chairs back in the storage closet. Race supplies go into PaceSetter mini van.
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Event day registration

race day registration

Time: 7:30-8:50 am
Location: Gibsons & Area Community Centre, Park Road
Description: Accept day of event registrations and changes to registrations. Make sure the entry form is completely filled in and waiver is signed, bib # recorded in box on form, check the amount owing, take payment, give change if necessary, record amount and form of payment. Record entries/changes neatly on lists for timing company. Give the participant their bib #, instruction sheet, pins and BMO gloves. Be able to answer basic questions (start time, location of start line, gear check). After 8:45 am, pack up all registration materials into bin provided, to be loaded into PaceSetter van with other supplies.
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Baggage/Gear check

Baggage check table

Time: 7:45-9:15 am
Location: Gibsons & Area Community Centre
Description: Label runners' bags for gear check (use baggage tag included in envelope/kit, stapled around bag strap or handle). 2 people inside rec centre to label bags, 2 people outside taking bags from runners and loading into truck, organized by bib number ranges.
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Bus/ferry ambassador a.k.a. the Ferry Fairy

Time: 8:05-8:20 am
Location: Langdale Ferry Terminal
Description: Meet and greet the foot passenger runners off the 7:30am ferry and make sure they all get onto the school buses. Collect $2 each from any non-runners/non-volunteers using the buses.
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Parking marshal

Time: 8:00-9:00 am
Location: Gibsons & Area Community Centre, Park Road
Description: Direct arriving vehicles to find parking, keep vehicles moving.
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Race day: during race

Volunteer zone & equipment drop-off

Time: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Set up and maintain volunteer zone with refreshments, inside Mission Point House in the park. Answer volunteer questions (using detailed list of assignments). Sign-in and equip any volunteers who did not sign-in at the start in Gibsons. Receive and organize marshals' returned visi-vests and stop/slow paddles.
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Finish area setup

Time: 7:30-9:30 am
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Assist in setting up the finish line and chute, tents, tables, recycling bins and signs. Under the direction of the finish line manager.
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Medical support

Time: 8:15 am to 12:45 (on course) / 10:15 am to 1:15 pm (finish line)
Description: (Certified in First Aid) Provide on-site medical support if needed, at start, on course and at finish area. Own vehicle required. Bring your own first aid kit. We provide finish line cooler for ice. Your expenses (gas, supplies) will be covered by the race. Must have cell phone so volunteers and organizers can contact you during the event. Finish line medical: stationed right at the finish line in medical tent, watching finishers closely for signs of distress.
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Course marshal

Course Marshal

Time: somewhere between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm; start and end time depends on location—early route locations will be finished quite quickly and you can move to a later spot.
Description: Stand at designated location to provide visibility and make sure vehicles emerging from or turning into side roads do not interfere with the runners. Verbally keep reminding runners to stay on the shoulder of the road. In some locations you may be directing the runners to turn a corner or cross a road. You will be wearing a visi-vest and for many locations you'll use a STOP/SLOW paddle; both will be signed out to you on Saturday or Sunday. Prepare before you start by viewing the online and printed maps showing where to go and where the runners will be on the road. Bring cell phone in case a runner needs assistance. Stay until the official sweep volunteer comes by after the last runner. Return vest/paddle and lanyard to volunteer HQ at finish line by 1pm on race day, or to PaceSetter Athletic within 3 days of the event.
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Relay exchange marshal (3)

Time: from 9:00/9:30/9:50 am until no more relay runners are waiting (approx 60-90 min depending on location)
Description: Supervise one of the three relay exchanges (Veterans at Hwy 101, Lower Road at Joe Road, Marlene at Kraus Rd). You will be wearing a visi-vest and informing relay participants where to wait for their teammates, guiding them to touch hands in the marked exchange zone for a proper relay hand-off, and asking them to do their warm up running on side roads (not the race route). Also making sure spectators are well off the road, and participants do not park or drive on the race route.
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Aid stations (4)

aid station

Time: from 9:00/9:30/9:45/10:00 am until course sweep comes by after last runner
Locations: 1. Veterans Rd at Carole Pl; 2. Lower Road at Joe; 3. Beach at Marlene Rd; 4. Jack Road on Hwy 101 (bottom of Rat Portage Hill)
Description: Hold out cups of water and sports drink to passing runners who want it (they will grab the cup as they pass). Use dispensers (provided) to pre-fill a number of cups to be ready to hand out in quick succession. Collect all discarded cups into garbage bags during and afterwards. Aid station captain to pick up or arrange receipt of supplies prior to race day. Captain or designated volunteer to bring all supplies to the finish line immediately after station is finished.
This is a great job for a family, club, or group of friends; kids (age 8 and up) can either fill cups or hand them out, under supervision.
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Baggage/Gear pickup

Time: 9:30 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Working inside a 1-ton cube van, help to organize bags in roughly ordered rows or sections, by bib number. Make sure bags are attended to at all times — only gear check volunteers can be inside the van. Participants will come to the van and show their bib number to claim their tagged baggage. As you hand them their bag, tell them how to get to the indoor changerooms (Davis Bay beach parking lot). Must be reasonably fit, able to lift and carry small bags repeatedly.
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Race photography

Time: 8:15 am to 12:30 pm / 10:15 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Start area & on course / Finish area Mission Point Park
Description: Capture each participant, plus the excitement and spirit of race day, on digital camera, from various locations or at the finish line. Edited photos to be provided on CD to event organizers, and posted on Facebook with branding overlay (image provided). Honourarium provided. Photo credits given.
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Finish line refreshments

soup servers

Time: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Set up and maintain refreshment area at the finish. Set up tables and serve bananas, bagels, soup, cookies, water, coffee, sports drink, etc., pacing it out so the last runners get some. Some items need slicing or spreading. Use recycling and compost bins for waste material.
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Green Team / Recycling

Time: 9:45 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Assist with recycling of waste at the finish line. Help people put items in the correct bins; keep them tidy, move incorrectly placed items into correct bins, pick up items dropped on the ground. Work with refreshment and other finish line volunteers to get waste put into the correct places. Following the race, help with clean up and management of recyclables.
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Park entrance marshal

Time: 8:30 to 11:30 am
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Stand at the west driveway entrance to the park (access to Mission Point House) and only allow approved vehicles to enter/exit. A list will be available in the volunteer instructions. Place wooden barricade (provided) across driveway when finished or when taking a break.
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Awards pick-up

Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: You will be handing out age group and relay awards and draw prizes, and posting printed results and prize winners. Help the awards manager organize the awards before 10:45. You will be given lists of winners as soon as they are available (more added as more results are available). Check off which awards/prizes have been picked up. You'll be in a tent with tables, beside the stage.
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Finish chute marshal

Time: 10:15 am to 12:15 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Marshal 1: stand in the finish chute near the highway and keep it clear for competitors. Politely but firmly direct ALL spectators, relay teams accompanying their final runner (solid colour bibs with NO pink sticker), and early starters finishing before 10:45 am, to exit the chute. You will be given specific instructions for dealing with any 'too-fast' early starters.
Marshal 2: stand in the finish chute near the kids activity tents and stop anyone (except volunteers) from ducking under the flagging tape to cross the chute. Direct them to go around the far end of the finish line.
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Backup results

Time: 10:15 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Working with a partner in the finish chute just behind the line, write down finish times and bib numbers. This is in case a chip doesn't register on the mats, we'll be able to fill in the results. One person calls out numbers, the other one writes. Timing company to provide a watch with the running time. Suits those who have good focus and aren't distracted easily; and can write fast / has a clear voice!
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Finisher medal handout

Time: 10:15 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Give a finisher's medal to each half marathon and relay finisher as they leave the finish chute, at the same time congratulating and telling them where refreshments and baggage pickup are located. Relay team finishers get one medal per team member. Cheerful, outgoing and energetic personality required!
In 2020, kids in the Jester Dash will receive kid-specific medals. Extra volunteers will be assigned to hand out the kids' medals.
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ASK ME info person

Time: 10:15 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Holding a lightweight placard on a stick that says 'ASK ME', stand in a visible location near the finish area and be ready to answer participants' questions about where to find things, what time things are happening, etc. An FAQ sheet and finish area map are available with the volunteer instructions for you to print out and bring along. Outgoing, cheerful personality required!
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Finish area floater

Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Follow and assist race director as needed, for various tasks as they come up. A 'right hand person' job.
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Kids' Run marshal

Time: 12:05-12:25 pm; one at 11:45 am to 12:25 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: 1 person at 11:45am: check that kids' run course is clear of vehicles and other obstructions; if vehicles have to be moved, let the race announcer know. All: Report to the kids tent by 12:05 pm. Marshal the kids' run around the park paths. Stand at key corners (as per map) and keep the pathways clear of spectators.
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Kids' finisher medal handout

Time: 12:15-12:30 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: Behind the finish line, give a KIDS' finisher's medal to each child finishing the Jester Dash who has a special hand stamp (total of 50). Details of the hand stamp will be provided closer to race day. There may be up to 15 kids with no hand stamp who signed up for the run only, no medal or other perks.
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Race day: post-race

Finish Line clean-up

Time: 1:00-2:00 pm
Location: Mission Point Park, Davis Bay
Description: After final runner has come in: disassemble and neatly pack up all materials, tents, tables, cones, finish structure, etc. and load into appropriate vehicles, under the supervision of the finish line manager and race directors. Place all waste into appropriate bins. You may be asked if you can return some supplies to their source, if you have room in your vehicle. Be prepared to stay on until clean up is FULLY completed and the organizers are locking up the house and park entrances to leave.
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Volunteer t-shirts