Volunteers

INFOLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA: Are you dynamic and like to interact with others? Infoline: you will be responsible for answering all questions from festivalgoers by phone. Social media : you will be responsible for answering all questions from festivalgoers on the Festival’s social media such as Facebook and Instagram. Site entrances : you will be responsible for answering questions from festival-goers, for assisting them if necessary with the purchase of tickets, to help customers and investigate about their particular situations when they experience difficulties accessing the Festival’s site. Needs computer skills.           

PAY PARKING: This committee of some 50 volunteers manages the parking to facilitate access to the parking lots, traffic around the site, etc.          

LOST CHILDREN AND INFANT CARE: This committee takes care of welcoming and searching for lost children. It is also a privileged place for mothers who wish to breastfeed or change their babies’ diaper.        

FIRST AID: Primarily made up of members of St. John Ambulance, this committee also welcomes anyone with the required first-aid qualifications.

50/50: The 50/50 Committee is responsible for promoting and selling 50/50 draw tickets during the Festival. Committee members should feel comfortable approaching festivalgoers, as they will be moving around the site to spark interest and encourage participation. There will be four fixed sales points, along with mobile positions. Please note: committee members and their immediate family are not eligible to purchase tickets or participate in the draw.             

FMG MERCH TENT: The main job of the FMG Merch tent team is to sell clothing and merchandise reflecting the Festival’s image. They must welcome and assist our festival-goers with a smile and professional service. Setting up and decorating the boutique and maintaining a clean and organised working environment are also part of their responsibilities. Finally, they must provide information about our products and answer customers’ questions if necessary.    

ORIZON IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE: This committee oversees the recruitment and organization of the ORIZON immersive hot air balloon experience activity, primarily providing information on meteorology, hot air balloon elements and the physical phenomenon, as well as an immersive hot air balloon experience where guests can enjoy a sensory, historical and educational experience while piloting a hot air balloon.

VOLUNTEERS – MANAGEMENT: Responsible for coordinating all the committees and recruiting partners. This committee oversees the volunteer organization.       

VOLUNTEERS RESTORATION: This team prepares three meals a day in a location that gives volunteers a chance to rest and chat. It also looks after providing supplies to the different committees.

VOLUNTEERS – REFRESHMENTS: This committee looks after refreshments for all of the volunteers comitees on the site. It also looks after supplies for some of the food concessions.      

VOLUNTEERS PARTY: This committee is responsible for organizing the recognition evening for the volunteers.   

CAR SHOW: This committee sees to the recruitment and the organization of the activity of old cars, recent and modified.            

ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE: The Accreditation Committee, set up close to the event site in one of the car parks in Parc de la Baie, is the first point of contact with our valued collaborators. This committee is responsible for distributing the necessary site access passes to partners, suppliers and media participating in the event who have not had the opportunity to collect them from the FMG office beforehand. Committee members are responsible for distributing the envelopes prepared in advance by the FMG team, containing accreditations, tickets, worker wristbands and parking passes. They may also have to prepare new envelopes to meet additional needs. Their role also includes meticulous monitoring of inventories distributed and contacts who have collected their materials. 

SITE SET-UP AND TEAR-DOWN: During the two weeks leading up to the Festival, this team is responsible for setting up the FMG site: arranging the interiors of tents and trailers (tables and chairs), distributing equipment to various committees, setting up terraces, etc. During the week following the Festival, the team dismantles the site and collects the equipment.     

SUPPLIES: This team provides all the small equipment needed by the different volunteer committees working at the Festival. It is also responsible for managing the golf carts and supplying the toilet paper for the portable toilets.  

SECURITY: Their main mission is to ensure the security of the entire site and parking lots.           

The Hot Air Balloon Festival’s Campground is the most coveted late summer camping choice in the Outaouais. Every year, during the Labour Day weekend, close to 1,000 RVs are set up in the RV Park for a minimum of 3 and up to 7 days. The FMG Campground committee must demonstrate flexibility with regard to schedules as these are largely dependent on the rate of RV arrivals.

 Volunteer positions at the FMG Campground:

MARKING: In this position, you will trace dividing lines so that the placing of RVs is done in an organized fashion and in accordance with City of Gatineau regulations and directives of the Festival. Volunteers who choose this task must also be available to help as ushers (see above)

USHERS: In teams of 2 people, you will be placing RVs in accordance with the City of Gatineau’s public safety standards and the Festival’s guidelines.

GREETING RVS: In this position, you will greet RVs at the entrance of the Campground located at Jacques Cartier and the parking lot (P4). This position also includes the communication of information to drivers regarding procedures of arrival, water fill-up and RV distribution.

RUNNER AND RV DISPATCHER: In this position, you welcome campers upon arrival, guide vehicles to the campground entrance, and share important information before check-in at the welcome tent. You circulate through the parking area to ensure everything runs smoothly and coordinate the entry of RVs in collaboration with the dispatcher/placer to ensure a safe and efficient arrival.

WELCOME TENT: You will work in a position centered on client service that includes welcoming Campground clients, confirming registration of RVs, updating overnight stays and processing new or additional product purchases, as applicable.           

VISIT THIS BALLOON: This committee was set up to manage the hot air balloon, which can be visited from the inside.     

PILOTE’S TENT: This team is responsible for the hot air balloon teams’ meals, the briefing area for pilots before each flight and helps with the preparation of the Pilots’ Brunch.

CHASE CREW: The team of over 200 volunteers takes care of the needs of the participating pilots by matching them with local chase teams.      

FLIGHT OFFICERS: This committee looks after ensuring safe lift-offs.     

HOT AIR BALLOON PHOTOGRAPHY: This committee focus in capturing exceptional images of the hot air balloons and the activities that happen on the take-off area. Photography, video and animated presentations are the key elements of this committee. 

HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES: This committee is responsible for managing the passengers for balloon rides.           

GREEN TEAM: This committee is responsible for promoting sustainable development, as well as collecting and sorting of waste materials on the Festival site.