Hyperborea is ran entirely by volunteers, and we can always use your help!
During Hyperborea there are numerous volunteer opportunities which you can sign up for in the volunteer signup system . In order to access this you will have to have purchased your ticket for the event.
There are also volunteer potions which run before the event and year round. If you are interested in these opportunities please reach out to the volunteer coordinator, the department posting the role, or fill out our Hyperborea Leadership Interest Form
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach the volunteer coordinator at volunteer@tohyperborea.ca
Volunteer Opportunities
Safety Department
FAST On-Call
As the primary contact person for FAST and are responsible for enforcing the policies of open fire, fire spinning and inspecting flame effects that set up during your shift. If you need a second opinion on inspections, a FAST Officer of the day will also be on-call. You must be sober and reachable by radio for the entirety of your twelve hour shift, and are required to attend a 12pm daily safety meeting for shift hand off and to brief the safety team on any fire related updates. (Note: You can be reachable on the WAKE channel if you are sleeping.)
Volunteers must have Fire Safety Training to take this shift. Fire Safety training includes a flame effects workshop, propane ROT, or other training or relevant experience. Contact fast@tohyperborea.ca to have the prerequisite added to your account if you qualify.
Shift Length: 12 hours: 12am – 12pm / 12pm – 12am
FAST Officer of the Day On-Call
As the FAST officer in charge for a 24 hour period. Your job is to assist the FAST on-call volunteers with escalations, incident reporting and to attend the 12pm safety department meeting for the FAST on-call volunteer updates, as well as to brief the next FAST OOD.
Requirements: Fire Safety Training and prior FAST Event Lead experience. Contact fast@tohyperborea.ca to have the prerequisite added to your account if you qualify.
Shift Length: 24 hours: 12pm – 12pm
FAST Burn Support
As FAST lead and second-in-command on burn nights. This role is reserved to help the OOD run the Effigy and Temple burns in accordance with burn plan and protocols that were planned together in advance.
Shift reserved for FAST Leads to help the OOD on Effigy / Temple burn nights
Shift Length: 5 hours: 6pm – 11pm (or until perimeter drops)
Effigy/Temple Burn Nights
FAST Ember Chaser
You are the front line in making sure we don’t burn anyone’s house/tent/forest down. While the effigy or temple burns occur, sudden changes in wind have a tendency to carry burning materials through the air to land in areas that can cause damage if left unattended. It is your job to make sure embers are monitored, stomped on or sprayed out promptly, or to escalate the situation to the FAST Officer of the Day for anything that becomes a larger problem.
Requirements: sober and able to move relatively quickly with a 50 pound water fire extinguisher.
Shift Length: 2.5 hrs: 8:30pm – 11pm (or until perimeter drops)
Effigy/Temple Burn Nights
Rangers
Rangers keep an eye out on safety and help where they can. Anyone with decent people skills can become an excellent Ranger. We are neither a security force nor enforcers. Being a Ranger is a commitment to aid and facilitate the community, and it is a very enjoyable one. You don’t need to withdraw from the event; on the contrary, you are encouraged to participate actively, just with added responsibility for a time, and a radio. You need to have a straight head and be willing to listen to people.
Requirements: ALL Rangers MUST take annual training prior to their first shift. Hyperborea Ranger training will be held in Toronto on April 27th (prior to the event) or at the festival May 17th. Black Rock Ranger training is an accepted substitute with review of our manual.
If you are interested in this team please email rangers@tohyperborea.ca.
First Aid
The only thing better than a Burner event is one where everyone gets out intact. Feel like a superhero with a gauze & band-aid!! We invite you to join our Exciting Hyperborea First Aid Team in keeping everyone safe and secure at our upcoming event .
Requirement: first aid certificate, contact firstaid@tohyperborea.ca for training opportunities.
Parameter Volunteer
These shifts happen during the Effigy and Temple burns. Your role is to hold the burn perimeter and ensure participant safety, until the perimeter lead decides it’s safe to drop the perimeter. This is not an opportunity to get the best view of the burn, instead you get to watch the awe on participants faces as well as the reflected flames..as you face outward from the perimeter. You will be required to kneel for a few hours (Switching between both sides as a one legged kneel, if you have knee pads please bring them)
Requirement: This shift starts about half an hour before the burn perimeter is set, at which time there will be a pre-burn meeting to go over roles and responsibilities, must be sober.
Sanctuary
The dedicated Sanctuary Volunteers are companions for those participants who ended up in Sanctuary as a result of undergoing inner transformation or whom are experiencing distress at the Festival.
If you are interested in connecting with people at a deeper level, be a source of support, a beacon of patience and balance and have a non-judgmental, accepting, and loving attitude, then you are an awesome match for this team!
You will have to attend a comprehensive training on the art of Active Listening (with plenty of practice!. A special Consent module to make sure you will be mindful of everyone’s boundaries at all times. A starter course in Mindfulness to assist someone that is in a loop, and needs help grounding, and some basic skills taken from the Rangers Manual. An expert will also provide an overview about common psychoactive substances, based on practical knowledge. There will be handouts to read beforehand.
Sanctuary Volunteers will have 4 or 6-hours sober shifts, and are guaranteed a peaceful environment, away from the drama, and excitement.
Requirement: Green Dot Ranger Training or Sanctuary Training 2019. There will be a training in Toronto TBA. Must be Sober for the shift. Contact Sanctuary@tohyperborea.ca
Head Quarters
Responsible for setup, strike, and operation of the event’s safety headquarters. HQ will be home to Rangers, First Aid, the Fire Art Safety Team, our event Radio team, and the nearby Sanctuary. Volunteers will be needed to take questions from walk-up participants and direct them to the appropriate team; to check radios in and out at shift changes; and to keep HQ running smoothly by filling generators, maintaining heaters, and other tasks.
Department of Public Works
Centre Camp Lead
We require an intrepid individual to be responsible for the design, budgeting, construction, maintenance, and disassembly of the Centre Camp structure. Centre Camp should provide a place for attendees to gather, hold workshops, display art, offer classes, and other activities.
Transportation Team (DPW)
As part of the transport team, you help load/unload the infrastructure truck and both ends of the event, as well as maintain a log of what equipment was dropped off where and when.
Requirements: Must be able to arrive before the event, and stay after. Valid drivers licence is an asset but not essential.
Sign Lead
A city needs signs! Signs for roads, for locations, and for other things that need to be marked. We require individuals who can inventory, create and repair event signage, as well as ensure its secured in a visible location for people to see.
Lighting Lead
The lighting lead is responsible for working with DPW to ensure there is appropriate lighting for pathways, parking and infrastructure. As part of this you will need to maintain and check the lighting systems multiple times throughout the event.
Requirements: must be able to arrive early.
Leave No Trace Crew
To ensure that Hyperborea will continue to be hosted on the beautiful site we have for years to come, we need your help! Sign up for the LNT crew and enjoy the privilege of spending a bit more time in the wilderness with us, and the satisfaction of leaving the land in pristine and moopless condition.
Shifts begin Monday morning as the event wraps up, and includes such tasks as scouring for MOOP, documentation of what is left behind, and focusing on large cleanups (such as effigy ash).
DPW Early Arrival Crew
Do you want to help lay the literal foundation from which Hyperborea springs? The DPW early arrival crew might be right for you! This role will have you help unloading our transport truck, set up infrastructure, and flag off our city layout. As well you will be working with the lighting, transport and sign crew to ensure all infrastructure, lighting and signage is up and secured prior to the event.
Requirements: must arrive 2-3 days prior to the event for prep.
City Department
Sound Team
Do you have a passion for music and sound, and want to ensure that we can keep music all weekend long? Join the sound team as we check in with the various sound stages and monitor decibel readers to make sure we’re keeping our social capital with the landowners, the town, and the local residents.
Flow Department
Greeters
Join our Greeters team and help welcome our citizens to our event! The Greeters provide a fun-filled experience as well as provide information to create an accepting environment for our participants to begin their time here.
Parking
Assists participants with getting their vehicles, their gear, and themselves to where they need to be at the event. We strive to maintain a quick, clean and organized flow of traffic in and out of the event. All cars are parked in the parking lot. Vehicle placement is at the discretion of our parking team with priority going to organization over personal access.
Gate
Be a GATE KEEPER! As first contact to participants entering the event, you will collect and process tickets, verify I.D.s, attach wristbands and be warmly inquisitive.
If you love to meet new people and help create a safe and welcoming atmosphere, this task is for you.
Exodus
Works in coordination with Parking and Gate to assist participants with getting their vehicles, their gear, and themselves safely out of the event post Effigy Burn, Post Temple Burn and event closing on Monday. We strive to maintain a quick, clean and organized flow of traffic out of the campgrounds. Vehicle placement out from the Exodus station is coordinated with Parking and Gate to manage traffic flow.
Art Department
Art Grant Coordinator (Toronto & Montreal)
Responsible for start up tasks and management of the art grant program, including coordinating with artists to ensure needs are met and expectations are clear. This individual would also be responsible for the organization and administration of data. For this year we are looking for an additional individual to help facilitate this for the Montreal community.
Art Grant Logistics (Montreal)
Coordination of transportation and logistics for Art Grant projects coming from Montreal.
Artery Co-Lead (Toronto)
Assisting with the development and establishment of an on-site hub for Arts at Hyperborea. Includes coordinating with on-site placement, troubleshooting, providing info about the projects, and creation of a comfortable, interesting space to hang out in.
Volunteer Department
Volunteer Coordinator
We are looking for individuals based in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa to help coordinate and manage all elements of volunteering within Hyperborea, or on behalf of Hyperborea.
The role involves assessing and meeting the needs of the department leads, through recruitment, placement, and retention of volunteers.
Info Department
French Language Coordinator (Montreal)
Canada is bilingual, and we have dreams of our communications being bilingual as well. If you have experience translating documents from English to French, let us know, as we would love to take you onboard.
Website/Graphic Designer
Have experience with graphic design and/or website (WordPress) development? We are currently in the process of redesigning and updating our online presence, and could use the extra set of hands.
