Become a Board member
Looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity where you can share your skills and make a lasting impact in your community?
About the Organization
Joining the Board of Directors at the Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory may be exactly what you’re looking for.
The Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory is a charitable organization that operates the Centre of the Universe Visitor Centre. Our organization is powered by dedicated volunteers working to promote scientific literacy and community engagement through astronomy.
We have built a culture centred on education, collaboration, and creating opportunities for people to better understand the role astronomy plays in our society and across cultures.
Why Join Our Board?
As a board member, you will help guide an organization dedicated to making science accessible, inspiring curiosity, and creating meaningful learning experiences for visitors of all ages.
Together, we are working to ensure the Centre of the Universe and Canada’s historic Plaskett Telescope remain places of learning, discovery, and community connection for generations to come.
If you are passionate about education, community engagement, and helping shape the future of science outreach, we would love to hear from you.
What we are looking for:
-
People who will actively promote and represent our organization, and help us to build strong partnerships within the community
-
People who bring empathy, vision, positivity, courage and decision-making skills to the organization
-
People who like to work together to reach common goals
-
People who can help to seek out, vision and find creative solutions to fundraising and donor appreciation.
Specific Skills sought after:
Communications
Non-profit management (any of governance, finance, and grant application)
Leadership
Outreach
Volunteer Coordination
Finance
Museum Management
Indigenous Knowledge Keeping
What your commitment is:
-
Being motivated to inspire members of local communities, students, and visitors is perhaps the most important attribute of a member of our board. Keeping up to date on new discoveries, new technology, science news and opportunities is vital.
-
Attend monthly board meetings, held in person at the Centre of the Universe or virtually via Google Meet. (this is 2 hour per month commitment, we meet for 11 months of the year
-
We are a working board, whose participation in the ongoing operations of the organization is needed. Tasks include helping out with staffing the visitors’ centre during star parties, opening hours, and other events, and operations such as routine administration, and public outreach (newsletters, website content, and social media). Total commitment is anywhere from four hours per month to whatever involvement level you want!
-
Our board members seek out learning opportunities to help them continue to grow. Together with our dedicated volunteers they learn how to operate our planetarium, telescopes, virtual reality equipment etc., and will have a say in the development of new science exhibits in the next few years.
Apply to Join the Board
If you are interested in helping shape the future of science education and community engagement in our region, we would love to hear from you. Please express your interest by sending your resume and cover letter to