TPMA Celebrates National Volunteer Week (April 19-25)

TPMA Celebrates National Volunteer Week (April 19-25)

As we kick off National Volunteer Week (April 19–25), we’re reflecting on what it means to Ignite Volunteerism—a national movement to celebrate the power of civic participation and renew Canada’s culture of volunteering. This year’s theme recognizes the many ways individuals across the country are strengthening their communities and driving meaningful impact.

At the Toronto Product Management Association, we represent over 3,500 members from 500+ organizations. Yet, despite our scale, every milestone we reach begins with a single moment of individual initiative.

This week, we celebrate the individuals, committees, and leadership that drive TPMA forward. We hope their stories not only highlight our community’s growth, but also spark that same spirit of volunteerism within you.

Our Board Members are also volunteers!
Left to right: Ben McPhee, Director, Content Strategy; Rosemary King, Director, Events; A.J. Rowley, Secretary and Operations Officer

The Spark - Our Volunteers

Our volunteer community spans every stage of the product journey, from those just getting started to experienced leaders shaping the field. This diversity creates a unique environment where perspectives are shared, challenged and strengthened.


Despite our varying backgrounds, the motivation to join is strikingly consistent: a desire to contribute, connect and learn.

As one volunteer shared:

"Volunteering with such an able group of people encourages me to step out of my comfort zone and improve my craft."


While every volunteer brings their own story, common themes quickly emerge. It’s not just about giving time—it’s about building connections, developing skills, and being part of something bigger.

Whether someone is new to Toronto, growing their career, or looking to give back, TPMA creates space to learn, contribute, and belong.

Here’s what consistently inspires our volunteers to get involved:


That shared commitment shows in the experience—more than 3 out of 4 volunteers rate their time with TPMA as great.


The Volunteer Playbook: Lessons for a Thriving Career

How does volunteering actually help you navigate the complexities of a product career? We asked our community to share how their time at the TPMA has shaped their growth and perspective. Here are the lessons that came up again and again:

1. Courage & Calculated Risk

Growth rarely happens in the comfort zone. The most rewarding careers are built on the willingness to take risks, even if it means departing from the traditional path. Whether it’s seizing a new opportunity or having the strength to say "no" to one that doesn't align with your values, success requires the resilience to know that you will survive and thrive.

At TPMA, volunteers often find that leading an initiative or committee is the perfect place to practice this kind of risk-taking.

2. The Power of People & Influence

Technical skills may open doors, but human connection keeps you there. The greatest impact you can make is through servant leadership, focusing on making those around you successful.

  • Listen first: Stay humble and be a genuine listener.
  • Communicate clearly: What you say, and how you say it, matters.
  • Build Influence: Understand people, dynamics and how decisions get made.

At TPMA, volunteers don’t just learn about influence, they build it by working alongside peers and leaders.

3. Sustainable Ambition

A career is a marathon, not a sprint. Growth doesn’t always mean going harder, it often means being more intentional.

  • Maintain Perspective: Work matters, but it isn’t everything.
  • Find Balance: Intentionally carve out time for the things you enjoy outside of the office.
  • Enjoy the Journey: Don't lose sight of the process.

For many, volunteering becomes a source of energy, not burnout, by connecting their work to a broader sense of purpose.

Our volunteers, Tolu and Precious,
helping with check-in at our monthly in-person event.


What to Expect This Week

We begin by celebrating the individual initiative and professional wisdom that ignite our community.

Day 2: We go behind the scenes with our Board and committees to see how passion translates into consistent, high-impact action.

Day 3: We close by celebrating the measurable impact our volunteers have made across the GTA product community.

To Our Volunteers — Thank You! 

To every volunteer who has contributed their time, energy, and perspective—thank you.

You are the reason TPMA continues to grow and evolve. From organizing events and mentoring peers to sharing knowledge and building connections, your impact is felt across our entire community.

Your willingness to show up, contribute, and support others is what turns a network into a true community.

Our Feb 18 Virtual Volunteer Meet Up
Andrew Williams, Uchenna Mbanefo, Marcela Bernardes, Barbara Szreder, Shannon Gibson, Amber D’Silva, Jennifer Nemcik, Ranjani Ramasubramanian, Cassandra Pennant, Edwar Donmar, Busolami Kehinde


Get Involved

If you are looking to apply these lessons above in a supportive environment, grow your network, and work alongside a remarkable team, we’d love to have you! 

TPMA volunteers:

🤝 Build meaningful connections in the product community
🌱 Grow leadership and collaboration skills
🎤 Contribute to events, mentorship, and industry knowledge sharing
💥 Make a real impact

Visit tpma.ca/volunteers to explore our current open opportunities. 

What you get as a TPMA Member

Mentorship program and in-person event experiences are at an extra cost.

Join for free!
  • Join the TPMA Slack Community with 1000+ members

  • Free Virtual TPMA events for the entire TPMA Season

  • Become the first to know about in-person events and networking opportunities

TPMA Celebrates National Volunteer Week (April 19-25)

April 19, 2026

TPMA Celebrates National Volunteer Week (April 19-25)

As we kick off National Volunteer Week (April 19–25), we’re reflecting on what it means to Ignite Volunteerism—a national movement to celebrate the power of civic participation and renew Canada’s culture of volunteering. This year’s theme recognizes the many ways individuals across the country are strengthening their communities and driving meaningful impact.

At the Toronto Product Management Association, we represent over 3,500 members from 500+ organizations. Yet, despite our scale, every milestone we reach begins with a single moment of individual initiative.

This week, we celebrate the individuals, committees, and leadership that drive TPMA forward. We hope their stories not only highlight our community’s growth, but also spark that same spirit of volunteerism within you.

Our Board Members are also volunteers!
Left to right: Ben McPhee, Director, Content Strategy; Rosemary King, Director, Events; A.J. Rowley, Secretary and Operations Officer

The Spark - Our Volunteers

Our volunteer community spans every stage of the product journey, from those just getting started to experienced leaders shaping the field. This diversity creates a unique environment where perspectives are shared, challenged and strengthened.


Despite our varying backgrounds, the motivation to join is strikingly consistent: a desire to contribute, connect and learn.

As one volunteer shared:

"Volunteering with such an able group of people encourages me to step out of my comfort zone and improve my craft."


While every volunteer brings their own story, common themes quickly emerge. It’s not just about giving time—it’s about building connections, developing skills, and being part of something bigger.

Whether someone is new to Toronto, growing their career, or looking to give back, TPMA creates space to learn, contribute, and belong.

Here’s what consistently inspires our volunteers to get involved:


That shared commitment shows in the experience—more than 3 out of 4 volunteers rate their time with TPMA as great.


The Volunteer Playbook: Lessons for a Thriving Career

How does volunteering actually help you navigate the complexities of a product career? We asked our community to share how their time at the TPMA has shaped their growth and perspective. Here are the lessons that came up again and again:

1. Courage & Calculated Risk

Growth rarely happens in the comfort zone. The most rewarding careers are built on the willingness to take risks, even if it means departing from the traditional path. Whether it’s seizing a new opportunity or having the strength to say "no" to one that doesn't align with your values, success requires the resilience to know that you will survive and thrive.

At TPMA, volunteers often find that leading an initiative or committee is the perfect place to practice this kind of risk-taking.

2. The Power of People & Influence

Technical skills may open doors, but human connection keeps you there. The greatest impact you can make is through servant leadership, focusing on making those around you successful.

At TPMA, volunteers don’t just learn about influence, they build it by working alongside peers and leaders.

3. Sustainable Ambition

A career is a marathon, not a sprint. Growth doesn’t always mean going harder, it often means being more intentional.

For many, volunteering becomes a source of energy, not burnout, by connecting their work to a broader sense of purpose.

Our volunteers, Tolu and Precious,
helping with check-in at our monthly in-person event.


What to Expect This Week

We begin by celebrating the individual initiative and professional wisdom that ignite our community.

Day 2: We go behind the scenes with our Board and committees to see how passion translates into consistent, high-impact action.

Day 3: We close by celebrating the measurable impact our volunteers have made across the GTA product community.

To Our Volunteers — Thank You! 

To every volunteer who has contributed their time, energy, and perspective—thank you.

You are the reason TPMA continues to grow and evolve. From organizing events and mentoring peers to sharing knowledge and building connections, your impact is felt across our entire community.

Your willingness to show up, contribute, and support others is what turns a network into a true community.

Our Feb 18 Virtual Volunteer Meet Up
Andrew Williams, Uchenna Mbanefo, Marcela Bernardes, Barbara Szreder, Shannon Gibson, Amber D’Silva, Jennifer Nemcik, Ranjani Ramasubramanian, Cassandra Pennant, Edwar Donmar, Busolami Kehinde


Get Involved

If you are looking to apply these lessons above in a supportive environment, grow your network, and work alongside a remarkable team, we’d love to have you! 

TPMA volunteers:

🤝 Build meaningful connections in the product community
🌱 Grow leadership and collaboration skills
🎤 Contribute to events, mentorship, and industry knowledge sharing
💥 Make a real impact

Visit tpma.ca/volunteers to explore our current open opportunities.