Guidelines, Code of Conduct & Policies

Strengthening The Caring Community was mandated by the Cardinal and the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario over 20 years ago as part of the larger Archdiocesan Safe Environment policy, implemented for the protection and care of our community and all who participate and engage in our parishes, programs, and ministries. All volunteers are required to comply with our screening program managed by the Archdiocese Volunteer Screening Department and administered through each Parish's Volunteer Screening Coordinator and Screening Committee. 

Ministry positions are assigned a “High” or “General” risk level based on responsibility, government laws and regulations, participant vulnerability, and volunteer exposure to which the volunteer screening process directly responds to. Outlined below is an overview of the mandatory screening steps that all applicants must successfully complete and commit to, before they can be accepted into (or continue in) ministry and become an active Archdiocese/Parish volunteer.  

Mandatory Screening Steps:

General Risk:

1.  Application Form
2.  Ministry Position Description Review
3.  Orientation & Training (includes Code of Conduct, AODA, OHRC, Parish, and Ministry training)
4.  Volunteer Acknowledgement and Agreement Form
5.  Ongoing Supervision and Evaluation

High Risk (Positions of Trust):

1.  Application Form
2.  Ministry Position Description Review
3.  Interview
4.  Reference Checks (3 required for adults & 2 for minors)
5.  Criminal Records & Judicial Matters Check, and Annual Declarations (adults 18+ complete police check through our service provider)
6.  Orientation & Training (includes Code of Conduct, AODA, OHRC, Parish, and Ministry training)
7.  Volunteer Acknowledgement and Agreement Form
8.  Ongoing Supervision and Evaluation

Relevant Forms & Documents:
(Click the button to view or download the form /document.)

Guidelines & Policy

Orientation & Training

**1 Original document (in English) | 教區英文版手冊原文
**2 Translated version (in Chinese) | 中譯文本 (內容如有衝突，則以教區英文版為準)

Mandatory Screening Process

Useful Administrative Forms

Page Update: 2026-02-26