Global Perspectives on Heritage & Community: Live from HVG 2025

Co-hosts: Chris Wade & Matt CobbleSpecial Guest: Saskia Rinkoff, Volunteer Engagement Manager, Harbourfront Centre (Toronto)Recorded live at the 2025 Heritage Volunteering Group (HVG) Conference, this special 25-minute episode marks Time for Impact’s third consecutive year at the event. We are joined by Saskia Rinkoff from Toronto’s iconic Harbourfront Centre to explore the intersection of heritage, urban diversity, and social cohesion.From managing a massive physical site to fostering a sense of "home" for newcomers, Saskia shares how one of Canada’s busiest cultural hubs turns participation into a powerful tool for community building.The Power of Diversity in ParticipationHow the Harbourfront Centre mirrors the multicultural fabric of Toronto, involving a vast range of demographics across artistic, cultural, and heritage-based volunteering.Managing Complexity at ScaleThe logistical and cultural challenges of managing an "ever-changing cohort" of supporters across a large, high-traffic urban site.Volunteering as a Gateway to CommunityA deep dive into how volunteering serves as a "first step" for people moving to new cities—helping them build social capital, learn the landscape, and feel a genuine sense of belonging.Social Cohesion & Organisational CultureHow diversity isn't just a metric at Harbourfront; it is woven into the organisational DNA and the wider civic identity of the city.Volunteering in heritage and cultural settings is more than stewardship of the past; it is a mechanism for social integration in the present. By providing a low-barrier entry point into the life of a city, organizations like Harbourfront Centre are driving the social cohesion that is vital for our global sustainable future.— Chris WadeGuest: Saskia Rinkoff (Harbourfront Centre, Toronto)Event: Heritage Volunteering Group (HVG) Conference 2025What role does volunteering play in your city’s social fabric? Share your thoughts with us on social media using #TimeForImpact or email us at [email protected] find out more about how Time For Impact can help you top modernise your volunteering go to www.TimeForImpact.co.uk or email us on [email protected] our podcasts are free. If you are enjoyiong them please consider buying us a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/chriswadetfiMost importantly, please tell at least one other person about the podcast.