New for the class of 2026
The Minister’s Certificate for Community Involvement
Ontario now formally recognizes students who go beyond the 40-hour graduation minimum. Starting with the 2025–2026 graduating class, reaching 50 or more community involvement hours earns the Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement — at Bronze, Silver, or Gold level.
The three levels
Bronze
50–99 hours
The first level past the 40-hour graduation minimum.
Silver
100–199 hours
Roughly two to five times the requirement.
Gold
200+ hours
Sustained, long-term community commitment.
Who’s eligible
Any Ontario secondary student graduating in 2025–2026 or later who completes at least 50 hours of community involvement. The first 40 are the mandatory diploma requirement; everything past that counts toward your certificate level. There’s no separate application for the activities — your documented hours are what determine eligibility.
You don’t request the certificate and no app can give it to you. The Ministry of Education issues it; your school orders it through OnSIS and hands it to eligible graduates, and your principal is the one who verifies your hours meet the threshold. What you control is whether those hours are documented well enough to survive that check.
Why it’s worth it
It’s a province-issued credential — concrete proof of civic engagement and leadership that you can point to on applications for university, college, apprenticeships, jobs, and scholarships. For students already volunteering, it turns hours you were going to do anyway into a recognized achievement.
How to earn it in Ottawa
Keep going past 40 — and make every hour count by keeping it provable. Easy 40 lists real Ottawa volunteer shifts and has the hosting organization confirm your attendance, so your running total is always accurate and ready when your school checks eligibility. Hit 50 for Bronze, 100 for Silver, 200 for Gold.
Common questions
When did the Minister’s Certificate start?
It applies beginning with students graduating in the 2025–2026 school year. Students who reach 50 or more community involvement hours by graduation are eligible.
Is it different from the 40-hour graduation requirement?
Yes. The 40 hours of community involvement are mandatory to earn the OSSD. The Minister’s Certificate is a separate, optional recognition that rewards students who go beyond that minimum — it starts at 50 hours.
What are the levels?
Bronze is 50–99 hours, Silver is 100–199 hours, and Gold is 200 or more hours. The certificate is issued by Ontario’s Minister of Education.
Why does it matter?
It’s an official provincial credential recognizing civic engagement and leadership. Students can use it to strengthen applications for jobs, post-secondary programs, apprenticeships, and scholarships.
How do I earn it in Ottawa?
Keep volunteering past 40 hours and make sure every hour is properly documented. The reliable way is hours verified at the source: on Easy 40 the hosting organization confirms your attendance, so your total is always accurate and provable when your school determines eligibility.
Source: the Ontario Ministry of Education’s guidance on using high-school volunteer hours. Confirm your eligibility and submission details with your school’s guidance office.