Volunteer
Our volunteers take time out of their busy schedules, to assist our staff over the duration of the convention. As our convention grows, we need more volunteers to deliver an amazing convention experience.
Volunteers often give just a few hours here and there while attending the con.
Volunteers can sign up during convention hours at Con Ops!
Staff
Staffing is a larger time investment, and usually involves duties before the convention as well as during. Our core team of Staff, Department Heads, and Directors work closely together to make sure the inner workings and fine details of our events go as smoothly as possible.
Staff are the core members of our team. They commit more time volunteering both at the convention, and in the months beforehand. Staff receive more perks and rewards, and are assigned to one of our departments. Staff members must be 18+ to apply. See below to find positions that best fit you here at Furnal Equinox!
Open Staff Positions
Business Outreach
The Business Outreach team handles the nurturing and monitoring prospects and existing relationships with external businesses, entities and personalities.
Charity Positions
Charity Staff are welcoming volunteers who support charity activities at Furnal Equinox. They help run the charity booth in both SFW and 18+ Dealer’s Dens, encourage donations, answer attendee questions, and promote our charity of choice.
Guest Experience Positions
The Guest Experience team shapes the convention’s tiered registration ticket offerings, including merch and experiences offered to each tier.
Convention Operations Positions
The Convention Operations team manages the central operational hub of the convention and provides assistance to both staff and attendees of the convention as necessary throughout the weekend.
Finance Positions
The Finance team manages the convention budget, cash handling, and tracks purchases made for the event.
Hotel Team Positions
The Hotel heam helps Furnal Equinox communicate with our hotel and other business partners before, during, and after the convention.
I.T. Positions
The IT team manages software used throughout the year as well as hardware used during the convention.
Merchandising Positions
The Merchandising team manages the convention store in the Dealers Den. They are responsible for choosing and purchasing the items that are sold within the con store.
Panels and Events Positions
The Panels & Events Department manages the submission, evaluation, scheduling, and execution of all panels, meetups, and social events at the convention.
Registration Positions
The Registration department manages the attendee check-in and online registration process, and maintains attendance related information systems.
Safety Positions
The Safety team responds to concerns about attendee health and wellbeing, including maintaining a safe environment at the convention.
Staffing Coordination Positions
The Staffing team manages onboarding, maintains staff records, and handles at-con volunteer coordination.
Attendee Liaison
The Guest Experience team shapes the convention’s tiered ticket offerings. The Team conducts research into current trends, defines the value and benefits associated with each tier, and aligns with the current pricing strategy. They collaborate closely with other departments to deliver perks, including merch and experiences, that meet our promise to each tier, providing a consistent and high-quality experience across all access levels.
REPORTS TO: Director of Sales
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 5
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Research attendee expectations and trends to inform tier design and benefit structures
- Develop and refine tiered ticket offerings, ensuring clear differentiation and value at each level
- Collaborate with the Registration and Finance teams to align tier benefits with ticket pricing strategy
- Coordinate with Merch, Panels & Events and other departments to ensure seamless delivery of merch and experience associated with each tier
- Document and track tier benefits and deliverables across departments to ensure timely and consistent execution
- Evaluate the effectiveness of tier offerings post-event, incorporating attendee feedback and performance metrics into future planning
- Maintain an attendee-first perspective, ensuring all offerings are meaningful, accessible, and contribute to a positive convention experience
- Assist in developing materials (digital or print) that clearly explain tier benefits to attendees
REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to assess and interpret attendee feedback
- Strong cross-team collaboration skills
- Clear, professional communications (written and verbal)
- Detail-oriented, excellent time management and a creative thinker
- Comfort with spreadsheets, data organization, and tracking
- Interest in improving attendee satisfaction and engagement
- Willingness to maintain a 72-hour response time on Teams, osTicket and Outlook
Business Outreach Liason
As a business outreach liaison you’d be responsible of outreach, nurturing and monitoring prospects and existing relationships with external businesses, entities and personalities. You’ll connect via email, phone or in person with local (Toronto based position) representatives.
REPORTS TO: Director of Community Engagement
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 2
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Coordinate communication efforts across Business Outreach team members and related departments to ensure cohesive and timely updates.
- Assist with clerical and administrative tasks including document preparation, filing, and record keeping.
- Manage and review intake forms, email communications, and contact databases.
- Conduct cold outreach via phone and email to secure new partnerships. Schedule and attend in-person visits and appointments with current and prospective business partners.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be the age of majority in Ontario (18+).
- Must reside within the City of Toronto and be able to attend in-person meetings and events as needed.
- Must be available to work during the convention as well as throughout the year.
- Comfortable being addressed by legal or daily chosen name in professional settings.
Charity Team Member
Have a love of animals? Want to help support a great cause? What better way than to help the Furnal Equinox Charity Department raise money for our supported charity? FE is looking for Charity Staff to assist with auctions, raffles, charity pin sales, and fundraising efforts, helping create a fun, engaging, and positive experience for attendees while supporting a good cause.
REPORTS TO: Head of Department, Charity
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 2
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Set up, assist with, and tear down charity spaces, including those in the SFW and 18+ Dealer’s Dens.
- Interact with attendees by answering questions, promoting the charity, and maintaining a friendly, approachable presence.
- Encourage and handle donations (cash and digital), sell charity charity pins, and help with 50/50 raffle ticket sales.
REQUIREMENTS:
- A recent Criminal Records Check or equivalent is required for the role (free for volunteers residing in Ontario)
- Friendly, approachable, and patient attitude
- Willingness to learn and help with a variety of tasks
- Basic communication and teamwork skills
- Comfortable handling cash and digital donations
- Reliable and punctual
- Basic comfort with technology (smartphones, laptops, or tablets)
- We are happy to train individuals; no prior experience required
Assistant Head of Convention Operations (2iC)
We are seeking a dedicated volunteer to join our Convention Operations team! As the ConOps second-in-command, you will be assisting staff of all levels with anything and everything ConOps related! This includes anything from manning the ConOps desk to providing assistance on writing documentation for the department. You will help lead your department to success!
REPORTS TO:
- Head of Department, Convention Operations
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 1
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide assistance in documentation of convention operations
- Provide departmental supervision when HoD is unavailable
- Assist with set up and tear down
- Provide directions or assistance at the ConOps desk
- Hand out conbooks
- Provide lost and found service until tear down
- Assist in managing hand out of limited supplies to other departments as needed
REQUIREMENTS:
- Strong customer service and interpersonal communication
- Strong organizational skills
- Some experience with Microsoft Excel
- Some experience with writing documentation
- Experience in leading a team
Convention Operations Team Member
We are seeking dedicated volunteers to join our Convention Operations team! As a ConOps staff member, you will be helping the attendees and staff with directions and services related to where panels and events are, as well as managing lost and found for the duration of the convention.
REPORTS TO:
- Head of Department, Convention Operations
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 4
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist with set up and tear down
- Provide directions or assistance at the ConOps desk
- Hand out conbooks
- Provide lost and found service until tear down
- Assist in managing hand out of limited supplies to other departments as needed
REQUIREMENTS:
- Strong customer service and interpersonal communication
- Some experience with Microsoft Excel
- Strong organizational skills
Dealers Den Team Member
Visual artists, fursuit makers, crafters, and more – all are forms of art that form a cornerstone of the furry community! If vending and supporting artists are important to you, the Furnal Equinox Dealers Den needs your help! We’re looking for someone who can assist with the behind-the-scenes preparations and the at-con supervision of the regular Dealers Den, 18+ Dealers Den, and Artist Alley!
REPORTS TO:
- Head of Department, Dealers Den
- Second-in-Command, Dealers Den
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 2-4
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Collaborate with the rest of the Dealers Den team to sort and organize applications.
- Help with the vendor vetting and selection process.
- Problem solve and give input in proposed ideas and changes.
- Respond to inquiries and address issues related to the regular Dealers Den, 18+ Dealers Den, and Artist Alley, both pre-convention and at-convention.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Customer-service experience is a must.
- Experience vending at a convention is an asset.
- Familiarity with the Microsoft Platform (Teams, Office)
- Willingness to learn new policies, procedures, and software.
- Be communicative and a team player to help make the con the best it can be.
- Important: If you are selected as a vendor, you will need an assistant to watch your table during your shifts. 10-16 hours of dedicated volunteering will be requested of all Dealers Den team members during the convention weekend.
Finance Team Member
Do you love spreadsheets, see in dollar signs, or have a knack for balancing financial tables? Then we have the role for you! FE is looking for general finance staff to assist with yearly budget preparation and manage the cash office during the convention weekend.
REPORTS TO: Director of Infrastructure
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assisting with budget preparation
- Basic bookkeeping
- Purchasing management
- Managing cash office during con
- Proactive loss prevention and self-auditing
- End-of-year analysis of budget and breakdown
REQUIREMENTS:
- Experience using Microsoft Excel
- Attention to detail
- Good number sense
- Cash handling experience
ADDITIONAL ASSET SKILLS:
- Experience using Quickbooks
- Previous experience with professional budgeting
- Previous experience in a similar finance role
General Staffing Coordination Team Member
Do you like to talk to people? Do you like helping people? The Furnal Equinox Staffing team is looking for a few enthusiastic individuals to help coordinate and assist other staff members while the convention is happening.
REPORTS TO: Head of Department, Staffing
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 3
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Providing convention attendees with directions/assistance/information when they approach the booth.
- Helping other departments with last minute tasks while the convention is happening.
- Providing staff with snacks/refreshments when they ask.
- Monitoring the staffing room while it is in operation.
Guest Experience Lead (HoD)
We are seeking a dedicated volunteer to lead our Guest Experience team. The Guest Experience Lead (Head of Department) oversees the Guest Experience Team and reports to the Sales Director. This role designs, coordinates, and delivers attendee tier benefits and premium experiences, ensuring clear value, cross-department alignment, and consistent execution from planning through post-event review. Focuses on attendee satisfaction, benefit tracking, and continuous improvement.
REPORTS TO: Director of Sales
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead and manage the Guest Experience Team, including recruitment, training, scheduling, and supervision
- Design, maintain, and refine attendee tier structures and associated benefits
- Ensure tier offerings are clearly defined, differentiated, and aligned with pricing expectations
- Coordinate with Registration to implement tier access, tracking, and fulfillment logistics
- Collaborate with Merch, Panels & Events, and other departments to deliver tier-specific experiences and items
- Maintain centralized documentation of all tier benefits and responsible departments
- Monitor execution of tier promises before and during the event to ensure consistency and accuracy
- Support delivery of premium experiences (e.g., socials, reserved access, concierge-style benefits)
- Act as an escalation point for complex attendee tier concerns and benefit discrepancies
- Track benefit fulfillment status across departments and resolve gaps proactively
- Review attendee feedback and post-event data to evaluate tier effectiveness
- Recommend improvements to tier structure, offerings, and delivery processes for future events
- Provide regular progress updates and risk flags to the Sales Director
- Ensure cross-department transparency regarding benefit expectations and timelines
REQUIREMENTS:
- Demonstrated leadership or team coordination experience
- Strong organizational skills across multiple parallel deliverables
- Ability to manage structured benefit systems (tiers, entitlements, access levels)
- Comfortable handling attendee-facing escalation issues professionally and diplomatically
- Reliable availability during the convention lifecycle (planning through post-event review)
- Strong written communication for cross-team coordination
ADDITIONAL ASSET SKILLS:
- Experience with registration systems
- Prior Furnal Equinox volunteer experience
- Familiarity with accessibility-aware service delivery considerations
- Experience supporting premium-tier socials, lounges, or concierge-style offerings
Guest Experience Coordinator
We are seeking dedicated volunteers to join our Guest Experience team as Coordinators. Guest Experience Coordinators support the delivery of attendee tier benefits and premium experiences by coordinating with Registration, Merch, and Panels & Events teams. They manage tier merchandise pickup operations at the Convention Store, assist with special access services and socials, answer tier-related attendee questions, and escalate complex concerns to the Guest Experience Lead.
REPORTS TO: Head of Guest Experience
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 6
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Coordinate delivery of attendee tier benefits during the convention
- Operate and manage tier merchandise pickup at the Convention Store
- Verify eligibility and distribute premium-tier items accurately
- Maintain tracking records of benefit fulfillment and outstanding deliveries
- Assist with setup, support, and monitoring of tier-exclusive socials and experiences
- Support premium access processes (e.g., Skip-the-Line privileges where applicable)
- Provide front-line support for attendee questions related to tier benefits
- Escalate complex benefit discrepancies or service concerns to the Guest Experience Lead
- Coordinate with Registration to confirm attendee tier status where required
- Coordinate with Merch regarding inventory prepared for tier fulfillment
- Coordinate with Panels & Events regarding access-controlled programming benefits
- Help ensure consistent communication of tier expectations across departments
- Monitor fulfillment timelines and flag delays or risks early
- Support on-site adjustments to benefit delivery as directed by department leadership
- Assist with documentation of fulfillment issues for post-event review
- Maintain professionalism and confidentiality when handling attendee concerns
REQUIREMENTS:
- Strong interpersonal and customer service skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with attendees and staff
- Reliable availability during the convention and key pre-event preparation periods
- Strong attention to detail when verifying tier eligibility and distributing benefits
ADDITIONAL ASSET SKILLS:
- Prior Furnal Equinox volunteer experience
I.T. Team Member
We are seeking a dedicated and tech-savvy volunteer to join our IT team as General IT Staff. This role is perfect for someone passionate about technology and looking to gain hands-on experience while contributing to a meaningful cause. Volunteers will assist in supporting day-to-day IT operations, troubleshooting technical issues, and helping maintain our organization’s digital infrastructure.
REPORTS TO: Head of Department, IT
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 5
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide basic technical support to staff and volunteers (hardware, software, and network issues).
- Assist with setting up and maintaining workstations, devices, and user accounts.
- Help with software updates, backups, and IT documentation.
- Support the maintenance of inventory records for IT equipment.
- Ensure cybersecurity protocols are followed and report any concerns
REQUIREMENTS:
- Basic knowledge of computers, operating systems (Windows/macOS), and Microsoft Office.
- Familiarity with troubleshooting common technical problems.
- Willingness to learn and take initiative.
- Strong communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Previous IT experience or education is a plus but not required.
Information/Data Manager
We are seeking a dedicated and tech-savvy volunteer to join our Staffing team as an Information/Data Manager. This role is perfect for someone passionate about technology and looking to gain hands-on experience while contributing to a meaningful cause. This role demands meticulous attention to detail, and creative problem solving in equal parts. It involves designing and maintaining workflows and systems which allow Furnal Equinox to actively keep track of all elements of our growing 220+ member team. Successful applicants will form a dynamic team that overlaps multiple disciplines including data science, IT and Human Resources.
REPORTS TO: Head of Staffing
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 3
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Maintain MS SharePoint lists and Power Automate flows.
- Communicate and collaborate with other departments to gather information about their current and future staffing needs.
- Ability to lead data gathering initiatives and work Kanban style with other team members.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Experience with low-code tools in the Microsoft Power Platform environment.
- Software expertise in Microsoft O365 tools is essential.
- Skill in data gap analysis – and experience in creatively filling them.
- Passion for building automations.
Merchandising Team Member
Passionate about con merchandise? Love taking home physical items to remember another year in Toronto? Our Merchandising team is look for people to help design new merchandise for our store and to help run the store for the duration of the con! This is a great opportunity to meet new people and have a direct impact on all the great FE-branded items offered to attendees.
REPORTS TO: Head of Department
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 4
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Providing assistance to Furnal Emporium Store prior to convention start
- Operating the convention store and ensuring sales are completed properly following all financial protocols
- Ensuring pre-ordered merch is picked and checked out of the system correctly
- Providing input on new merchandise for the sponsors and the internal store
- Working with the team to create a beautiful merch people will cherish for years to come
REQUIREMENTS:
- Sales and/or retail experience
- Communication skills
- Familiarity with the Microsoft 365 suite
- Time management skills and the ability to meet a deadline
- Cash handling experience
- Basic math skills
- Criminal Background Check
ADDITIONAL ASSET SKILLS:
- Square POS experience
- Merchandising experience
Head of Panels and Events
Leads the Panels & Socials team in managing all panel, meetup, and event submissions. Oversees the use of Sessionize, sets review criteria, schedules sessions, and coordinates with hosts. Manages team members, communicates A/V and room setup needs, runs monthly meetings, and handles the department’s budget and post-con reporting.
REPORTS TO: Events Director
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 1
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Set up and manage Sessionize for submissions
- Create and apply review criteria for panels and socials
- Lead the team in selecting and scheduling sessions
- Schedule and manage the department staff members and on-site coverage
- Run monthly team meetings to plan and delegate tasks
- Communicate with hosts before and during the convention
- Make sure rooms are set up properly and sessions run on time
- Work with the A/V team to share tech needs for sessions
- Create and manage the department’s budget
- After the con, collect feedback and write a short report
REQUIREMENTS:
- Good organization and leadership
- Clear communication
- Passion for helping create fun, inclusive programming
- Comfort with spreadsheets, data organization, and tracking
- Willingness to maintain a 72-hour response time on Teams and Outlook
Panels and Events Team Member
Helps plan and execute convention-hosted programming. Evaluates panel and event submissions. At-convention, helps staff the Panels & Events office, launches programming, and monitors convention spaces.
REPORTS TO: Head of Department, Panels and Events
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 10
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Contribute to at least one team within Panels & Events to develop and help run convention-hosted programming.
- Teams currently seeking additional staff:
- Panels
- Nightly Dances
- Fursuit
- FurnalFest (music festival)
- New Events
- Teams currently seeking additional staff:
- Attend scheduled team and department meetings
- Evaluate panel and event submissions
- During the convention, assist with team duties as required, as well as:
- Setup and teardown
- Staffing the Panels & Events office
- Ensuring that panels and events launch and run smoothly
- Ensuring that convention spaces are well-cared for
- Work with department leads and other team members as directed
REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Work to deadlines issued by department and team leads
- A passion for helping create fun, inclusive programming
ADDITIONAL ASSET SKILLS:
- Any specialized knowledge or experience pertaining to the team you are interested in joining
- Customer service experience
- Strong communication skills
- Adaptability to changing situations
Assistant Head of Registration (2iC)
The Assistant Head of Registration supports the Head of Registration in managing the department’s operations before and during the convention. They help oversee the setup and execution of attendee registration using Brushfire, assist in staff management, and ensure the registration desk runs smoothly. This role involves responding to attendee inquiries, troubleshooting registration issues, and assisting with ID verification and badge distribution at the event.
REPORTS TO: Sales Director
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 1
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist in setting up and maintaining the Brushfire registration system
- Support the Head of Registration in scheduling and managing registration staff
- Help staff the registration desk during the convention, ensuring smooth check-ins and badge distribution
- Respond to attendee inquiries and issues via osTicket
- Monitor and assist with ID verification and badge accuracy
- Troubleshoot registration problems and provide on-site solutions
- Provide guidance and training to registration staff on event-day procedures
- Ensure registration-related materials and supplies are stocked and ready
- Assist with data entry and reporting post-convention
REQUIREMENTS:
- Good organization and leadership
- Clear communication
- Familiarity with data privacy and ID verification processes
- Comfort with spreadsheets, data organization, and tracking
- Willingness to maintain a 72-hour response time on Teams and Outlook
- Prior experience in event registration or front-line operations preferred
Registration Team Member
Registration team members assist with the department’s operations before and during the convention. They assist with attendee registration using Brushfire and ensure the registration desk runs smoothly. This role involves responding to attendee inquiries and assisting with ID verification and badge distribution at the event.
REPORTS TO: Head of Registration
NUMBER OF POSITIONS OPEN: 4
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Help staff the registration desk during the convention, ensuring smooth check-ins and badge distribution
- Respond to attendee inquiries and issues via osTicket
- Ensure registration-related materials and supplies are stocked and ready
- Flag problems during registration and collaborate with leadership on resolutions
REQUIREMENTS:
- Good organization
- Clear communication
- Familiarity with data privacy and ID verification processes
- Willingness to maintain a 72-hour response time on Teams and Outlook
- Prior experience in event registration or front-line operations preferred
Safety Team Member
The Safety Team is a customer service department, focusing on assisting attendees in a general capacity as well as providing a source of safety at event.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Answering general attendee questions and directing them to locations where they can get further information (Convention Operations, Information Desk)
- Monitoring the convention space and serving as a representative to identify issues of various types and to assist with resolution
- Assist in managing the lines for large events
Hotel & Venue Liaison
We are seeking a dedicated and tech-savvy volunteer to join our Hotel & Venue Relations team! Hotel & Venue Relations Staff help connect Furnal Equinox with our hotel and venue partners. You’ll support communication, coordination, and logistics to make sure the convention runs smoothly.
This role is a mix of organization, communication, and understanding agreements—making sure what we promise matches what gets delivered.
REPORTS TO: Head of Hotel & Venue Relations
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 3
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Act as a liaison between the convention and hotel/venue partners
- Write clear, professional emails on behalf of the organization
- Help coordinate hotel rooms, event spaces, and scheduling needs
- Work with other departments to gather and share requirements
- Read and understand contracts, flagging anything unclear or important
- Keep notes and records of communications and agreements
- Support on-site operations during the convention as needed
REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be local to the Toronto area
- Available to meet once per month for department meetings
- Good email and phone etiquette
- Strong, clear and professional written communication skills
- Comfortable reading and understanding contracts or formal documents
- Organized and detail-oriented
- Good at working with people and maintaining professional relationships
- Able to manage multiple tasks and deadlines