For almost eight years, Marianne Jane has been travelling down Wolfedale Road to Rogers TV at least twice a week.
Her reason: it's fun.
"Rogers respects my abilities and appreciates my efforts and that's worth more to me than any amount of money," said Jane, the long serving Rogers TV volunteer. "It's fun to see the co-ops and interns come in for four months hardly knowing anything and then leaving with so much experience and confidence."
Jane, who started volunteering after seeing a recruitment commercial on Rogers TV for volunteers, said it's never boring at Rogers because she's always learning.
"Rogers gives me the opportunity to learn new things," said Jane, who graduated from University of Windsor in Communications Studies. "I don't think I'll be leaving until I learn all the positions."
Named Rogers volunteer of the year in 2002, Jane said she enjoys working with the young people because they're compassionate and responsible.
"Before I started, I thought teenagers were a lost generation and now it's the complete opposite,"  said Jane, a Mississauga resident for the past 22 years. "These kids are way more mature as teens now then I was when I was their age."
In celebration of National Volunteer Week, Rogers TV held their open house recently with tours and prizes for the public.
"The open house really is to celebrate all the great work our volunteers have done for us over the many years," said Rogers TV Mississauga station manager Jake Dheer, who manages close to 20 staff members and more than 200 volunteers. "The timing for this open house was perfect. It celebrates our volunteers, our upcoming 40th anniversary and the re-brand of our name from Rogers Television to Rogers TV."
Dheer said for the past 40 years, Rogers has evolved tremendously.
"We're part of the community more than ever," said Dheer. "We have much more daily programming, we're on location more often and our station allows community groups a chance to put their name out there to the public."
Cheryl Sebastian, Rogers volunteer co-ordinator, believes it's the environment and staff that bring in more and more volunteers.
"The volunteers here are treated like regular staff," said Sebastian. "Volunteers get hands-on experience and the idea of what a TV station is all about."
James Rasile, who has been volunteering for the past two years, said it is the experience that makes him an active volunteer at Rogers.
"Rogers gives you a chance to do something," he said. "You might start at the bottom but you can easily work your way up to the top."

onlinenews@mississauga.net