SideBurn is a regional Burning Man event held each May long weekend in Stone Mills, Ontario, on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, Mississaugas, and Huron-Wendat peoples. Rooted in radical inclusion, communal effort, and “leave no trace,” it brings together over 1,000 people to celebrate creativity, collaboration, and community.
Run entirely by volunteers, SideBurn thrives on the DIY spirit and communal effort. From theme camps and interactive art to skill-sharing and collective care, everyone is invited to show up, contribute, and be part of something larger than themselves.
Safety Department Co-Producer
Department: Safety (Rangers, Sanctuary, First Aid)
Reports to: Safety Producer
Time commitment: About 15 hours per month, January through May, plus early entry to the event for site setup
Perks: This is a volunteer role. You get a Directed ticket to SideBurn, department swag, and the appreciation of your peers
About the Role
The Safety Department looks after the people of SideBurn. Our Rangers, Sanctuary team, and First Aid contractor keep participants safe, supported, and having a good time. Behind those teams is a lot of planning, gear, documentation, and coordination, and that’s where the Co-Producer comes in.
You’ll work directly with the Safety Producer to keep the department running smoothly, both in the lead-up to the event and on site. You’ll support four Ranger Leads, four Sanctuary Leads, and our first aid contractor, making sure each team has what it needs to do its job well.
What You’ll Do
- Support day-to-day operations of the Safety Department across Rangers, Sanctuary, and First Aid
- Attend team meetings and follow up on action items
- Develop and maintain documentation, checklists, and shift resources
- Make sure teams have the equipment and assets they need, before the event
- Help build and update our annual IMS (incident management system) and digital tools
- Order and distribute department swag
- Coordinate with other departments, including Flow, City, and FAST
What to Expect
- Pre-event (January to May): Roughly 15 hours a month, mostly flexible and remote, with team meetings and task work like documentation, ordering, and IMS updates.
- Event: You must be planning to attend SideBurn 2027. This role would come with early entry so you can help set up the department tents before participants arrive. On site duties are up to the co-producer – the intent of this role is largely pre-event work.
Who We’re Looking For
- You pick things up and follow through. If you say you’ll do it, it gets done. This matters more than anything else on this list.
- You’re organized, communicative, and comfortable working with a range of volunteers and leads
- You stay calm and helpful when things get busy
- Experience is a bonus, not a requirement. A background in Rangering, Sanctuary, first aid, or festival/event work is appreciated, but we’ll teach you what you need to know – Our current producer did not have any experience before either!
- Comfortable with basic digital tools (spreadsheets, forms, shared documents). You don’t need to be technical, just willing to learn.
Why This Role?
- See how safety works at SideBurn from the inside. You’ll get a full view of how our teams operate and how they connect to the rest of the event.
- A pathway into the Collective. If you’re curious about becoming a SideBurn director, or just want to go deeper on safety, this is a low-pressure way to find out if it’s for you, without committing to an official role.
- Real ownership. You’ll take on meaningful work with the support of an experienced producer.
- Directed ticket, swag, and a team that appreciates you.
Deadline to Apply
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
How to Apply
Contact Alex@sideburn.ca with a few sentences about why you’re interested and any relevant experience. Questions are welcome.
