#National Volunteer Week: Gabriella Bunag’s Impact Through Volunteerism and Leadership

CAO’s Empowering Stories from Behind the Bench article series – National Volunteer Week 2026

“Volunteer work is vital. As a volunteer my passion is to ignite people and not just in a playing capacity, but as a leader that goes far beyond being just an athlete.”

By David Grossman

Busy.

That one word just about sums up the life of Gabriella Bunag. Some might also engage in the use of adjectives like energetic, industrious, or productive when referring to the 27-year-old.

All are accurate. However, one thing Bunag isn’t – that’s being inconspicuous.

Check out what this energetic individual has accomplished and it’s fair to raise the question of when she finds the time to accomplish so much and, yes, with near perfection.

What does become crystal clear, especially when watching her in action or asking people about her vital contribution, is the positive impact she continues to have on others. Asked about her mission in life, there was no hesitation – “to contribute to society in a confident and favourable manner”.

That also involves leading with quite a bit of integrity and purpose as well as dedication, mentorship and perseverance.

As you read on, there’s more to disclose and cherish about how she juggles her often chaotic and stressful life – both business and voluntary. First, a bit about this multi-talented individual.

Bunag, proud of her Filipino heritage, is from Toronto. As a youngster, she was fascinated with people “who fixed things” and at one time contemplated being a plumber. She’s a graduate, and with academic honours, from Senator O’Connor College. Having studied at Ryerson University, Bunag earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree that focussed on human resources management.

Playing sport, coaching and officiating would all become part of her life. At times, it was exhausting – and still is – but superseding all of that continues to be the uplifting excitement and enjoyment that comes with success.

Many see her as a superb role model for young people.

“I do what brings me happiness,” said Bunag. “Competing was fun, but coaching has taught me the important steps and plans needed and, in many cases, how to improve things that could have been done better”.

While Bunag’s initiation to playing basketball came at the age of 13, she admits that pursuing the sport to the professional level was not in the career plan. However, there still is a dream of one day becoming a senior executive with a basketball team.

At the age of 14, somewhat of a setback occurred while in Grade 9.

Bunag suffered her first concussion (she has had four in total) when, accidentally, she was sandwiched by two opposing players in a school basketball game. The blow resulted in an injury to a sensitive, thin-boned area on the side of her head between the forehead and the ear. It’s an area that can be vulnerable to serious injury.

It didn’t take long for her interest to change from perfection as an athlete on the hardwood to the role of excellence in managing and coaching.

“Volunteer work is vital,” said Bunag. “As a volunteer, if I have inspired someone to do something, I’m happy. My passion is to ignite people and not just in a playing capacity, but as a leader that goes far beyond being just an athlete.”

With Bunag as an example, the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) continues to salute those who have dedicated countless hours as volunteers. During National Volunteer Week in Ontario – and across Canada from April 19–25 – the CAO celebrates the vital contributions of volunteers to their communities.

Bunag’s initiation to assume team managerial duties came when she was invited to assist with coaching the game of hoops at elementary school. Additional experience followed that included working with the men’s basketball team at Ryerson. As for that first official coaching job, it came in 2018 with a not-for-profit group called Girls Addicted to Basketball (GAB).

“I’m enjoying what I do,” said Bunag. “I’m trying a lot and remain dedicated to upgrading my skills and development with a goal of being better at everything. When I do that, I know I’m able to help young people get better at what they do as well.”

With a post-secondary degree and her focus turning to employment as a priority, following several co-op opportunities with superb companies, Bunag accepted her first fulltime job. That came in 2023 – and it would lead to the current duties and responsibilities as Human Resources Manager with a major law firm in Toronto.

But Bunag, benefitting from physiotherapy and rehabilitation that helped with dealing with her symptoms from the mild traumatic blows to her head, was not done with sports. In fact, quite the opposite. She coaches a girl’s under-14 team called the Toronto Lords.

It’s an Ontario Basketball Association program. Even more attractive, is that it has partnered with Canada Basketball’s Junior network that is affiliated with the National Basketball Association (NBA).

In case you were wondering, Bunag has all the right credentials to be a statistician with the Fédération Internationale de Basketball (International Basketball Federation) and will handle additional responsibilities at the statistician table for the Toronto Tempo that will debut in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) this month.

As if that isn’t enough, Bunag is also a licensed boxing official with the Athletic Commission of Ontario. Her duties include in-ring reviews of boxers between rounds of matches to ensure rules and guidelines are followed. She’s also midway through a Master’s degree in Sport Business at Toronto Metropolitan University, (formerly known as Ryerson and re-named on April 26, 2022).

Tedious times for Bunag, but quite the prolific individual.

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David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 45+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.

“Coaching has taught me the important steps and plans needed and how to improve things that could have been done better.”