The search for volunteers for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Games is underway.

The Toronto 2015 organizing committee is looking for more than 20,000 people aged 16 and over to help with the Games.

Comedian Colin Mochrie appeals for volunteers in a YouTube video produced by the Pan Am Games. (Toronto2015games/YouTube)

Responsibilities include working with anti-doping and medical services, ticketing, venue management and serving as ushers at events.

The Ontario government has made efforts to entice student volunteers to next year's games by offering breaks on post-secondary education loans. The province said it will waive its summer job requirement for students with OSAP loans if they volunteer at the games. It will also give graduating students an extra six months after graduation, on top of the usual six months, before they are expected to start paying their loans back.

This time, the Pan Am organization committee is using some high profile appeals for volunteers.

The games posted this video with comedian Colin Mochrie to its YouTube account.

The games also have a number of other promotional videos and sporting figures appealing for more volunteers.

"As an athlete, I know first-hand how much volunteers contribute to the growth of sport in Canada and to our communities," Toronto FC midfielder Dwayne De Rosario said in a statement. "I would encourage all Ontarians to sign up today to volunteer for the Toronto 2015 Games. Volunteers really do make a difference and these Games are a huge deal for our city and province."

The organizing committee is particularly encouraging people with language skills in French, Spanish or Portuguese to apply.

Volunteer positions are available in 16 municipalities across Southern Ontario.

For more information, visit toronto2015.org/volunteer.

The Pan Am Games will run July 10 to 26, 2015.