The Peer Support Training program equips volunteers with the skills to provide free, anti-oppressive, harm-reductive,and non-judgmental support. Over a six-month period, participants receive in-depth training on topics such as suicide, gender, race, mental health, and sexuality. This training is specifically designed to prepare volunteers to support individuals at various intersections of marginalization, including those who are racialized, trans (including; non-binary), gay, non-status, and disabled, among others. The content of the program is informed and delivered by recruited facilitators, who themselves live at these intersections, ensuring authenticity and relevance.
Upon completing the program, graduates are encouraged to continue their learning through advanced workshops offered throughout the year. The culmination of this training is the peer support drop-in service—a free, active listening space that is especially vital for marginalized communities where financial barriers often limit access to mental health support. For many years, this service has provided a safer space for marginalized students and the broader LGBTQIA2S+ community in Montreal, filling a critical gap on campuses where peer supporters trained to understand the unique experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ students—particularly trans and non-binary students—are scarce.
Importantly, the drop-in service is also used by students from all backgrounds who seek a space to connect with peers who share similar lived experiences and who are trained to offer compassionate, informed support through active listening.
YEARS FUNDED
2025
AMOUNT ALLOCATED
$4,000