Peer Support Canada & PeerWorks Conference Wrap-Up
On May 26th and May 27th, peer supporters, advocates and community partners from across the country gathered in Richmond Hill for the 2025 Peer Support Canada / PeerWorks Conference, the event was anchored by a powerful theme:
Strength in Equity and Diversity: Amplifying Voices, Ensuring Sustainability, and Building Stronger Peer Support Futures.
This year’s theme wasn’t just a tagline—it set the tone for two days of deep connection, learning, and critical conversation about the future of peer support in Canada. As the field continues to grow, participants explored how we can collectively root our practices in equity, recognize and honour diverse lived experiences, stay grounded in the origins of the consumer-survivor movement, and build systems that sustain—not exploit—the invaluable contributions of peer support workers.
Throughout the conference, we heard from individuals who are transforming the peer support landscape by centering voices often pushed to the margins. From grassroots organizers to peer supervisors working within large systems, there was a clear message: lived experience is not just an entry point into peer support—it’s the expertise.
Another major thread running through the conference was sustainability—not only of programs, but of the people who lead them. Burnout, funding instability, and precarious roles continue to threaten the long-term viability of peer support work. Several sessions focused on strategies to secure sustainable employment conditions and wages for peer support workers, embedding peer roles meaningfully into organizations, and create ethical frameworks that protect peer workers from systemic harm.
Building strong peer support futures means investing in infrastructure, leadership development, and national standards that reflect the realities and needs of peer workers across Canada.
The Associate Ontario Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Vijay Thanigasalam was present for some brief opening remarks at the conference and was kind enough to stay to hear recommendations from speakers for dedicated, ear-marked funding to go towards peer support services. Minister Vijay Thanigasalam asked the conference organizers to provide some key takeaways from the 2-day conference. Recognizing that a 2-page summary of the conference may not be as impactful as hearing from us directly, Allyson and Allison will be reaching out to the Minister’s office for a follow up meeting.
What was perhaps the highlight of the conference was simply the experience of having a dedicated space for peer support workers to connect, validate, listen, understand and support each other. There’s something truly special about these co-created peer-led spaces, and PeerWorks and Peer Support Canada were truly honoured to be able to play a role in creating this meaningful space.
