To: Providers of Peer Support across Canada Subject: Peer support regional representatives September 2011
This is a follow-up to my request for suggestions regarding peer support leaders who you feel could best represent the interests of peer support workers in your province/territory in relation to the Peer Project. Please find a copy of this request, attached.
I will begin by first thanking all of you who took the time to respond to my request. Once again, through a participative process, you have helped to make the work of the Peer Project team much easier. We would not be where we are today, a little over a year since the project began, without you.
Based on a combination of the provincial population numbers and the number of
nominations submitted by you, some provinces have two representatives, namely British Columbia, Ontario and Québec. Regrettably, not all provinces/territories are represented but we will continue our efforts to identify representatives in the coming months.
Overall, at this point in time, a good representation of peer support leaders has been identified across the country. Following are the names of the chosen regional representatives:
Nunavut – To be determined
North West Territories - To be determined Yukon – Brian Eaton
Newfoundland & Labrador – Karon-Ann Parsons Nova Scotia – Roy Muise
Prince Edward Island - To be determined New Brunswick – Eugene LeBlanc
Quebec – Nathalie Lagueux and Frances Skerritt Ontario – Diana Capponi and Theresa Claxton Manitoba – Chris Summerville
Saskatchewan - Darrell Downton Alberta - Debbie Wiebe
British Columbia - Patrick Raymond and Debbie Sesula
As I wrote in my initial request, we need to judge when it is more practical to call on one person from your region as opposed to consulting over three hundred peer support workers from across Canada. One such upcoming occasion is at an event taking place in October during Mental Illness Awareness Week, when the peer project team will be consulting with regional representatives on strategic matters related to the Standards of Practice and the certification process.
It may be helpful for me to remind you that certification will be made available on a voluntary basis. For more detailed information about this, please see the July update for the Peer Project posted to the MHCC website.
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Peer%20Support/PP_
Update_July_2011.pdf
It may also bear repeating that the Peer Project is a five year project that began in the spring of 2010. Once the certification process has been developed, we will need to begin a fairly lengthy process to test the validity, reliability, and fairness of the credential granting process before certifications can be formally issued. Only by taking the time to do this right can we ensure credibility of the credential for peer support workers; one that will be recognized and accepted throughout Canada.
Later this fall or early winter, you will receive information concerning the October event.
We have been making good progress in our work, thanks to our combined efforts, and I look forward to sharing developments with you.
Best regards,
Stéphane Grenier
Peer Project Team Leader
