Introducing Mission Possible's Peer Support Training Program

“Being able to provide these passionate individuals with a paid opportunity to gain knowledge and practice their skills in an environment where their feedback and lived experience is valued has been a total game changer. I really believe in the value that peer support brings to ‘traditional’ care settings (hospitals, outreach work, recovery centres) and it gives a voice to those who have for a long time been overlooked.”

- Tyler, Special Projects Manager 

Launched in 2024 by Mission Possible and funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, the Peer Support Training Program (PSTP) aims to provide skill development training and supervision for individuals interested in pursuing employment opportunities in peer support work. Associates who successfully complete the five-week training program will be offered a five-month paid internship in peer support!

Additionally, the goal of the program is to help reduce rates of attrition and burnout among peers and support workers in the healthcare and social service sectors and ultimately secure program participants with the skills needed to secure permanent employment in the healthcare and social service sector.

The PSTP involves approximately 21 total hours of training to complete 7 modules, including topics such as Self-Determination and Boundaries, Exploring & Unpacking Bias, Coaching, Communication, Conflict Resolution, and more. 

Additional trainings that are completed include Mental Health First Aid (Standard), Narcan Training, Skillfully Responding to Distress, and First Aid Level 1. Supplemental trainings like Substance Use Trends, Understanding Indigenous Historical Influences, Job Interview Preparation Workshop, and many more are also offered to ensure program participants are prepared and have a wealth of knowledge to support them. 

In March 2025, the first cohort of five participants successfully completed the training and are currently in the work experience phase of their participation with our community partners: Community Integrations Services (MSDPR), Union Gospel Mission, The Dude’s Club, Downtown Eastside Women’s Health Collective, North Shore Junction, Canadian Mental Health Association, and the Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society. The second cohort has just begun their training in July 2025. 

Being able to work closely with our community partners has been integral to the momentum of this program. Without their willingness to trust Mission Possible and the work we do, we would not be able to provide these learning opportunities to our program participants. All of our partner organizations have been supportive and open-minded to this new project. With the additional feedback our community partners have provided, we have been able to make sure that the training reflects the needs of the Downtown Eastside community.

Jason, a placement supervisor at the Dude’s Club has appreciated the contribution that Daniel, a PSTP participant, has brought to his organization:

“[Daniel] has been a great asset to the club, able to connect with the men very easily in manful ways…Daniel developed a system that gives a framework for the position, yet remains flexible to respond to whatever happens during the day. Working with Daniel has been an enjoyable experience and very different from a practicum student… We check in, yet he knows the job and responds to the context he finds himself in. Great work!”

The PSTP has already proven to be an extremely valuable experience for the program participants at Mission Possible. Stephen, a participant in the first cohort, shares, “I'm learning content that they don't teach or educate in post-secondary. We get to share and relate our experiences and struggles. Our conversations are fun, and the staff are supportive. Additionally, I've discovered my new goal is to work at Saint Paul's hospital in the near future as one of the peer support workers". 

The PSTP is an innovative pilot project (with lots of integrated feedback from peers with diverse learning styles) and we are hoping to grow it in the future as peer support work is becoming increasingly respected and viewed as integral to supporting folks in our community. There's been a huge demand for the program, and lots of employers are eager to engage with participants who have certification and additional training. 

We are so excited to continue providing this opportunity to more of our Mission Possible associates!