RELEASE DATE- March 25, 2025
Kamloops and Penticton BC – ASK Wellness Society, in collaboration with Urban Matters and community partners, is proud to announce that they have been awarded funding through Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP). This critical funding will support the launch and operation of a Peer Navigation Program in Kamloops and Penticton, aimed at improving access to substance use services and building the capacity of peer-led support systems.
SUAP provides time-limited funding for innovative, evidence-based projects that address the complexity of substance use including prevention, harm reduction, and treatment across Canada. The Peer Navigation Program aims to empower People with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE) by training and employing individuals as peer navigators, ensuring that community members facing barriers have an opportunity to receive care and support from individuals who understand their challenges firsthand.
The Peer Navigation Program is being developed alongside PWLLE, ensuring that the local community is engaged as decisions are made to ensure its design is shaped by those with lived experience. Comprehensive training cohorts will be provided in both Kamloops and Penticton, equipping peer navigators with the skills needed to support their communities, including ensuring a foundation of cultural safety. These trained navigators will then be placed within the social service sector or areas where people in vulnerable circumstances regularly access, such as libraries or recreational centres. At these locations, the navigators will provide information and support the potential referral process to housing, mental health, substance use and harm reduction, food, and other basic needs services. The introduction of peer navigator positions within social service agencies can significantly enhance the experiences of individuals seeking support in our communities to improve trust, and accessibility to the spectrum of substance use services and supports.
“We are incredibly excited to expand ASK Wellness Society’s supported employment programs through this new partnership with Urban Matters,” said Bob Hughes, Executive Officer of ASK Wellness Society. “Having peers with lived experience at the heart of this initiative reinforces the principle of ‘nothing about us without us,’ ensuring that the people we serve receive support from those who truly understand their challenges.”
The Peer Navigation Program, which began in December 2024, will operate over the next four years, with the goal of training 84 peers between Kamloops and Penticton, and ultimately employing 44 peer navigators. These navigators will provide direct support to thousands of individuals, offering guidance and support to those in need.
Ali Butler from Urban Matters shares, “Peer navigators can bridge gaps in service delivery, providing guidance and advocacy while reducing barriers such as stigma, and systemic challenges. Their presence ensures that those in need receive compassionate, and informed assistance, ultimately contributing to better health and social outcomes”.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrina Tenisci
Director of Communications
co************@*********ss.ca
250-682-3059
