Registration
Registration
Advancing Mental Health and Substance Use Health Through Connection
The Power of Peer Support Conference 2026 is shaping up to be a truly groundbreaking national event. We have secured an exceptional lineup of national and international keynote speakers who are helping move the field of peer support forward in Canada. We are also pleased to include the full participation of a major Canadian research foundation that is conducting a national literature review on peer support and will present the most up-to-date evidence at the conference.
The conference program features a carefully curated selection of presentations from workplaces, first responder organizations, healthcare systems, community programs, and research teams. Together, these sessions reflect the depth and diversity of leaders, practitioners, peer supporters, and researchers who come together at this event to share what’s working, spark new ideas, and advance the future of care.
This conference marks the beginning of an annual series that will rotate across Canada, creating ongoing opportunities to learn, collaborate, and shape the future of peer support nationwide.
What Attendees Will Gain
- Insight into the latest evidence, including findings from a national literature review on peer support implementation and outcomes
- Real-world tools and frameworks for readiness, training, governance, supervision, and leadership engagement
- Diverse perspectives from hospitals, health authorities, community programs, government, and lived/living experience leaders
- A strong national network of people working to build more human, connected approaches to mental health and substance use health
- Practical strategies for integrating peer support in clinical environments, workplaces, and community programs
- Opportunities to inform national dialogue on standards, workforce development, and system-wide adoption of peer support
REGISTRATION RATES
| Category | Rate (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration (available until March 31, 2026) | $765 |
| Early Bird – Community Mental Health / Non-Profit / Charitable Organizations | $680 |
| Regular Registration | $899 |
| Community Mental Health / Non-Profit / Charitable Organizations | $799 |
All rates are in CAD and subject to applicable taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there not a Lived or Living Experience Rate?
At its core, this conference is about lived and living experience. It’s what drives peer support, informs systems change, and connects us across professions, programs, and communities.
We know that lived and living experience isn’t confined to one title, role, or workplace. It exists everywhere — in hospitals and community organizations, in leadership positions and on the front lines, in clinicians and in peers alike. For that reason, we chose not to create a separate “lived experience” registration rate.
Instead, our goal was to honour lived experience as universal, recognizing that everyone brings a story, and many bring professional expertise alongside personal experience. Our rates were carefully designed with lived and living experience in mind, offering reduced fees for community, non-profit, and charitable organizations where many peer supporters and advocates work. This approach ensures affordability and inclusivity while reflecting the diverse realities of the peer support community.
If you are an individual with lived or living experience who is paying for your own registration (not supported by an organization), you are welcome to register at the Community Mental Health / Non-Profit / Charitable Organization rate.
Hosting a national conference of this scale involves substantial costs, and this is our first event of this magnitude in over a decade. We have worked hard to keep registration fees as low as possible for everyone, while ensuring the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of the event.
That said, we share the desire to make future conferences even more accessible. If we are able to secure sufficient sponsorship support, we are committed to exploring bursaries or travel assistance for individuals with lived and living experience in future years. Inclusivity remains a central goal, and this first event lays the foundation for expanding access in the years to come.
Where Do Hospitals Fit?
Hospitals and health authorities are vital partners in scaling peer support and embedding it within systems of care. If you work within a hospital, health authority, or government department, please register under the general rate (Early Bird $765 / Regular $899).
If you are a peer supporter or employee of a community-based program or charitable organization affiliated with a hospital or health authority, you may register under the Community Mental Health / Non-Profit / Charitable Organization rate ($680 Early Bird / $799 Regular).
Is there an honorarium or financial assistance available for attendees?
At this time, there are no provisions for honoraria, travel stipends, or financial assistance for conference participants or presenters.
We anticipate that the majority of attendees, given that this is a peer support conference, will be individuals with lived and/or living experience. This was taken into careful consideration when establishing registration fees. As most participants would qualify under a “lived and/or living experience” category, it did not make sense to create a separate rate.
Our goal was to make the conference as accessible as possible for everyone. We remain committed to exploring options for bursaries or travel assistance in future years as sponsorship and funding opportunities grow.
Need Support or Unsure Which Rate Applies?
We’re committed to making the Power of Peer Support Conference as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you’re unsure which category best fits your situation, contact sherry@mhic-cism.com and our team will gladly assist.