History of PeerNetBC

In 1986, the Self-Help Collaboration Project formed to address the needs of the self-help community in BC. The venture took root and soon evolved into the Self-Help Resource Association -- a not-for-profit society (1993) and registered charity (1994).

Over the years, as we grew and terminology shifted, the term 'self-help' no longer held the same meaning as it had back in the 1980s. Our name no longer accurately reflected the primary focus of our work - the development of effective peer groups. In 2007, we began to rename the organization and find new language to promote a peer support approach. After community consultation, much conversation and consensus-building among staff and board, our membership unanimously voted in May 2008 to change our name to ‘PeerNetBC’.

PeerNetBC wouldn't be here today without the work of everyone who has passed through. We know this list is incomplete -- if your name or the name of someone you know is missing, please let us know so we can add it! Thank you to all who have worked or volunteered with us over the years!

Erlene Woollard Leslie Tinkham Zenaida Abanto Helene Jospe Tina Jaromamay Teresa Stancioff Jennifer Lindsay Kennedy Sinaga Catherine Elliott Janice Dao Deyna Gillis Gerda Todd Paul Zelinski Nafysa Lalani Franca Linguanti Tracey L. Ramsey Rajah Shah Jonathan Meadows Laurel Petryk Katherine E. Simpson Tom Abbot

Caroline Twiss Sheena Sargeant Ka-Kei Law (KK) Manju Sidhu Nadim Kara Josephine Tcheng Harper Hadden Tara Willard Yael Wand Barbara Womersley Deepak Arora Shelley Foster Joan Keir Whitney McMillan Nancy Liu Ann-Marie Menzies Nadia Foucher Sandra Harley Maria Hudspith Sherry Lynch Mike Park

Alex Price TJ Schur Niccolo Sisante Yvonne Stuart Sabrina Bonfonti Junie Desil Jorge E. Salazar Nardia Brown Teya Greenberg Karen Barre Yuly Chan Raven Taylor Setareh Mohammadi Sean-Patrick Spriggs Suzanne Klassen Joanna Imoo Nadia Hedar Anna Hunter Amber Wood Melissa Dorush Erin Rickbeil