Peer Support Canada

What Peer Support Canada does

Peer Support Canada (PSC) is a Toronto-based nonprofit organization founded in 2013 and operating as an entity of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) National. It administers the only nationally recognized peer support certification program in Canada, awarding the Certified Peer Supporter (CPS) and Certified Family Peer Supporter (CFPS) designations that are valid across all Canadian provinces and territories. Candidates must demonstrate alignment with PSC's National Standards of Practice, which encompass Core Values, Required Competencies, and a Code of Conduct, and complete a self-paced certification journey that includes an application, reference checks, a written Knowledge Assessment, and a verbal Competency Assessment typically finished within 3-4 months.

PSC delivers its certification through the PSC Online Portal, a self-serve platform that handles profile creation, applications, assessment scheduling, receipts, and appeals, with virtual assessments conducted via Zoom. The core revenue model rests on non-refundable certification fees totaling $1,200 per candidate ($200 application fee plus $1,000 assessment fee), with no group rates and no direct discounts or bursaries from PSC. Organizations can purchase certification credits in bulk to allocate to staff, and a February 2026 $100,000 RBC Foundation donation funds subsidized access for 130 BIPOC candidates. Secondary revenue comes from consultation services to workplaces, community organizations, and hospitals covering program design, training, policy development, and Community of Practice facilitation. Donations are managed and receipted by CMHA National.

PSC operates with a small disclosed team (Executive Director Allison Dunning and National Programs Coordinator Brookelyn Fortier as named staff) supported by an Advisory Committee established in February 2024. Strategic partners include CMHA National as parent, PeerWorks for the MAiD Discussion Series, and the University of Calgary for CIHR-funded research on youth peer support. The organization is currently working towards regaining independent charitable status to expand funding opportunities while continuing to operate under the CMHA National umbrella.

Name

Peer Support Canada

Legal name

Peer Support Canada

Website

https://peersupportcanada.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Peer Support Canada is a Toronto-based nonprofit founded in 2013 that operates Canada's only nationally recognized peer support certification program, certifying individual peer supporters and family peer supporters across all provinces and territories under standards set with CMHA National.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peer Support Certification Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accreditation Evaluation, Peer Review & Site-Visit Organizations (EDADACAI)

Keywords

• Peer support certification
• Mental health certification
• Peer support standards
• Consultation services
• Peer support training

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Fees: Peer Support Canada generates revenue through certification fees. The certification program requires two non-refundable payments: a $200 application fee and a $1,000 assessment fee, totaling $1,200 per candidate. Organizations can purchase certification credits to allocate among staff members. No group rates are currently available.
2. Donations: Donations are received to support access to certification for peer supporters. Donations to Peer Support Canada are managed and receipted by CMHA National. Examples include $200 to cover application fee, $1,000 for assessment fee, and $1,200 for complete certification journey for one candidate.
3. Consultation Services: Expert consultation services offered to organizations for implementing or optimizing peer support programs, including needs assessments, training, policy development, and evaluation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Peer Support Canada administers the only nationally recognized peer support certification program in Canada, awarding Certified Peer Supporter (CPS) and Certified Family Peer Supporter (CFPS) designations. The assessment-based program requires 200+ hours of formalized peer support experience, two non-refundable fees ($200 application + $1,000 assessment), and successful completion of a written Knowledge Assessment and verbal Competency Assessment aligned with the National Standards of Practice. Certification is valid across all Canadian provinces and territories.

Product overview

Peer Support Canada operates as a single-product-focused organization centered on the National Peer Support Certification Program, which is the only nationally recognized peer supporter assessment program in Canada. The organization provides this certification through the PSC Online Portal, a web-based platform that handles participant profiles, applications, assessments (Knowledge Assessment and Competency Assessment), and appeals. In addition to certification, Peer Support Canada offers Consultation Services to organizations seeking to build or optimize peer support programs, providing needs assessments, customized training, policy development, and ongoing support through Communities of Practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Peer Support Certification Program A national assessment-based certification program for peer supporters and family peer supporters that verifies alignment with nationally endorsed Standards of Practice and is recognized across all Canadian provinces and territories. Awards Certified Peer Supporter (CPS) or Certified Family Peer Supporter (CFPS) designations. Requires 200+ hours of formalized peer support experience and successful completion of a written Knowledge Assessment and a one-to-one verbal Competency Assessment.
• Consultation Services Expert consultation services for organizations seeking to implement or optimize peer support programs. Includes needs assessments, customized peer support training, program operations and policy development, supervisor training, program evaluation, and Community of Practice facilitation. Targeted at workplaces, community organizations, and hospitals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130 BIPOC peer supporters to be certified through RBC Foundation initiative
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Peer-Led and Allied Organizations (Ethical Research)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Coalition of organizations including CMHA National, CMHA Peel-Dufferin, Community Addictions Peer Support Association, Jack.Org, Krasman Centre, Lived Experience and Recovery Network, Patient/Client Family Council North Simcoe Muskoka, Peer Connections Manitoba, PeerWorks, Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa, Robyn Priest Live Your Truth, Schizophrenia Society of Canada, Simcoe Peer Support Mental Health & Addictions, and Stonehenge Therapeutic Community. Jointly issued open letter calling for ethical, values-aligned research on peer support in hospital settings.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSC operates as an entity within CMHA National. CMHA provides capacity, stability, and visibility while PSC maintains lived experience-led foundation and autonomy. Together they champion peer support as vital part of community mental health across Canada. PSC provides guidance, standards, and best practices to CMHA branches delivering peer support services.
• PeerWorksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-facilitation of seven national MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) Discussion Series sessions with 65+ peer supporters over 2025-2026. Joint development of guidance document for MAiD assessors, providers, and researchers on the role of peer support in MAiD policy and practice.
• University of CalgarymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership led by University of Calgary researchers with PSC staff support, funded by CIHR grant. Focus on understanding how peer support workers are hired, employed, and trained in organizations serving youth (16-29). Includes survey research and four-part virtual co-design sessions with peer support workers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Intentional Peer Support: International peer support training and certification organization founded by Shery Mead. Comparable to PSC in delivering structured peer support training, values-based certification, and community of practice programming.
• PeerWorks: Ontario-based peer support organization offering training, Community of Practice, and resources for peer supporters. Comparable as a peer-led organization offering complementary peer support services and currently partnering with PSC on the MAiD initiative.
• Peer Support Australia: Australia's national peak body for peer support, providing training, certification, and standards for peer workers across Australia. Highly comparable to PSC as the analogous national certification body in mental health peer support.
• Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery: Provides WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) facilitator certification and training programs. Comparable as a peer-led mental health recovery credentialing body operating in a similar certification-driven model.
• National Association of Peer Specialists (NAPS): U.S.-based national membership organization advancing the peer specialist workforce, including Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) credentialing and state-level recognition. Directly comparable to PSC as a peer specialist certification and advocacy body.

Broad incumbents

• Mental Health Commission of Canada: National mental health policy and standards body whose MHCC Guidelines for Peer Support inform PSC's certification standards. Comparable as a broader mental health organization shaping the peer support landscape in Canada.
• Mental Health America: U.S.-based oldest mental health advocacy organization providing peer specialist training programs and certifications. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering peer support training and credentialing.
• Canadian Mental Health Association: PSC's parent organization and Canada's most established community mental health nonprofit with 330+ branches. Comparable as a national mental health umbrella organization under which PSC operates.
• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: U.S. national mental health and substance use policy organization providing workforce certification, training, and policy advocacy. Comparable as a broad incumbent in mental health peer support professionalization.

Others

• Recovery International: International mental health peer-led mutual support organization founded in 1937. Comparable as an adjacent peer-led mental health support organization with structured training methodology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PeerSupportCAN
• Facebookfacebook.com/PeerSupportCanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peer-support-canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Peer Support Canada