Finding Connection: Kyla Ricard’s Path Through Lived Experience to Peer Support

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re honoured to welcome Kyla Ricard, a dedicated Peer Support Worker from Calgary, Alberta. Kyla Ricard’s path to peer support was shaped by her personal experiences of being unhoused, mental health struggles, and the search for connection. After working in a remote tree-planting camp, she found herself navigating the realities of being unhoused in both Edmonton and Calgary, facing isolation, sleep deprivation, and the toll of unmanaged mental health struggles. Through resilience and the support of those around her, Kyla discovered the power of peer support in her recovery. In time, she enrolled in the CMHA School of Peer Support, where she learned how to turn lived experience into a meaningful way to support others. Now, as a Peer Support Worker, she helps individuals facing similar struggles through Be The Change YYC, offering understanding, guidance, and a sense of community.  Join us as Kyla shares her powerful story of overcoming adversity, finding purpose through peer support, and making an impact in the lives of those on their own mental health journeys.