Writing Toward Wellness: The Journey of Wakefield Brewster

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re honoured to welcome Wakefield Brewster, a celebrated poet, wellness practitioner, and Calgary’s 2022- 2024 Poet Laureate. Wakefield shares his journey of healing, shaped by early life challenges, substance use, and the ongoing process of navigating mental wellness. Growing up in Toronto as the child of Barbadian immigrants, Wakefield often felt misunderstood and disconnected in systems that weren’t built to support his unique needs or creative spirit. When he later relocated to Calgary, he carried with him old patterns of coping — but also a deep desire for change. Through compassionate support and personal reflection, Wakefield began to find his footing in recovery. Programs like SMART Recovery offered him language and tools that resonated, while massage therapy opened up new ways to connect with others through care and presence. Throughout, poetry remained a constant — a safe place where he could explore, process, and express his lived experience on his own terms. Now, more than 25 years into his creative practice, Wakefield uses his voice to foster connection, understanding, and community. His work weaves together artistry and wellness, inviting others to see their stories reflected and to know they are not alone. Join us as Wakefield shares how creative expression and self-awareness have shaped his healing, and how he continues to offer hope and support through his words and wellness work.