As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

What happens when a childhood dream meets lived experience? In this episode of As I, A Peer, Jeff Turner speaks with Priscilla Cherry, the force behind The Oratory.Priscilla shares her story of growing up with big dreams, facing the realities of childhood PTSD and ADHD, and discovering the life-changing power of peer support. From helping shape Recovery College to creating a groundbreaking show that blends entertainment with mental health dialogue, Priscilla shows how personal struggle can spark collective healing.

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we meet Bruce, now a Peer Support Practice Lead, whose journey reflects loss, resilience, and the power of community. Growing up in Calgary, Bruce experienced early loss, family challenges, and the weight of feeling different. As a teen, substances became a way to cope, leading to years of struggle that carried into adulthood. His turning point came in 2004, when he chose to change his lifestyle and began rebuilding his life one step at a time. Through volunteering and later working in peer support, Bruce discovered how his lived experience could become a source of strength for others. Today, he leads with empathy and honesty, helping to build supportive systems that remind people they are not alone and that healing is possible. 

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we sit down with Melanie Vernon, a chronic pain peer support worker, mental health advocate, and CMHA Calgary School of Peer Support alum. Melanie shares her deeply personal story of growing up in a household where everything looked perfect from the outside, but inside was a world shaped by trauma, neglect, and survival. As the “good kid” in a family consumed by chaos, Melanie learned to shrink her needs, bury her pain in novels and food and seek validation in unsafe places, all while carrying more than her share of emotional weight. From childhood bullying and disordered eating to navigating abuse and chronic illness, Melanie opens up about what it means to live with invisible pain, both emotional and physical. Her journey to healing wasn’t linear. But through therapy, medication, and eventually discovering the power of peer support, Melanie began reclaiming her story. Now, as a peer supporting others with chronic pain across Alberta, Melanie brings empathy, honesty, and lived experience to every conversation, reminding us that being seen and believed can be life-changing. She reflects on what it meant to finally do something just for herself, how it felt to find community, and why she’s committed to showing her kids that it’s okay to feel, to grow, and to heal. Join us as Melanie reminds us that resilience isn’t about never breaking down — it’s about discovering that you’re worthy of care, just as you are. 

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re excited to sit down with Sadaf, a thoughtful peer, mental health advocate, and former Peer School Facilitator with CMHA Calgary. Sadaf shares her powerful journey of navigating identity, culture, and mental health — from growing up in Calgary as a child of Pakistani immigrants to finding her voice in spaces that didn’t always make room for her full self. Struggling to blend in while holding on to her heritage, Sadaf opens up about the challenges of growing up feeling misunderstood, and learning how to embrace the duality of her identity. Her mental health journey took a pivotal turn during a study abroad trip, where the sudden shift and isolation brought forward anxiety and depression for the first time. Through therapy, reflection, and the support of her brother, Sadaf began to better understand her mental health — and why culturally responsive, compassionate care matters. Peer support became a meaningful part of her healing, not only as a personal lifeline but as a practice she would eventually share with others. From working at CMHA to studying business today, Saadaf reflects on what it means to show up authentically, accept uncertainty, and keep growing — even when the path forward isn’t clear. Join us as Sadaf reminds us that healing isn’t linear, identity isn’t fixed, and sometimes the bravest thing we can do is keep going — especially when we’re still figuring it out. 

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.  

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. 

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re honoured to welcome Dr. Michael Trew, a distinguished psychiatrist whose career has spanned over four decades. Dr. Trew’s journey in mental health began with his education at the University of Saskatchewan, Calgary, and Manchester, leading to his certification as a psychiatrist in 1982. His dedication to the field saw him leading the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service at Foothills Medical Centre and serving as Alberta’s Chief Addiction and Mental Health Officer during the province’s response to the 2013 southern Alberta flood.Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Trew’s work has profoundly shaped policies on the opioid crisis, ethics in psychiatry, and suicide prevention. His leadership extended to serving on boards such as Distress Centre Calgary and CMHA Calgary, where he played a vital role as a director and chair. In 2024, he retired, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy, innovation, and unwavering compassion for those struggling with mental health challenges.Join us as we dive into Dr. Trew’s remarkable career, his perspectives on peer support, and how lived experience continues to shape the future of mental health care. 

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re thrilled to welcome Nova McGillivray, a dedicated peer support facilitator from Calgary, Alberta. Nova’s journey into peer support began in 2013, when she struggled to find any support groups in the city for postpartum depression. Motivated by this gap, she took matters into her own hands, starting to facilitate group sessions herself. Since 2018, she has been offering one-on-one support, always driven by a deep passion for helping others. Her dedication to this work grew even stronger in 2021, when she completed the CMHA School of Peer Support. This milestone led her to her role as a 1:1 Peer Support Specialist at the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Centre in 2022, and by 2024, she proudly earned her certification as a Peer Supporter.As a mother of two earthside children and three in the stars, Nova draws strength and balance from her love of the outdoors, hiking, dogs, and reading. Her personal experiences, combined with her professional training, allow her to offer support that truly resonates with those she works with. Through her work, Nova continues to make a meaningful impact in the community, helping others navigate their challenges with empathy, understanding, and care.Join us as Nova shares her inspiring journey into peer support, how her lived experiences have shaped her approach, and the lasting impact she’s making in the lives of those she supports.

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we are thrilled to welcome Kamika Bianca Guerra-Walker, a visionary multidisciplinary artist of Jamaican and Chilean heritage, who has been named Calgary’s 2024 Emerging Artist of the Year. Kamika is a filmmaker, producer, writer, and mental health advocate whose work has earned recognition from renowned organizations such as Netflix, Telefilm, the Canadian Academy of Cinema & Television, and many more.We delve into Kamika’s remarkable journey, exploring her groundbreaking feature documentary, Finding My Way Back to You. This deeply personal project follows her emotional path back to Jamaica to reunite with her father after 17 years of separation due to his diagnosis of schizophrenia. Selected for prestigious programs like the Caribbean Tales Big Pitch and the Netflix Diversity of Voices Initiative, Kamika’s work sheds light on the importance of mental health and family connections.Beyond her films, Kamika shares how she channels her creativity into advocacy. As the founder of The Walker Foundation, a mental health organization, and a board member of both the Black Arts and Culture Council (BACC) and the Latin artist collective Como Se Dice, she uses her platform to champion human rights and mental health awareness. Her artistic versatility spans film, spoken word, and visual art, blending these mediums to foster compassion and inspire change.Join us as Kamika takes us through her experiences navigating the world of art and advocacy, her dedication to community, and how she transforms her lived experiences into powerful calls to action.To learn more about Kamika and her inspiring work, visit kamika.ca. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!