Overview:
A Peer Supporter with Badge of Life Canada plays a crucial role in providing emotional and psychological support to Public Safety Personnel (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, correctional officers, nurses, military personnel) and their families who are experiencing operational stress injuries (OSI) such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Peer Supporters create a safe, confidential, and empathetic space for individuals to share their experiences, challenges, and feelings without judgment. Through lived experience and understanding, they help others navigate mental health challenges, build resilience, and find a path to recovery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Offer Emotional Support: Provide a non-judgmental and compassionate environment for individuals to express their feelings and challenges.
• Active Listening: Use active listening skills to understand the concerns of participants, ensuring they feel heard and validated.
• Share Lived Experience: Draw upon personal experiences in the public safety or military field (or from supporting a loved one in this field) to connect with participants, offering hope and encouragement.
• Promote Mental Wellness Resources: Help participants access additional mental health resources and services as needed, including therapy, counseling, and Badge of Life Canada’s educational programs.
• Confidentiality: Maintain the confidentiality of all discussions and interactions in accordance with Badge of Life Canada's policies.
• Collaborate with Professionals: Work closely with mental health professionals, facilitators, and the Badge of Life Canada team to ensure participants receive the best possible support.
• Provide Crisis Intervention: Recognize signs of crisis in participants and, if necessary, escalate the situation to appropriate professionals for further intervention.

Training and Support:
Badge of Life Canada provides comprehensive training to all Peer Supporters. Our training program equips you with the tools and skills needed to effectively support individuals dealing with operational stress injuries. This includes training in:

• Active listening techniques
• Crisis intervention and de-escalation
• Recognizing signs of OSI and PTSD
• Confidentiality and ethical boundaries
• Best practices for peer support in a public safety context

Ongoing support and supervision will be provided to ensure Peer Supporters have access to guidance and resources while serving in their roles.

Qualifications:

• Lived experience as a Public Safety Personnel, military member, or as a family member of someone in these roles.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to actively listen.
• Empathy, patience, and a non-judgmental attitude.
• Commitment to confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Willingness to participate in all required training sessions.

Commitment:
Peer Supporters are asked to dedicate time to facilitate or participate in peer support meetings, either virtually or in person, on a regular basis (typically weekly or bi-weekly). Flexibility in schedule is important, as meetings may vary depending on participant needs.

Impact:
As a Peer Supporter with Badge of Life Canada, you will play a vital role in helping individuals and families cope with the challenges of operational stress injuries. Your support can make a meaningful difference in their mental health journey, providing them with hope, strength, and a path toward healing.

Help us keep kids close to home! Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is looking for Foster Care Providers! 
 
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is a Child Welfare (Simcoe & Muskoka) and Children’s Mental Health (Muskoka only) agency licensed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. We support children, youth, families and communities with multiple services including fostering for children and youth up to 18 years old.  
 
Our agency has an urgent need for foster care providers across Simcoe and Muskoka. We are looking for diverse caregivers who understand children’s needs. Children & Youth lose so much when they have to leave their community. Foster caregivers provide a safe home and a temporary solution for children and youth, while their families make the changes needed for them to come back home. 
 
Would you consider opening your home and heart to providing care to youth and children? Fostering can be challenging, but it’s a very rewarding career. You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference in the life of a child. Fostering can be flexible and fit in with your lifestyle! 
 
We encourage all applicants to apply regardless of sex, gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, orientation or religion.  
 
Our application process, training and support will prepare you for your fostering journey. We find that all successful foster parents believe that the rewards of fostering, including building strong, loving relationships that last a lifetime, far outweigh the challenges involved. We offer a rate of $85/$155 a day per child to help support the cost of raising healthy, happy children and youth. Please inquirer today!
 
We look forward to hearing from you! Please share with anyone you think might be interested!

• Participate in the operation of the shelter (shifts - evening, night, breakfast)
• Carry out the many tasks required for the seamless functioning of the shift/program.
• Interact with guests throughout the duration of the shift (unless it’s quiet/sleep hours).

Volunteers would be responsible for stocking shelves, cleaning the store, re-organizing items, aseembling product, and assisting customers. Volunteers who are interested should visit the website to register to volunteer. 
 
Volunteers must wear certified safety shoes, be capable of lifting up to 25lbs, able to stand for extended periods of time and be comfortable with 2-3 step instruction.

About Bridget’s Bunnies

Bridget's Bunnies is a registered charity that supports individuals and families who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss. Bridget’s Bunnies works to ensure no one endures pregnancy or infant loss alone. Bridget’s Bunnies relies on volunteers, individual donations, Bridget’s Run and grants to sustain its programs and services including Comfort Kits and Little Loss Library. 

Title: Bunny Makers

If you’re a crafter or knitter, join our community of Bunny Makers for a good cause! Bunny Makers meet monthly to chat and crochet together from 4:00-6:00 pm at Bridget’s Bunnies office (65 Cedar Pointe Dr. unit 811A, Barrie). This is also a time to refresh knitting/crocheting supplies and continue crocheting in the comfort of your own home. Bunny Maker volunteers make Pocket Pals, crocheted or knitted bunnies for our Comfort Kit program. All materials are provided for free of charge and we ask that finished bunnies and unused materials be donated back to Bridget’s Bunnies. 

Hours: 2-10 hours a month (flexible)
Location: In-person/remote

Roles and Responsibilities:

•    Crochet or knit a bunny/pocket pal according to Bridget’s Bunnies patterns and instructions
•    Only take what you need and ensure to return any unused supplies
•    Return completed bunnies within a month of completion as these bunnies are needed for the Comfort Kit program
•    Opportunity to join the online community to share tips, tricks and make fellow crafter friends
•    Opportunity to gather monthly for an in-person tea, chat and crocheting event at Bridget’s Bunnies office. 

About Bridget’s Bunnies

Bridget's Bunnies is a registered charity that supports individuals and families who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss. Bridget’s Bunnies works to ensure no one endures pregnancy or infant loss alone. Bridget’s Bunnies relies on volunteers, individual donations, Bridget’s Run and grants to sustain its programs and services including Comfort Kits and Little Loss Library. 

Title: Comfort Kit Organizer

Reporting to the Development Coordinator, the Comfort Kit Organizer is responsible for organizing, assembling and tracking Comfort Kits. Comfort Kits are provided for free to individuals and families who experience pregnancy or infant loss. They offer gentle direction and compassion in the days and weeks following loss. On demand Comfort Kits, ordered through the website are processed and shipped within a 2-week period. Hospital Comfort Kits and processed and shipped quarterly. 

Hours: 2-4 hours a week; Tuesday – Thursday between the hours of 10:00 – 3:00 pm. 
Location: In-person; Bridget’s Bunnies Office 65 Cedar Pointe Dr. unit 811A, Barrie

Roles and Responsibilities:

•    Keep volunteer room clean and organized
•    Pack kits according to orders and keep kits restocked
•    Track supplies and inform Development Coordinator when supplies are low
•    Strong attention to detail required
•    Must be organized, methodical and a great communicator
•    Enjoys working independently and collaboratively
•    Other administrative tasks as assigned

We are looking for passionate, dedicated volunteers to assist with Creative Arts Programs held in Midland and Barrie. No artistic experience needed! Duties include assisting with set up, conversation and providing guidance during the program.

Help Senior Wish expand into Simcoe County to ensure that no senior is left isolated, alone and feeling like society has forgotten them. Help is especially needed to prepare for our Christmas Wish program starting in Sept.