Healthy Living Peer Leader Program

The Healthy Living Peer Leader Program offers community members support from trained volunteers who will encourage them in their efforts to become physically active, eat healthy and make other healthy lifestyle choices.  This program was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion through a Healthy Communities Fund Grant.  Major partners in this program are Onward Willow Better Beginnings Better Futures and the Brant Avenue Neighbourhood Group.

Peer leaders include people who:

• Have received training on physical activity, healthy eating and leadership
• Are certified in Emergency First Aid and CPR
• Have a passion for healthy living
• Can offer support in a variety of languages

Our volunteers lead walking groups and community kitchens in the Brant and Onward Willow neighbourhoods.  They also co-facilitate outreach presentations and provide friendly one to one peer support by telephone or in person at convenient times with individual community members.  New volunteers are always welcome!

Guelph CHC would like to support other communities who would like to use this model.  Therefore, further information and training resources can be found by clicking on the links below:

• Program History and Chronology
• Healthy Living Peer Leader Program Pamphlet
• General Chronic Disease Prevention Manual
• Physical Activity Training Manual
• How to lead a DVD exercise class tip Sheet
• How to lead a walking group tip sheet
• Pedometer use tip sheet
• General walking tip sheet
• Healthy Eating Manual
• Lessons Learned Document

If you would like more information about this program please contact Peggy Nickels at (519) 821-6638 x 367 or pnickels@guelphchc.ca