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.