(For background information on SPC/BC please click here.)
SPC/BC in the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000s
1984 – First SPC program established in Victoria at the James Bay Community Clinic. Dr. Honoré France, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria initiated the project, designed the curriculum and trained the group. The training project was evaluated by the Victoria Gerontology Association (funding provided by Health Canada).
Following the positive results:
- B.C.’s Ministry of Health contracted with Dr. France to write the first SPC training curriculum Peer Counselling: Helping Seniors Help Seniors.
- An action group was formed to review the manual and to develop a pilot program to field test it. Subsequently, the ministry funded the piloting of the program in six BC communities: Vancouver West End, Nanaimo, Quesnel, Trail, Victoria and Peachland.
- Both the Ministry of Health and Health Canada supported the establishment of the formally constituted provincial organization Senior Peer Counselling of British Columbia by bringing together counselling personnel and ministry representatives for meetings.
1989 – Senior Peer Counselling of British Columbia was formed.
1992 – SPC/BC became an incorporated Society. Volunteer Board of Directors.
1995 – SPC/BC became a federally registered non-profit organization
SPC/BC – production of material for member groups:
- Seniors & Mental Health: A Senior Peer Counsellor Training Guide (Manual/Video)
- Senior Peer Counselling & Continuing Care: A Senior Peer Counsellor Training Guide (Manual/Video)
- Seniors & Alcohol: Risk Avoidance and Harm Reduction, A Senior Peer Counselling Guide to Helping (Manual and video)
- Training for SP Counsellors to deliver alcohol misuse prevention workshops to groups of peers
- Guidelines for Implementation of Senior Peer Counselling Programs
- Senior Peer Counselling Program Administration Manual
- Trainer Training manual
- A prevention training workshop for SPC trainers