Recovery College YVR
A Community Wellness Learning Centre that offers free courses and groups that help you develop your own resourcefulness.
What is Recovery College YVR?
Recovery College YVR (RC YVR) is a community wellness learning centre developed collaboratively by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) North & West Vancouver Branch and Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) Consumer Involvement and Initiatives program.
RC YVR is a place where the expertise of peer facilitators, service providers and other content experts are blended to help participants develop meaningful goals for themselves. We value the lived experience of peers, people who live with mental health and substance use challenges. Peers are central to RC YVR; they are involved as planners, organizers, educators, and participants.
What does Recovery College YVR offer?
Recovery College YVR offers courses and groups that cover a wide range of wellness related topics aimed at helping people improve their health and well-being.
We have both peer and clinical facilitators. Our courses and groups always have at least one peer facilitator.
How might I benefit from Recovery College YVR?
- Gain knowledge and develop new coping skills.
- Enhance social connections and share supportive experiences.
- Find new hobbies, passions and meanings to life.
Research
A Local Study on Recovery College Peer Facilitators
To support the development of Recovery College YVR, program organizers were successful in securing a Team Grant from the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. The study is called “Learning from the Experiences of Recovery College Peer Educators and Program Organizers to Inform the Implementation of a Transformative Model of Mental Health and Substance Use Care at Vancouver Coastal Health”.
More…Poster Presentation at the 2024 Putting Patients First Conference (Vancouver, Nov 14 2025)
Peer Advisors and the research team presented a poster entitled “Peer Educators at the Centre of Recovery College Research” focusing on our Community Collaboration and Knowledge Mobilization.
PosterSupporting Peer Educators Toolkit
Supporting Peer Educators is an easy-to-use guide to hiring, training and supporting peers who facilitate workshops in a local Mental Health and Substance Use programs. Many of the elements can also be used to support other peer roles.
Course/Group Categories
Arts
Participants have the opportunity to use art tools as a method for self expression and create for themselves.
Self-Discovery
Participants are provided with the opportunity to explore topics related to dreams and aspirations.
Wellness
Participants are invited to engage in meaningful activities to enhance positive health, quality of life, and sense of well-being in many different areas. These can include social, spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental wellness.
Social Connection
Participants have the chance to share their stories to receive and give support as well as celebrate successes and strengths. Also included are opportunities to try out some new hobbies with others.
Training
Participants gain knowledge and practical skills which can lead to enhancing one’s life and managing mental health and/or substance use challenges personally or in the workplace.
Learn. Connect. Grow.
Sign up for an upcoming course or group with Recovery College YVR.
