Yes, Wellspring’s Peer Support program connects you one-on-one with a trained volunteer who has their own direct experience with cancer, either as a patient or as a caregiver. This isn’t a clinical session or a formal intake process — it’s a confidential, human conversation with someone who understands that cancer is a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual journey all at once. Your peer support volunteer will listen, share from their own experience, and help you find the Wellspring programs, services, and resources that might be most useful based on what you tell them you need. All of this is offered free of charge and without a referral.
Peer Support is specifically designed to be a welcoming point of entry for people who are new to Wellspring or new to a cancer diagnosis and aren’t sure what kind of support exists or where to begin. Your peer support volunteer will offer a practical orientation to Wellspring’s full range of programs, services, and resources — all tailored to the needs you express in your conversation, rather than a generic overview. There is no referral needed, no cost, and no requirement to have any prior knowledge of what Wellspring offers — you simply show up or call, and your volunteer will help guide you. Meetings can be arranged by appointment online or on a drop-in basis at one of Wellspring’s centres, depending on what works best for you.
Peer Support at Wellspring is open to both people living with cancer and their significant caregivers — because Wellspring recognizes that cancer doesn’t only happen to the person diagnosed, and that caregivers carry their own profound weight throughout the journey. Volunteers include people with direct cancer experience as well as those who have walked the caregiving path themselves, so you can be paired with someone who genuinely understands your specific role and perspective. Sharing is entirely confidential and always at your discretion — you choose what you want to talk about and how much you want to share.
The evidence is meaningful and consistent. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found that social support is a critical element of care for cancer patients and survivors, with documented improvements in quality of life, anxiety, and self-efficacy following peer support interventions. Research has also shown that one-on-one social support specifically — the model Wellspring uses — can improve anxiety and self-efficacy in people living with cancer. Beyond emotional benefits, studies note that peer connection can be an important source of knowledge and empowerment, helping cancer survivors feel more informed and more active in their own care. Wellspring’s Peer Support program is built on this evidence base, delivered by trained volunteers who bring both lived experience and compassionate listening to every conversation.
Yes, in partnership with Pancreatic Cancer Canada, Wellspring offers a dedicated one-on-one peer support stream specifically for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and their caregivers. Trained volunteers with direct cancer experience offer a compassionate listening ear, share from their own journeys, and provide a practical orientation to programs and resources available through both Wellspring and Pancreatic Cancer Canada. Like all Wellspring peer support, sharing is fully confidential, there is no referral required, and the program is offered free of charge.
When you request a Peer Support appointment through Wellspring, a brief set of questions will appear to help Wellspring understand your situation and find the most suitable volunteer match for you. Wellspring will do its best to pair you with someone whose cancer experience is similar to yours — and while an exact match isn’t always possible, the goal is always to connect you with someone who will genuinely understand where you’re coming from. Once your request is received and a match is made, your volunteer will reach out to you by email to arrange a meeting at a time that works for both of you. All conversations are confidential, and there is no obligation to continue or commit to anything beyond that first conversation.