PEER SUPPORT SERVICES
We offer a range of supports and programs for women and gender-diverse people from communities facing systemic barriers to equity. Our offerings include advocacy, peer support, skill-building, and low-barrier services designed to help individuals and communities move forward. Our programs centre the rights, access, and lived experiences of women and gender-diverse people, with a focus on inclusion, safety, and choice.

HOW TO ACCESS PEER SUPPORT SERVICES
Whether you’re looking to join one of our programs or simply exploring if it’s the right fit for you, the first step is connecting with our team. We’re here to listen, learn about your needs, and help guide you to the most supportive next steps—either within our services or through trusted community partners.
Please note: Some programs have their own registration process. You’ll find those details listed on their individual program pages (see below for available programs).
We aim to make this process as safe, low-barrier, and respectful as possible. Intake conversations are FREE and usually take about 30–45 minutes and can happen by phone, email, or video—whatever works best for you. We’ll talk about your reasons for connecting, goals, questions, support needs, or any accessibility considerations you’d like us to be aware of. During the intake, we may also:
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Explain our limits to confidentiality
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Gently assess any immediate safety risks or concerns
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Ask some demographic questions to help us understand who we’re serving and eligibility
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Invite you to share, if you feel safe doing so, about any violence or challenges you’ve experienced or are experiencing
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Explore your legal and non-legal needs so we can better match you with the right supports
We’ll only ask questions that help us understand how to support you—nothing more. You’re always in control. You can pause or stop the process at any time, and we’ll always check in to make sure you feel safe continuing.
To get started, reach out to us:
Email: [email protected]
Call or Text: 647-503-4663 (GOOD)
Or fill out the form in our Contact Us page
If you’re leaving a message, please include your preferred name, contact information, and the program or service you’re interested in. If you’re unsure which program is right for you, feel free to share a bit about your needs or goals—this helps us understand how best to support you.
If you’re not sure where to begin, that’s completely okay. Reaching out is a powerful first step—and we’re here when you’re ready.
A case manager, social worker, or support worker can also request an intake meeting on your behalf—with your consent. We’ll follow up directly with you to ensure you feel informed, comfortable, and ready to proceed.
While we’re here to support our community, please note that we are not a crisis or emergency service. If you’re in immediate danger, we can help connect you with appropriate, trusted options and supports.
PEER SUPPORT SERVICES
We offer free, confidential Peer Support Services for women and gender-diverse people (18+) from our priority communities. These services are strengths-based, compassionate, non-directive, feminist, trauma-informed, and community-focused forms of social support and care.
Our trained Support Workers and Community Workers help participants through:
Social and Community Work: resource navigation and advocacy support
Short-term Case Management: goal planning and follow-up
Monthly Peer Support Groups: workshops and peer-led gatherings
1:1 Peer Support Counselling (6 months): tailored support, referrals, and emergency service navigation
We connect women and gender-diverse individuals with community programs, wraparound services, opportunities, and essential information to support their well-being, safety, autonomy, and healing. This includes case management, peer mentorship, goal-setting support, and crisis risk assessment.
Our team promotes empowerment, respect, and self-determination during program participation and adheres to a Code of Conduct and Ethics.
1:1- ONE-ON-ONE PEER SUPPORT
Our Peer Support Services offer 1:1 (one-on-one) support and case management tailored to a community member’s specific needs, situation, and reasons for seeking assistance. Following intake, we develop a trust-based, person-centred relationship that encompasses supportive listening, self-advocacy, and finding solutions as needed. Services are free to eligible community members, and available through phone or video calls by appointment only. Services are confidential and available in English and select languages.
This service can help community members to:
– Access social and practical support and/or specialized referrals to services;
– Connect with services tailored to fit individual needs, goals, and abilities;
– Connect with other community leaders and individuals in their support systems or with service agencies;
– Advocate for individual choices and actions, ones that lead to positive outcomes and opportunities.
We are committed to empowering women and gender-diverse members of our community by supporting their needs, promoting their autonomy, and providing access to information, advocacy, and personalized resources, with the hope of enabling them to make informed life choices on their terms. Referrals to other agencies or services are made with the utmost care to ensure that individuals receive support from a gender-responsive approach. Please note that while our Support and Community Workers may offer social, emotional, and practical support, they do not provide medical or scientific advice or diagnosis.
For intake, email to connect or set up a video call. After connecting through email or phone, you will be connected to a Support Worker or Community Worker who confirms information about the issue(s) you are facing and schedules services based on requirements, availability, and needs. Our team can help with a range of needs, including interpersonal challenges, stress, inability to access social services, anxiety, grief, advocacy, and more.
Peer Support Program and 1:1 Services Contact:
Aramí Galeano, Manager of Support Services
Email: [email protected]
Phone or Text: 647-503-GOOD (4663)
We do not provide crisis or medical services. If you, or someone you love is at immediate risk please contact your local emergency services.
PEER SUPPORT GROUPS
Community and connection hold great power. Sharing space with others in similar situations and learning from each other can be incredibly transformative.
Our Peer Support Groups program runs monthly through our Peer Support Services. It is a free, community-based space and network for community members to connect in a peer-to-peer setting. Peer Support Groups are a place for women and gender-diverse community members to share resources and experiences related to mental health and well-being, challenge gender norms together, foster healing and recovery, and create a community that nurtures a sense of belonging.
Monthly groups run throughout the year. New members are welcome and no referrals are needed. Due to limited group space, participants are required to register for each session in advance. This service is free and no commitment is required.
Groups are guided and facilitated by our Peer Support Services team who share similar backgrounds and lived experiences. We also aim to reduce barriers to accessing services by providing advocacy, resources, and referrals. The monthly program has grown to offer support groups that include guest speakers and focus on health and wellness activities, receiving positive feedback from our community!
During the monthly Peer Support sessions, the group explores resources, shares experiences and challenges, and exchanges knowledge and skill-building tips that nurture well-being and foster connection. We aim to provide a safe, non-clinical, compassionate space where women and gender-diverse participants can share their experiences, emotions, coping strategies, interests, and experiences with systemic and interpersonal challenges. Our goal is to help participants feel less alone, anxious, or isolated, more empowered and connected, and to reduce the stigma around conversations about women’s mental health and wellbeing. Group topics can include but are not limited to:
Recovering From Traumas
Work-Life Balance
Navigating Systems as a BIPOC Woman
Interpersonal Relationships
Developing and Maintaining Healthy Relationships
Care-Giver Support Self-Care
Collective Care Practices
Before joining the program, our team can help participants explore how we can make connecting in an online group comfortable, safe, and welcoming by using Group Guidelines and Safety Standards. Peer Support Groups require all participants to adhere to our Group Guidelines prior to joining their first session to ensure privacy and confidentiality. We strive to meet accommodation and accessibility requests—examples include audio descriptions, closed captioning, breakout rooms, and sensory items.
This program is only offered to those who identity as part of our priority communities. To ensure a safe and supportive space, organizations or representatives from an institution for organizational purposes will not be admitted to groups.
Peer Support Groups and General Program Contact:
Mecca Ongy, Community Worker and Program Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Call or Text: 647-503-GOOD (4663)
GENERAL HELPFUL INFORMATION
At GOOD TO BE GOOD, we're committed to supporting those most affected by the inequities of the world. As a nonprofit, our programs and services are open to women, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals over 18 in Canada who are part of historically marginalized, underserved, equity-denied, and under-resourced communities and seeking support.
This includes individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, survivors of violence, newcomers, refugees, immigrants, low-income, provisionally housed, unemployed or underemployed, living with disabilities, experiencing social isolation, facing forms of exclusion or navigating intersecting barriers to safety and well-being.
Our priority community includes those who experience systemic exclusion from full participation in economic, social, cultural, and political life. We recognize that marginalization can occur at individual, community, and institutional levels, and we are committed to addressing these layered inequities through trauma-informed, intersectional, and accessible support.
In all we do, we work to create safer, inclusive spaces where diverse voices are respected and valued—and where dignity, autonomy, and human rights are upheld.
Support is offered through inclusive programs, peer-based services, and community-led initiatives designed to meet women where they are.
Each program or initiative may have its own focus and specific eligibility, but all are rooted in our mission and vision.
Is there a cost? Thanks to the support of our partners and donors, our programs are offered at no cost to eligible participants. Some offerings have limited space or funding, so we encourage early sign-up. If a program is full, you may join a waitlist or be contacted about future opportunities.
We are intentional about the language we use. On our website and in our program materials, we use terms like “women*” or “women and gender-diverse people*” as inclusive umbrella terms. These words are meant to encompass a wide range of identities, including but not limited to: Two-Spirit, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, trans, cis, femmes, non-binary individuals, gender-diverse people, and people of marginalized genders who identify with the term.
We understand that gender is not homogenous, fixed, or defined by biology. When brevity is necessary, we may use these broader terms to refer to the communities prioritized in our work—but always with care and the intention to be as inclusive as possible.
We also use the terms “marginalization” or “marginalized” to refer to the systemic inequities faced by individuals and groups due to social, cultural, economic, and political power imbalances. We recognize that marginalization is intersectional, meaning people can experience multiple and overlapping forms of oppression based on their identities and lived experiences.
Intentionally using language is one of the ways we aim to reflect the communities we serve, and we remain open to learning and evolving as language shifts over time.
We are committed to creating accessible, inclusive, and welcoming environments for all team and community members. Across all areas of our work, we aim to reduce barriers and provide reasonable accommodations or adjustments as needed to ensure meaningful participation.
Closed captioning is available for all online programs, meetings, and internal and external webinars. We also offer technical assistance and tailored support to meet specific access needs—including for community members who identify as neurodiverse—so that everyone can engage in ways that feel safe, supported, and affirming.
Our accessibility efforts are ongoing. We continuously assess and improve the physical, virtual, and learning accessibility of our programs through community feedback, reflective practice, consultative partnerships, and shared learning. We proudly uphold the standards of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and align our efforts with guidance from the Ontario Human Rights Commission wherever possible. Our Accessibility Policy can be found here.
If you are accessing our services or participating in our programs, we encourage you to let us know how we can better support your access needs. Your feedback helps us grow and do better—together.
We aim to make accessing our programs and services as welcoming, respectful, and low-barrier as possible.
If you're new to our programs, the first step is completing a confidential intake or sign-up form—specific to each service. You can find instructions for starting the intake process directly on each program’s webpage or by reaching out to our team for support.
We collect only the information needed to provide you with safe, affirming, and appropriate support—such as your name, gender, country, and date of birth. We do not collect biometric data or information from minors. All personal information is handled with care, stored securely, and shared only with essential team members in accordance with our privacy policy. You may request to update or delete your information at any time.
To foster a safer and more inclusive experience, each of our programs has its own participation guidelines or code of conduct. By engaging with our services, you agree to uphold these values. We reserve the right to revise these guidelines as needed to protect our community.
We recognize that formal processes can sometimes be a barrier. That’s why we’re committed to reducing repeated intake requirements, expanding eligibility, and offering alternative verification methods—including video or verbal options—when needed. We do our best to meet community members where they are.
All services are confidential, within the limits of the law. Outside of a closed program, no one will know you’ve accessed support unless you choose to tell them or give us your consent.
If you have questions or need assistance with intake, accommodations, or access, we’re here—just contact us at [email protected] or 647-503-4663.
Each program page includes clear steps to help you get started. You may be asked to:
Complete a short intake or sign-up form depending on the program requested.
Contact our team to schedule a conversation.
Join an info session to learn more about the program.
- Join an intake call so our team can learn more about your needs and goals.
Need support getting started? Contact our main lines: [email protected] or call us at 647-503-4663.
When and how do programs run?
Programs are offered in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. Each program listing shares:
Session format (Zoom, in-person, etc.)
Upcoming start dates or registration periods
Expected time commitment (e.g., weekly sessions, drop-ins)
Please check individual program pages for specific details or reach out to us if you need flexibility or clarity.
When processing and handling information for a program or service, we uphold consent and adhere to applicable laws and regulations
We aim to uphold the right to free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples in Canada accessing our programs and services and when we take actions which impact them and their rights, including their lands, territories and resources.
At GOOD TO BE GOOD, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of everyone who engages with our programs and services—whether online or in person.
All of our online programs, workshops, peer support groups, and community sessions are delivered via Zoom, a secure video conferencing platform. We take every precaution to ensure these virtual spaces are safe, respectful, and accessible. Zoom is compliant with relevant federal and provincial privacy laws, including PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act), PHIPA (Personal Health Information Protection Act), and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) where applicable.
Any information shared during sessions is kept confidential within the limits of the law. Our team is trained in trauma-informed and privacy-respecting practices to ensure that your participation is treated with the dignity, care, and discretion it deserves.
If you have any questions about your privacy, participation options, or how we handle data during virtual programming, we encourage you to reach out to [email protected].
Your safety and privacy matter.
All of our programs are confidential, within the limits of the law. We never share your information without your consent.
We also have community agreements and participation guidelines in place to ensure that everyone is treated with care and respect.
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information.
When you visit our website, you can browse freely without being asked to share personal or health information. In cases where we do need to collect information—such as when you apply for a program or service—we only ask for what’s absolutely necessary.
Any time we collect personal information through our website, you’ll see a clear privacy notice explaining why the information is needed and who to contact if you have questions. We follow all applicable privacy laws and take steps to ensure your information is secure and used responsibly.
If you have any concerns about your privacy while using our website, please feel free to reach out to us.
View our Web Privacy Policy here.
Your safety and security are a top priority at GOOD TO BE GOOD. We take your trust seriously and are committed to protecting our community from misinformation, scams, and unauthorized contact.
Our team will only communicate with you through verified channels—such as our official email addresses (ending in @goodtobegood.ca), our website, phone line, and trusted partner platforms. You may also hear from us through our verified social media accounts.
If you ever receive a suspicious message, email, text, phone call, or social media request claiming to be from GOOD TO BE GOOD, and you're unsure of its legitimacy, do not respond or click any links. Instead, contact us directly at [email protected] to confirm.
To help keep your information secure:
Always verify the identity of the sender before sharing personal details.
Refer to our website for a current list of staff and contact information.
Hover over links before clicking to preview the destination.
Avoid opening attachments or links from unknown or unsolicited emails, texts, or social media accounts.
When in doubt, reach out—we’re here to help ensure your interaction with us is safe and trusted.
View our Web Privacy Policy here.
If you have ideas or suggestions for our programs and services, or feedback on your experience with any components of the organization or this website, email [email protected] or call 647-503-4663.
Alternatively you can fill out our General Participant Feedback Form by clicking here. We welcome your comments, concerns, and suggestions to improve our programs and services for our women communities.
To submit a formal complaint or compliment, download the General Complaints Policy (opens in new window) and follow the steps accordingly.
Need other kinds of support? If you need help that’s outside the scope of our programs or outside of what we can provide at this time, we have a Resources page with links to:
Emergency shelters and crisis services
Legal, health, and mental health supports
Culturally specific community organizations
You can also join our Peer Support Services for personalized referrals and support.