Peer Power Centre
Contact: Ted van Weert at 519-850-3777 ext. 245 or
The Peer Power Centre is a division of SLCS’s and in partnership with:
- London District Catholic School Board
- Thames Valley District School Board
- Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Peer Power Centre Focus
Developed in 1991, The Peer Power Centre promotes a forward thinking emphasis on prevention and empowering youth with knowledge, skills and resources.
Built on a strong communication skills foundation, the program serves elementary and secondary school youth and adults.
- Developing trust, support and respect
- Understanding personal biases
- Becoming non-judgmental
- Instilling reflective listening
- Eliminating communication barriers
- Creating empathy
- Building effective questioning skills
- Giving non-threatening feedback
- Strengthening values awareness, decision making and team-building
- Developing cultural and gender acknowledgement and respect
- Fostering excellent leadership
Individuals with peer support training are leaders and role models. They can:
- Provide personal mentoring
- Mediate conflicts
- Tutor
- Make referrals to appropriate resources in the school or in the community
- Provide orientation for grade 9’s and new students
- Model effective communication and listening skills, conflict resolution skills, assertiveness skills, confidentiality and non-judgmental behaviours
- Contribute to a positive atmosphere within the school, family and community
Peer Mediation
Peer mediation is an effective conflict resolution method where youth mediators facilitate a 5-stage interest based mediation process for peers who are in conflict. They are diligently trained to be neutral listeners and effective questioners and to provide a safe, respectful, non-judgmental atmosphere that allows the disputants to tell their stories and to be heard. A resolution is agreed upon and signed by both disputants. Youth agree that it works because of the equality, confidentiality and respect.
Peer Power has been training secondary school mediators and teachers since 1995. Peer Mediation Training in secondary schools is demanding, rewarding and empowering. Through experiential activities and role-playing, participants learn conflict awareness, diversity and gender based biases, communication skills and mediation skills. This training is for schools and communities that want to establish a peer mediation program where peers mediate peer conflicts.
Peer Power Peer Mediation Training
Training components include:
- Conflict Awareness and Education
- Communication Skills
- Mediation Skills
- Five-Stage Mediation Process
The Training Experience
Skills are learned experientially. Role-play segments play a large part of this training. Through role-plays, participants practice new skills in a non-threatening learning environment. Excellent facilitation and coaching by skilled Peer Power Centre staff is an essential part of this training. Direct coaching enhances the learning process as participants are given immediate feedback and problem-solving opportunities.
Other Secondary School Services
The Peer Power Centre offers Peer Mediation Training in secondary schools and Conflict Resolution Workshops in elementary schools. All resources were developed in collaboration with Peer Power Centre staff, peer mentors, tutors, mediators, teachers and agency professionals focusing on prevention.
Elementary Programs
- Training for Peacemakers
- “Moment of Choice” making helpful choices for healthy relationships
- Conflict resolution workshops for specific small groups
- Peer Helping Training
Adult Workshops
Mediation Training Workshop: November 3 - 5, 2011
- Thursday, November 3 - from noon to 6:00 p.m
- Friday, November 4 - from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, November 5 - from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fee: Free of charge to professionals from the Thames Valley District School Board, the London District Catholic School Board and Youth Serving Agencies from London, Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin counties.
Communication and Facilitation Workshop: February 17th and 18th, 2011
This workshop is appropriate for anyone who facilitates groups and wishes to enhance their communication skills. Have you every wondered why some groups just fall flat? How could I have handled that conflict differently? Have you ever left a group and wondered what just happened? Why did I say that? Bring your real life situations to this workshop and we will explore different avenues of connecting with individuals and groups. This workshop is guaranteed to generate new ideas and energy, develop new skills or “tweek” those you already use!!!!
Fee: Free of charge to professionals from the Thames Valley District School Board, the London District Catholic School Board and Youth Serving Agencies from London, Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin counties.
For professionals outside our catchment area please contact the centre for prices at 519-850-3777 ext.245 and ask for Ted van Weert or email him at
