Community of peers

Belonging is part of the job

A‑Way is a community of peers. We offer a respectful, survivor-led workplace in which we value everyone’s skills and experiences. We work as a team to meet the expectations of A-Way customers. We support each other to learn and do our best work as well as meet our recovery goals. Employees, prospective employees and alumni are all welcome here.

Join the A‑Way Community today. Contact us at programs@awayexpress.ca.

Four friends excitedly watch a bowling ball roll down the lane at a bowling alley.
Group of people outdoors enjoying a barbecue, smiling and chatting, with a man grilling food on a barbecue grill.

Peer support is available from colleagues every day at work. You can also book time with a trained peer supporter. Check the monthly activity calendar for Office Hours.

Whether you’ve had a tough customer interaction, are struggling with personal stresses, need to ground yourself, debrief, or simply sit with someone who understands, we’re here.

Community life and social activities

See activity calendar
Read our newsletter
  • A man with sunglasses, a beard, and a dark jacket smiling and holding a water bottle while standing in a forest with autumn leaves on the ground and tall trees.

  • Man in camouflage jacket and glasses taking a photo through an aquarium window with colorful fish and coral in the water.

  • Group of six people sitting around a conference table, smiling at the camera, with board games and soda cans on the table inside a brightly lit room with windows and yellow walls.

  • A man grilling vegetables on a barbecue grill outdoors, with a table of food and supplies nearby.

  • A man playing pool at a billiards table, lining up a shot with a cue stick surrounded by pool balls on the table in a room with wood-paneled walls and mirrors.

  • Three women sitting at a table filled with Christmas craft supplies, including paint, stickers, and decorations. The table is in a room with storage cabinets and boxes in the background.

  • People eating and enjoying a holiday meal at a decorated table in a kitchen.

  • Two people riding a ski lift in a forested area, waving at the camera. The person on the left wears a pink jacket and sunglasses, while the person on the right wears a gray shirt, a black cap, and glasses.

    • A‑Way partners with Second Harvest to stock our pantry. Employees and community members are welcome to help themselves.

    • Sandwiches and snacks are always available on workdays

    • Home-made take-away dinners are prepared in-house twice a month

    • Trained peer supporters available at work

    • Whether you’ve had a tough customer interaction, are struggling with personal stresses, need to ground yourself, debrief, or simply sit with someone, we’re here. 

  • We Can Help:

    • Corresponding with ODSP or housing providers about A‑Way earnings

    • Advocating for ODSP Employment Benefits

    • Referrals to counselling, housing services and health services

    • Connections to the right services in times of distress or crisis

Simplified illustration of a person with two buns hairstyle wearing a green shirt, holding a yellow circle in one hand and a brown square in the other.
A smiling older man with white hair and a beard, wearing a light brown shirt and green T-shirt, standing with arms crossed in a room with green walls and natural light.

PREP employment program

PREP is a strengths-based employment program designed to meet the needs of people with lived experience. We offer a weekly peer-led employment group and 1:1 coaching with an employment specialist. 

If employment is one of your recovery goals, PREP is for you.  

Learn more