Collaborative Learning College

What is the Collaborative Learning College?

The Collaborative Learning College is a recovery college that offers nonclinical-based education and training programs offered to people who have lived/living experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges, and who feel ready to set goals, gain skills and make social connections as part of their personal journey. In keeping with internationally adopted approach to recovery-oriented education, the courses offered at the Collaborative Learning College are:

co-created and co-led by people with lived experience of mental health and/or addiction challenges and/or social services use
offered free of charge
adaptable to local needs and resources
open to people who have experienced mental health and/or addiction challenges and/or social services use, their family members, friends and health care providers, when appropriate.

Please note: All class are currently running virtually until further notice. All times are Eastern Standard Time.

About Us

Available courses

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Monthly Calendars

Looking to download a copy of this month's calendar or want to see our past calendars? You can find all our current and past offerings here.

Updated monthly
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Get Involved!

Looking for ways to get involved with the CLC? Check out our Get Involved page for current opportunities.

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Lunchtime Peer Support for February 2023

We are excited to bring you our monthly Peer Support drop-in group. Join us for a one-hour, interactive and informal group for those looking to connect with others in a supportive space. Bring your lunch, your worries, your support, and your experience.

Date: Every Tuesday in February
Time: Noon to 1pm
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Braving the Elements: Creative Writing Essentials

In collaboration with Inkwell Workshops, this 6 session course will invite participants to explore creative writing and storytelling techniques in a safe and supportive environment. Each week, we will look at one or more of the building blocks of storytelling (setting, character, plot, scene, point of view, the use of figurative language) and apply these elements to a variety of creative writing forms such as fiction, memoir, poetry, playwriting and screenwriting. Through a series of exercises and examples, participants will be encouraged to build a mindful writing practice, develop their own voice, and be an active part of a creative community. While you are welcome to focus on a particular form through the entire course, you will have an opportunity to explore all forms.

Date: Tuesdays | January 10th - February 21st 2023 (except Feb 14)
Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm
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Introduction to Novel Writing Story Structure

In collaboration with Inkwell Workshops, this course offers an introduction to story structure for writers looking to pursue traditional publishing. The focus of the course is learning how to successfully plot a full-length novel in any genre or age category. Participants will learn the basics of story pacing using the Save The Cat and Three-Act methods. The majority of the course will focus on the fifteen beats of the Save The Cat method, detailing the purpose of each beat as well as examples. Participants will have the opportunity to start to develop a new story outline or work on existing outlines. During sessions, participants will have time brainstorm as a group for their individual projects and plotting templates will be provided.

Date: Wednesdays | January 11th - February 15th 2023
Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm
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Financial Literacy for Youth

This course aims to make the topic of finances less intimidating. Join us as we unpack all of the jargon and acronyms, while answering your questions on topics such as taxes, bank accounts, budgeting and investments, so that you can make informed decisions about your finances.

Date: Tuesdays | January 31st - March 28th 2023
Time: 6pm-7:30pm
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Making Music with Technology

How do composers write music with computers? What shifts in how we make and use music are emerging as computer technology becomes more powerful? In this course, we will learn how music can be composed and performed using computers and other digital technologies. Over six weeks, participants will learn about some of the technologies that power the modern music industry and its artists. There will be two workshops. In one, participants will learn the basics of a simple, free programming language that gives its users the power to create music algorithmically. In the other, participants will work with the instructor as he uses composition software to write a piece of music with the class. We will also look into the future, learning how artificial intelligence may change how music is written, and how it may one day make everyone a composer.

Date: Wednesdays| February 1st - March 8th 2023
Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm EST
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Pet Therapy with Pelusa

Join Pelusa every Tuesday from 2-3pm in the Patient and Family Learning Space (1025 Queen St. West, Toronto ON). No registeration is required!

Date: Every Tuesday
Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm EST
MORE INFO

Facilitation Training

Facilitation has never been more important. In an age of ever-more meetings, workshops, and training courses, having someone in the room whose job it is to create engagement and make things easier for the group is vital to creating great outcomes. In this 10-week course, we’ll explore what facilitation is, the skills you need to become a great facilitator, and how to improve your facilitation practice.

Date: Thursdays | February 2nd - April 6th 2023
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm EST
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Pet Loss and Grief: Writing to Heal

This 6-week facilitated writing group designed for people coping with the loss of a companion animal (through death, surrender, rehoming, lost pet). Participants will work in a supportive group environment to write and share their memories, and their experience of loss, discovering new thoughts, feelings and ideas that will help them move forward and adjust to life without their beloved animals.

Date: Thursdays from March 16 to April 20
Time: 1pm to 2:30pm
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Cooking Theory

Up your cooking game with this 4-session interactive course. Learn how to pair ingredients, cook various proteins to maximize flavour, adapt the dishes you love for dietary needs and improve your technique!

Date: Thursdays | February 2nd-23rd 2023
Time: 5pm-6pm EST
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Writing Our Lived Experience

This course will focus on creative techniques for the true stories of writers who are disabled and have lived experience of mental health. By looking at published examples of memoir and essays, participants will develop their voices and the writing tools at their disposal in a supportive, safe, and welcoming environment. Each week, there will be time for writing, sharing, and discussion about the particular challenges of memoir writing. We will also explore the importance of self-care and mindfulness practices when delving into personal material. This course is hosted by InkWell Workshops and is open to all people, regardless of previous writing experience.

Date: Thursdays| February 2nd - March 9th 2023
Time: 2:30pm-4pm EST
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Dealing with Loneliness

Loneliness can be pervasive and difficult to navigate. Join us for this 2 session course as we explore the impacts our surroundings and others can have on our emotions and how to take back control using our own personal resources.

Date: Wednesday February 15th and 22nd 2023
Time: 10:00am-11:30am
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Stand Up Comedy for Mental Health

They say laughter is the best medicine... It's a cliche, but it's a cliche for a reason! In this 8-week course, participants will be empowered to reframe their lived experience through the lens of humour, in a collaborative and supportive environment. Topics covered will include joke elements and structure, brainstorming and writing techniques (like how to overcome writer's block!), various comedic styles, and how to approach comedy ethically. We will explore these topics through a variety of written and video examples and apply them practically with multiple writing exercises throughout the course. Feedback will be available upon request, and participants are encouraged to provide supportive feedback to their peers, as well! The course will culminate in a short performance of a 3-minute comedy set.

Date: Tuesdays February 28th - April 18th 2023
Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm
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Arts + Access Event

In partnership with Humber College, we invite you to join us for a full-day arts event featuring sessions that will explore diverse art forms including painting, music and drawing. More information to follow!

Date: Wednesday March 1st 2023
Time: 11:00am-4:00pm EST
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Mindfulness for Mental Health

Join Registered Yoga and Meditation Teacher, Therapist-in-Training and Mental Health Advocate Eryl McCaffrey for this fun and simple 4-week virtual course. You’ll explore simple and effective mindfulness techniques to help you manage stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction recovery. These are the same tools that have allowed Eryl to recover and thrive in her life. Mindfulness techniques like gentle yoga, deep breathing, meditation, journaling, and mind-body exercises will be explored. You’ll leave with new healthy coping tools, distress tolerance skills and practices for building mental and emotional resilience.

Date: Wednesdays | March 1st - 22nd
Time: 11:00am-12:30pm EST
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Video Games + Culture

Video games have become a powerful force in today's world, as popular forms of entertainment, as artworks, and as commentaries on our culture. In this four-part course we will explore several important aspects of today's video games: their history, the technologies that are used to make them, their possible impacts on mental health and socialization, and what video games might become in the future. Participants in the course will have the opportunity to explore how video games can affect and change us, and discover where they may take us next.

Date: Wednesdays | March 15th - April 5th
Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm EST
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Literary Grant Writing

This course, offered in collaboration with Inkwell, is for writers looking to learn how to apply for government grant funding for literary projects. Literary projects can include proposed ideas for novels or collections of short stories, non fiction essays or poetry. Participants will learn about various literary grants offered by the Toronto Art Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canadian Council for the Arts. Topics covered will include determining eligibility, using online application portals, strategies for writing successful applications, preparing writing samples and balancing budgets.

Date: Wednesdays | March 1st - 22nd
Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm EST
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ExperieNCe: Working in Groups - Self-directed

In collaboration with CAMH and Niagara college, this course will discuss topics related to working with others and aims to build personal and professional skills through shared experiences and reflection. Concepts such as group dynamics, conflict management, decision making and building successful working relationships with others is at the center of discussion.
Through this partnership, you will be eligible for a credit at Niagara College in the Child and Youth Care or Educational Assistant Special Needs Support Program by completing this course, free of charge
If you are interested in attending college, this pathway has many advantages. You will not only receive a credit, we will also support you along the way to assist you in getting to Niagara College and supporting you while you are there.

This course is self-directed. You can take it at your own pace. Click "VIEW COURSE" for more details
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Community Partners and Events

Looking for community events? Want to see other special opportunities going on in your community? Visit this section for a listing of different announcements our partners have to share with you.

Want to view these without registering? You can use the password 'guest'

VIEW PARTNER EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES