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Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Centre

Pregnancy & Infant Loss

Support Centre

1:1 Peer Support

The journey through infertility, pregnancy and infant loss can be an isolating experience – and it doesn’t have to be that way. This journey is difficult and it is not one that you need to walk alone. You can talk one on one with a trained peer support volunteers.

Peer Mentor

You can talk 1:1 with a trained peer mentor volunteer who has walked a similar path to your own. During this complex time, your peer mentor can stand with you as you face the next steps… Together.

Our peer mentor sessions can be done remotely as well as in-person. Your volunteer peer mentor will address your concerns, answer your questions, and show you that you are truly not alone.

If you are interested, apply to be in our program using the button below and we will begin the process of matching you with a suitable mentor.

Text/Chat Helpline

Looking for more urgent support? Connect anonymously with a trained peer volunteer through our text/chat Helpline for immediate support.

You might be feeling lost. Alone. Angry. You are worthy of having a soft place for your feelings to land. A place where you are validated. A place where people can truly relate. A place where your heart can rest. You are worthy of a place that sees all of you.

Hours of Operation
10am-12pm and 6pm-10pm (MST)
7 days per week

Or Text: 1-888-910-1551

Please note: Our peer volunteers are not to be used in replacement of formal professional support. Peer mentors and helpline volunteers have been trained to offer peer level support only and do so on a volunteer basis.

Who are these options best suited for?

  • Individuals who have experiences: fertility challenges, miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, termination for medical reasons, abortion, SIDS, missed adoption, loss through surrogacy
  • Individuals at every stage of loss: initial grief, trying to conceive, pregnant after loss, parenting after loss
  • Individuals of all: ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and faiths
  • Anyone impacted by loss: birthing person, parents, partners, grandparents, support people

Need Help?

Please contact Nova McGillivray below:

Nova McGillivray

1:1 Peer Support Specialist

Nova McGillivray was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, she loves dogs, hiking and Starbucks. She has been a peer facilitator since 2013, is a Sistership Circle level one facilitator with Brain Story certification as well as Nonviolent Crisis Intervention trained. She came to PILSC as a helpline volunteer and then did her Canadian Mental Health Association Peer Support School practicum with PILSC which lead to becoming a PILSC facilitator and then moved into the Peer Coordinator role. She is happy to be using her knowledge and gifts to contribute and to support people.

To contact Nova, email her at nova@pilsc.org

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no cost for our peer mentoring or helpline programs. If you are financially able and feel the program is a benefit to you, we always welcome donations, though this is not an obligation or expectation. The support you receive will not be impacted whether you donate or not.

Our mentors and helpline volunteers are all trained peer volunteers who have navigated the journey through loss. They are not counsellors or mental health professionals. They are bereaved parents who can relate to the journey and have the compassion and heart to support others through it.

You will be matched to a peer with similar lived experience. Once matched, you and your mentor will commit to a mentor/mentee relationship for a maximum of 3 months (option to renew for another 3 months) with biweekly mentor sessions. Sessions are typically about 1-1.5hours. Your peer mentor is there to support you and will not come with any agenda. This is your session and your mentor will walk alongside you.

We acknowledge that the connection between mentor and mentee may not always fit. Differences with others doesn’t mean either party is “bad” or at fault. If this happens the Mentor will not take it personally. Contact the 1:1 Peer Mentor Specialist for an alternate Mentor. Our goal is to connect you to a peer that resonates with you.

All sessions take place either remote or in-person. 

What is said during the mentorship session will not be shared outside of the relationship. Limits to confidentiality include if you are at risk for self harm or harm to others.

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50/50 Raffle

As part of our June 25th Run/Walk Sunday June 25, 2023 we are holding a 50/50 Raffle! Participating in this Raffle is open to everyone in Alberta. 

This is the perfect way to participate if you can’t attend the run/walk in person.

Want to join our Run/Walk? Visit this page

Book with Erin Winters

In order to book with Erin, please contact us at info@pilsc.org

NOTE: Refrain from providing detailed personal information when emailing us. Feel free to describe your challenges in brief, and leave out personal details that you only wish to share with Erin.