STEPS (Skills To Enhance Peer Support) equips Trent students with the tools and confidence to support others in times of stress or distress. Through this program, you'll gain valuable skills to connect peers with resources and referrals, empowering you to make a positive impact within the Trent community and beyond. The program focuses on communication skills, bystander intervention, and diversity and inclusion.
STEPS offers Trent students the development of interpersonal & peer support skills.
We offer each workshop once per semester during the Fall, Winter, and Summer terms, ensuring availability 2-3 times each academic year. Registration closes for each workshop 24 hours prior (or on the Friday before if workshop falls on a Monday).
Workshops are held online via Zoom or in-person on the Peterborough campus.
STEPS offers students:
- Practical and relevant skills to support peers that are immediately applicable to student life and society.
- An opportunity to develop and enhance interpersonal skills that includes an understanding of self, groups and their community.
- The rules to engage in conversations with a peer in distress and to become a more engaged upstander.
- An opportunity to reflect upon and develop attitudes, knowledge and skills that relate to citizenship development and practices.
Students can choose to attend individual workshops without committing to the entire program, as there is no formal enrollment process. However, those who complete all five (5) workshops will earn a STEPS certificate, recognizing their achievement. Further, this can be added to your co-curricular record (CCR). Students interested in completing the full STEPS program must complete all five (5) of the following workshops:
Fall 2025 Offerings
Active Listening & Conflict Resolution
- Date: Monday, October 27th
- Time: 1:30 - 2:30 PM
- Location:
Otonabee College OCA 171(Change of location as of 10/10/25) Science Complex SC W2
To register: Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to reserve your spot and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend. Reminders and room location will be emailed 24 hours prior to workshop when registration closes.
Bystander Intervention Training with Consent @ Trent
- Date:
Wednesday, October 1stTo Be Rescheduled! - Time:
1 - 3 PMTo Be Rescheduled! - Location: Online via Zoom
We are still accepting registrations! New date/time to be announced. To register: Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to reserve your spot and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend. Zoom link will be emailed out to participants 24 hours prior to the start of the workshop when registration closes.
Supporting a Friend: Dealing with Disclosures with Consent @ Trent
- Date:
Wednesday, October 15thTo Be Rescheduled! - Time:
1 - 3 PM - Location: Online via Zoom
We are still accepting registrations! New date/time to be announced. To register: Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to reserve your spot and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend. Zoom link will be emailed out to participants 24 hours prior to the start of the workshop when registration closes.
Respecting Individuals and Supporting Equity+ (RISE+)
- Date: Wednesday, October 8th
- Time: 1 - 3 PM
- Location: Science Complex SC W4 (Seminar Room)
To register: Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to reserve your spot and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend. Reminders and room location will be emailed 24 hours prior to workshop when registration closes.
SafeTALK: Suicide alertness for everyone
- Date: Friday, October 10th
- Time: 1 - 4 PM
- Location: CCW A2
- We have 14 spots available! Must be signed up by October 3rd.
To register: Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to reserve your spot and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend. Reminders and room location will be emailed 24 hours prior to workshop when registration closes.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please contact us two (2) weeks in advance of event if you have any particular accommodation requirements. Reach out providing the name you registered with, what workshop you signed up for, and we'll follow up to discuss and agree on appropriate accommodation.
For further information about STEPS please contact madelinederby@trentu.ca