calvin prowse
BA, BSW, MSW, MA, RSW
calvinprowse(at)gmail.com
Education
2023
Master of Arts, Critical Disability Studies
York University
2022
Master of Social Work
McMaster University
2021
Bachelor of Social Work
McMaster University
2016
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
McMaster University
Training, Courses, & Certification
2025
Lived Experience Transformational Leadership Academy (LETs Lead)
Yale Program for Recovery & Community Health, CAMH
Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) Masterclass with Sohail Inayatullah
Riser Strategies
2024
Become a Futurist
Metafuture School
Peer Support Core Essentials™, Level 1R
PeerWorks
2022-2023
American Sign Language (ASL) 101, 102, 103
Queer ASL
2022
Intentional Peer Support
Intentional Peer Support
2021
Alternatives to Suicide Group Facilitator Training
Wildflower Alliance
When Conversations Turn to Suicide
Wildflower Alliance
Mental Health First Aid
Canadian Mental Health Association
2016
ASIST Suicide Intervention Certification
LivingWorks
SafeTALK Suicide Alertness Certification
LivingWorks
Introduction to Peer Support Group Facilitation Training
Self-Help Resource Centre
2015
Peer Support Training
Mental Health Rights Coalition
Awards, Grants, & Scholarships
2022
Canada Graduate Scholarship (Masters)
Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council
Social Work Alumni Anniversary Award
McMaster School of Social Work
2021
Hilary M. Weston Scholarship
Government of Ontario
2020
Partnership Engage Grant
On behalf of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario
Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council
2019, 2020
Tamara Gordon Foundation Scholarship
Tamara Gordon Foundation
Work
2025-Present
Social Worker
NowWhat? Support Services
2024-2025
Professor
Seneca Polytechnic
Researcher
Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice
2023-2025
Team Leader, Peer Support Program
Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice
2021-Present
Co-Researcher
Disability Justice Network of Ontario
2021-2022
Teaching Assistant
McMaster School of Social Work
2021
BSW Placement
Moving on Mental Health Strategy Lead Agency
Lynwood Charlton Centre
2020-2021
Coordinator / Part-Time Manager
MSU Maccess
McMaster Students’ Union
2020
Student Partner, Educational Research Assistant
MacPherson Institute
McMaster University
2019-2020
Peer Support Worker / Youth Mentor (BSW Placement)
Youth Wellness Centre
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
2018-2020
Transition Program Assistant
Student Accessibility Services
McMaster University
Volunteer Experience
2024-Present
Co-Facilitator
Peer Book Club
PeerWorks
2022
Co-Founder
Push Back on Mac
McMaster University
2021-2022
Community Group Facilitator
MSU Maccess
McMaster University
2019-2022
Coordinator
Disability Action Group
McMaster School of Social Work
2018-2019
Peer Support Volunteer / Community Group Facilitator
MSU Pride Community Centre
McMaster Students Union
Community Outreach Coordinator
MSU Maccess
McMaster Students Union
2012-2016
Facilitator
Hamilton Mad Students’ Collective
2015-2016
External Outreach Officer
MSU Diversity Services, Abilities Pillar
McMaster Students Union
2015
Peer Support Worker
Mental Health Rights Coalition
Committees
2019-2024
Board of Directors
PeerWorks
2021-2023
Treasurer
PeerWorks
2020-2021
President’s Advisory Committee for Building an Inclusive Community (PACBIC)
Co-Convener: Disability, Inclusion, Madness, Accessibility, Neurodiversity (DIMAND) Working Group
McMaster University
Barrier-Free Design Committee
McMaster University
Welcome Week Strategic Themes Advisory and Planning Committee
McMaster University
2020
Youth Action Council
Disability Justice Network of Ontario
2019-2020
Research Committee
Disability Justice Network of Ontario
2018-2019
Hamilton Social Work Action Committee
Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), Hamilton Branch
Publications
in press
Dreaming Through the Cracks
Disabled Dreaming: Seeking a Future of Proactive Accessibility in Teaching & Learning. McMaster University
Intake [Poem]
Disabled Dreaming: Seeking a Future of Proactive Accessibility in Teaching & Learning. McMaster University
in preparation
Work as Recovery: Peer Support and the Social Relations of Labour Extraction
Introducing Peer Support Futures
de Bie, A., Rothwell, C., Prowse, C., Yogendran, V., Douglass, M., & Green, T. What has Mad student community meant to us? Mourning Mad losses as methodology and praxis
research in progress
Disability Justice Network of Ontario. “What Happened to You?”: The Disablement of Youth Across Socioeconomic Indicators
2025
Oliver, D., Pierre, N.D., Elliot, C. Prowse, C., Doyle, C., Koblyk, L., & Inayatullah, S. The Trojan Moose: Exploring Canadian Futures Through the Lens of Causal Layered Analysis (CLA).
Journal of Futures Studies
2024
Purple Basil Lemonade: Community Rituals for Crip Pasts/Presents/Futures
New Sociology, 5
“Do you want me to wear a mask, too? (and other Frequently Asked Questions)
Community Safety Zine, OPIRG Toronto & OPRIG York
Mapping Peer Support Futures [Blog post]
PeerWorks
2023
Dreaming Peer Support Futures [Major research paper]
York University
Colene Allen & Calvin Prowse. Dreaming Together: (Re)Imagining Opportunities for Peer Advancement [Blog post]
PeerWorks
2022
2020
COVID-19 Remote Learning Accessibility Audit (Editor)
Disability Action Group, McMaster School of Social Work
COVID-19: Information, resources, and considerations for peer support [Blog Post]
Ontario Peer Development Initiative
Presentations
2025
Disability organizing at McMaster University: A brief and incomplete history
NEADS’ State of the Schools Tour: Hamilton Stop
National Educational Association of Disabled Students & MSU Maccess
Claiming “Peer”: What’s in a Word?
Peer Support Strong Conference. Growing Together: The Expanding Role of Peer Support Across Diverse Communities.
PeerWorks & LERN
2024
T. Sivabaskkaran, T. Rahal, S. Hassan, C. Prowse, & C. Tinglin
PeerSTEP: Peer Support Training for Multi-Marginalized Youth.
Gathering Together, Dreaming Together, Transforming Together Conference
PeerWorks
Introducing Peer Support Futures: On Hope, Dream, and Building Utopia
Peer Support Strong Conference. Peer Support Revolution: What’s Next?
PeerWorks & LERN
2023
Purple Basil Lemonade: Community Rituals for Crip Pasts / Presents / Futures
Disability Arts & Crip Futurities Conference
Trent University
Work as Recovery: Warning Signs of Dystopian Futures?
Gathering Together, Dreaming Together, Transforming Together Conference
PeerWorks
One History of Peer Support
Developed for SACHA staff
2022
Peer Support Institutionalization: Troubling Everyday Work
Gathering Together, Dreaming Together, Transforming Together Conference
Ontario Peer Development Initiative
2021
Calvin Prowse & Emunah Woolf
Remote (M)access: Reflections on the Digital (Re)Creation of a University Peer Support Service
Peer Support Strong Conference
PeerWorks & LERN
Peer Support Professionalization: Praxis or Peer Drift? Flash Presentations: Critical Disability Research & Teaching Cluster
McMaster University
Calvin Prowse & Emunah Woolf
Remote (M)access: Transitioning Peer Support Online
Flash Presentations: Critical Disability Research & Teaching Cluster
McMaster University
Peer Support Documentation: Praxis or Peer Drift?
Ontario Peer Development Initiative
2014
Hamilton Mad Students’ Collective
Peer Support in the Campus / Youth Context
Mobilizing Peer Support in Ontario Conference
Ontario Peer Development Initiative
Guest Lectures
2023
Peer Work Pasts / Presents / Futures
Social Work 2CC3: Introduction to Community Practice
McMaster University
Engagement, Institutionalization, and the Future(s) of Peer Support
Social Work 744: Research Experience and Seminar
McMaster University
2021
Disability, madness, & service user engagement: An anti-oppressive exploration
Social Work 2BB3: Social Work and Social Welfare: Anti-Oppressive Perspectives
McMaster University
Panels
2025
Trans-Led Community Care and Peer Support for Trauma Survivors
Sexual Violence Prevention Month Community Conference
SACHA
Nothing About Us, Without Us
NEADS’ State of the Schools Tour: Hamilton Stop
National Educational Association of Disabled Students & MSU Maccess
2023
Ableism Transphobia and Heterosexism: Compounding Effects in Higher Education
National Educational Association of Disabled Students
2022
Disability in Graduate Studies
National Educational Association of Disabled Students
Push Back on “Back to Mac”
Push Back on Mac
2021
Disability in Grad School: Pathways Through / To / From Social Work [Panel Discussion Co-Coordinator]
Disability Action Group, McMaster University School of Social Work
2016
Mental Health & Intersectionality Conference
McMaster University
Workshops
2024
Calvin Prowse & Colene Allen
Dreaming Together Networking Session: Peer Roles in Digital Futures
Gathering Together, Dreaming Together, Transforming Together Conference
PeerWorks
Dreaming Peer Support Futures: Scenario Planning Workshop
PeerWorks
2023
Dreaming Peer Support Futures Through Creative Writing
PeerWorks Board of Directors
Calvin Prowse & Colene Allen
Dreaming Together Networking Session: (Re)Imagining Opportunities for Peer Advancement
Gathering Together, Dreaming Together, Transforming Together Conference
PeerWorks
2022
Everyday Madgic: Rituals for Change
Dreaming Together
Gathering Together, Dreaming Together, Transforming Together Conference
Ontario Peer Development Initiative
2014
Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities as a Teaching Assistant
McMaster University
Self-Published Zines
2024
disability in/visiblity
mapping peer support futures (download)
the future is blue: cyanotypes, temporality, & utopian horizons
2023
purple basil lemonade
poems, &c.
mycotopia (fungal futures)
Introducing Peer Support Futures
Sweet Dreams Spellbook: A Field Guide for Dreamwork
Peer Support Institutionalization:
Troubling Documentation Work
Peer Support Institutionalization:
Troubling De/Valuing Work
Peer Support Institutionalization:
Facilitating Values Work
2018
Community and / as Magic
Exhibitions
2023
Visiting Utopia [cyanotype]
SWARM: Annual Members Exhibition (Dec. 6 2024 – Jan. 11, 2025)
Hamilton Artists Inc.
2023
Found Utopia [cyanotype]
SWARM: Annual Members Exhibition (Dec. 1 2023 – Jan. 13, 2024)
Hamilton Artists Inc.
2018
dis(gay)bled [short film]
In Your Pocket: Time After Time (June 19)
Queer North Film Festival, McEwen School of Architecture (June 14-17)
RT Collective
Interviews
2024
peace love (unicorns) & communism [documentary]
Released Oct 25, 2024
2021
Federal Government Passes Amendment to Medical Assisted in Dying Law
The Silhouette, April 1
Experiences of Disabled Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Canadian Broadcasting Association (Radio), March 4
2020
MSU Services Head Online for Fall 2020
The Silhouette, September 24
2019
Physical Activity Regardless of Disability
The Silhouette, October 27
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