Our Story
All of this started with an image. An image of a dark place. A place of feeling alone, numb, and unsure where to turn.
Many of us know that feeling. Some of us have lived there. When you’re in it, the way out rarely looks like a straight line or a sudden breakthrough.
Healing doesn’t always come in the form of a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Sometimes it’s something small that ends up meaning everything:
A kind word.
A quiet moment.
A shared story.
A gesture of care.
A little piece of light.
We know the importance of that light.
In Canada, 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health challenge each year (CMHA), and nearly two-thirds of adults will face at least one potentially traumatic event in their lifetime (Statistics Canada).
Yet many people continue to struggle in silence, particularly youth, BIPOC communities, 2SLGBTQ+ folks, and trauma survivors. What helps most is often not advice or solutions—it’s being witnessed, being met with presence, and feeling less alone.
Peer-driven connections and shared living experiences are not just comforting; they are proven to make a real difference. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, “peer support reduces hospitalization and improves recovery outcomes” (2023). This uniquely human approach builds trust, reduces stigma, and empowers people to take an active role in their own healing.
Further, when these connections happen within trauma-informed spaces, people feel safe enough to stay, to share, and to begin to heal. Safety, belonging, and seeing your story reflected in another person’s are powerful forces. They remind us that we are not meant to carry our pain alone.
This understanding—the need for connection, community, and compassionate spaces—is the seed that grew into the Little Light Community Collective.
Sometimes in the darkest corners of pain, you don’t need the whole sun. You just need a spark. One story at a time, we aim to be that spark through storytelling, connection, and hope.
A little light—shared, held, and multiplied.
