Canadian Pagan Peers Network Updates (CPPN)

I know that different groups in different cities are now looking at the Ottawa Pagan Peer Group idea.

Lee and I believe Karen Note #1 came out with this idea 2 years ago now. The idea of the Pagan Peer Group was this.

For me it was very easy to walk up to 40 strangers but not everybody feels the same way. It can be very intimidating for some.

To help people made a easy integration into the Community they came out with the Ottawa Pagan Peer Group.

1. People wishing to be Peers in the Community send the following information which is then put on a list.

a) Name (Real and/or Craft)

b) Path (For those that wish to get more info on a certain path. Might be better for druids for example to get more info on Druidry from somebody else already following that path.)

c) Your Age Group (Some people find it hard to be introduced to the Community by a young person when they are in the wiser years for example)

d) Which age group to you feel comfortable meeting. (Some peers can deal with a range of ages while others rather be specific.)

e) Contact Info (Preferable e-mail and not personal numbers)

f) Chances are I will meet you with a second person (Yes or No) (Some people rather meet people as couples or small groups of two. Some peers feel safer that way)

2. The new person to the Community then gets to choose from the list and make contact with one or more Peers. They plan to meet for coffee etc. Usually in a nice safe place.

3. The Pagan Peer can then point the new person in the right directions and inform them of all events going on and if they happen to get going to that event be there to introduce them. Because of work schedules etc we can't always make it to all community events.

Now lets take this to a National Level. If we are going to spread and create a Canadian Pagan Peer Network and make it easier for people to integrate into their Communities then one more things must be added for safety reasons.

There would have to be reps to gather information on the Peers and do a screening to ensure that no Predators enter the Peers List. These would have to be people that are known in their communities as being fair and active. I say active because if a person does not go out in the Community he/she might not know the Peers they are approving.

I am willing to manage a Canadian Pagan Peer Network and distribute the lists around and keep them updated. If you are interested being co-ordinator for your local list please send me an e-mail at [email protected] with the Subject Line "Canadian Pagan Peer Network".

Some cities which have a large distribution like Montreal may want different Co-Ordinators for different areas like West Island, Laval etc etc etc.

I will keep this idea alive for a while. If there is no further interest then I will close down the idea not wanting to waste energy if it is of no interest.

Jean-Marc
AKA Pagan Owl.

Note #1 Lee corrected this mistake on my part. Karen did not come up with the idea.