Inside the VIU library there's a place you can hang out, relax, and chat - the Wellness Lounge! The lounge is run by the Wellness Peers - students just like you - who love to connect with people! Feel free to stop by and say hi, and if you have a question or just need to chat, they can help!
In the Wellness Lounge we've got free tea/hot chocolate, colouring pages, fidgets, therapy dogs (select hours*) and more! Take a study break, have a warm drink, and chill in the lounge for as long as you need! And if you've got questions, or are looking for a resource, or just need someone to talk to, you can connect with a VIU Wellness Peer - a VIU student trained to help you navigate student life and thrive!
We are located in the Nanaimo Campus Library, in the South East corner of the main floor.
Spring 2025 Semester hours
- Tuesdays: 01:00 pm - 05:30 pm
- Wednesdays: 11:30 am - 02:30 pm
- Thursdays: 12:00 pm - 04:00 pm
*The therapy dogs are present every week at these times:
- Tuesdays: 03:00 - 04:00 pm - Randy and his dog Ruby
- Wednesdays: 12:30 - 01:30 pm - Jenn and her dog Tesla (every other week)
- Thursdays: 01:30 - 02:30 pm - Dorothy and her dog Keltie
Note: The Wellness Peers will not be available over reading week, exam period, or the summer break (May - August)
Connect with a Wellness Peer
The Wellness Peers are students, just like you, who are interested in promoting health and wellness at VIU. The Wellness Peers run the Wellness Lounge located in the Nanaimo Campus library, and they work to create a welcoming space where any student can stop by to relax, connect, grab a resource, or pet a therapy dog!
The Wellness Peers have also been trained as peer listeners who can support you with all things related to health, wellness, and student life. They are not counsellor, but students, just like you, who are trained to listen and support you. We know that being a student can be hard sometimes, and connecting with someone who gets it can help!
Are you looking for a place where you can hang out, relax, and chat? Need a quick break or a minute away from your computer screen? Stop by the Wellness Lounge in the Nanaimo campus library!
Grab a free hot drink, pick up a colouring page, snag a fidget for studying, cuddle with a therapy dog, or just relax in our comfy chairs! The lounge is run by the Wellness Peers – students just like you – who love to connect with people! We have resources and information if you’ve got questions, or you can just hang out.
The Wellness Lounge is located in the South East corner of the Nanaimo Campus Library. Click here for the latest info about hours and events. We look forward to seeing you soon!!
Note: The Wellness Lounge will not be available over reading week, exam period, or the summer break (May - August).
During the Fall 2022 semester, the therapy dogs are present every week at these times:
- Tuesdays - 1:30pm - 3:00pm
- Wednesdays - 1:30pm - 3:00pm
- Thursdays - 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
The Wellness Peers are trained listeners who you can talk to about almost anything! Got questions? Looking for a resource? Or just need someone to talk to? The Wellness Peers can help!
The Wellness Peers do not give advice, but they can provide empathetic listening and support to help you solve your own problems and feel less alone. If they can't help you, they will help you connect to someone who can.
And if you are just looking for a friendly face around campus, the Wellness Peers love just connecting and chatting – so please stop by and say hi!
Become a Wellness Peer
Are you passionate about promoting wellness and mental health? Are you interested in working towards building a more supportive, connected, healthy VIU campus culture? Are you interested in developing skills to aid in a future career in the helping professions? Apply to volunteer as a Wellness Peer!
As a Wellness Peer you will run the new Wellness Lounge, located in the Nanaimo campus library. The Wellness Lounge is a place where students can come to relax, connect, grab resources, and pet a therapy dog! You will play a vital role in creating a welcoming, relaxing space, and you will be available to connect and chat with students on a drop-in basis.
As needed, you will also provide deeper support and resources to students looking for help with wellness, mental health, and navigating student life. As a Wellness Peer, you will gain valuable experience and skills to build your resume and receive extensive preparation, including certified training!
The Wellness Peers will be provided with training and ongoing support from VIU’s mental health team.
Learn more in the Wellness Peers Description 2022
Application details are listed below in the 'How to Apply' section.
- Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Cultivate knowledge and experience in the wellness and health promotion field
- Gain valuable experience in a peer support role
- Contribute to the health and wellness of the VIU community
- Receive Co-Curricular Record Credit
- Receive extensive FREE training in multiple areas, including (but not limited to):
- Empathic and active listening
- Unpacking biases
- Understanding boundaries
- Cultural Humility
- Trauma-informed care
- Mental health basics
- Responding to disclosures of sexual violence
- Complete FREE certified trainings that you will be a huge asset for future careers in the helping professions (such as SafeTalk)
- Be a part of an awesome team of like minded VIU students interested in creating communities of wellness!
All the Student Wellness Peer position has been filled for semesters 2024/2025.
To express your interest in being a Wellness Peer for next semester, please complete this expression of interest web form.
- Applicants will be asked to complete an application form and go through an interview process to ensure fit and suitability
- Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled