Alberta

Alberta Conflict Transformation Society

Location: Alberta

Languages: English

Services Offered:

• Restorative Justice Processes
• Training
• Workshops
• Presentations
• Coordination of Restorative Justice Programs
• Program Consultation

Description of Program:

ACTS offers Restorative Justice Workshops to create awareness about Restorative Justice and the processes available within the community. In trying to heal the ever-reaching conflict we see every day on the streets, in our schools, families and workplace, we need tools such as community conferencing and conflict resolution in place for others to access. Placements provided.

Target Groups: Justice, Police, Education

Description of Training: Community Conference Facilitator Training

ACTS believes that in order to effectively deal with crime and conflict we have to get to the root cause. To do this we have to understand that more harm than just the law or rule being broken results from this. A negative emotional relationship between the person harmed and the person causing harm is created in that both parties experience persisting feelings of fear, hatred, and anger. This emotional impact can have a negative ripple effect on family, friends, and community, which directly contributes to the chaos within our society.

Community Conferencing has proven to effectively deal with this ripple effect allowing closure to this negative emotional relationship allowing all involved to move on in their life, creating a sense of peace and satisfaction for those involved. This process teaches a new way of dealing with conflict, for the everyday workplace, or for those wishing to become a facilitator.

Certification in Facilitation:

How to Create a Restorative Culture in the Classroom (Can be modified to be Workplace)

What is it we want students to learn through our discipline practices? How do we encourage students to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do? How do we encourage students to take responsibility and be accountable for their words and actions?

Restorative practices move away from more traditional discipline and consequences to focus on relationships and repairing harm. Participants in this one-day workshop will learn about:

• principles of Restorative Justice and restorative practices
• restorative practices how they can be used in classroom and school settings
• Differentiated education is now a mainstream practice, how do we adapt discipline to also be differentiated to meet students’ individual needs?
• what is a community conference
• how to begin the journey towards a restorative school culture
• how schools within Edmonton Public and other districts are applying these principles in their settings

Contact:
Sue Hopgood
#414 9810 111 Street
Edmonton, AB, T5K 1K1
Tel: (780) 451-4013 OR (780) 944-5265
Fax: 780 451 4013
Email: suehopgood@actsociety.ca
Website: www.actsociety.ca

Alberta Restorative Justice Association

Location: Alberta

Languages: English

Services Offered:

• Resources
• Training
• Workshops
• Presentations
• Newsletter

Description of Program:

Alberta Restorative Justice Association is an organization of agencies and individuals interested in Restorative Justice. It is a non-profit organization governed by board with directors from various parts of the province.

Our mandate is to promote the use of Restorative Justice across the province and to provide educational training programs in the field of Restorative Justice.

We promote a variety of Restorative practices and in different sectors of a community. This includes community conferencing, victim –offender dialogue, peace circles, family and sentencing circles as might be practiced in schools and the workplace as well as with community groups, youth groups and the justice system. The Association is also striving to use this diversity to work toward best practices and evaluation in the field of Restorative Justice. Volunteers accepted.

Target Groups: Anyone interested in Restorative Justice

Contact:
Jan Moran
#430 9810 111St
Edmonton, AB, T5K 1K1
Tel: (780) 458-9115
Fax: (780) 418-1579
Email: info@arjassoc.ca
Website: www.arjassoc.ca

John Howard Society

Location: Alberta

Languges: English

Services Offered:

• Research
• Resources
• Presentations
• Program Consultation
• Newsletter

Description of Program:

The John Howard Society Provincial Office conducts primary and secondary research into various criminal justice topics including restorative justice concepts, initiatives, etc (see website for all research). Placements provided.

Target Groups: Those seeking research on criminal justice issues

Contact:
Kathleen Fair
2nd Floor, 10523 100 Ave.
Edmonton, AB, T5J 0A8
Tel: (780) 423-4878
Fax: (780) 425-0008
Email: info@johnhoward.ab.ca
Website: www.johnhoward.ab.ca

Society for Safe and Caring Schools & Communities

Location: Alberta

Services Offered:

• Resources
• Training
• Workshops
• Presentations

Description of Program:

Our mandate is to teach adults who work with youth how to create safe, caring and inclusive environments for youth. As part of this mandate, we provide professional development opportunities for teachers and parents, coaches, etc in schools to teach them how to create a restorative culture, and give them the skills to prevent and deal with issues/situations that may arise by using conferencing as an alternative problem solving approach to discipline.

A restorative justice approach to group conferencing is an integral and fundamental component of the Society's safe and caring programming. It offers knowledge and skills for educators, parents, and community helpers to respectfully work with children in a safe, non-coercive environment to help them learn self-discipline and become productive, principled citizens. This restorative approach helps participants understand why they behave and provides problem-solving skills that strengthen people as they learn to fix their mistakes, repair relationships, and return to balance. Self-discipline results in improved self-esteem, healthier relationships, and increased achievement.

In schools where the SACSC Restorative Justice approach is implemented as a part of the SACSC comprehensive program, it is expected that discipline incidents will continue to decline, school attendance increase, grades improve, and students, staff and parents enjoy a more caring school community. Negative behaviour does not need to be criminal to benefit from this approach, but simply cause an issue that negatively impacts individuals, classrooms or the school as a whole. Volunteers accepted.

Target Groups: Schools (educators, parents, coaches, and other school staff)

Contact:
Donna Blundell
11010 142 Street
Edmonton, AB, T5N 2R1
Tel: 780-447-9487
Fax: 780-455-6481
Email: dblundell@sacsc.ca
General inquiries can be sent to: office@sacsc.ca
Website: www.sacsc.ca

Calgary Community Conferencing

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Contact:
Sue Stretton, Community Conferencing Specialist
206-8989 MacLeod Trail South-West
Calgary, AB, T2H 0M2
Tel: (403) 974-1962
Fax: (403) 974-4001
Email: sgstretton@cbe.ab.ca
Website: www.calgarycommunityconferencing.com

Community Conflict Resolution Services

Location: Lethbridge, Alberta

Languages: English

Services Offered:

• Restorative Justice Processes
• Resources
• Training
• Workshops
• Presentations
• Event Planning
• Coordination of Restorative Justice Programs
• Program Consultation
• Newsletter

Description of Program:

CCRS offers two components to the City of Lethbridge and surrounding area:

A community based volunteer mediation service for community members of the City of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. Qualified mediators provide coaching, mentoring and mediation opportunities to support individuals seeking professional mediation and conflict resolution training to gain experience and hone their skills.

We also believe in working together (not against) traditional methods of responding to crime to make our community a safer place.  CCRS believes this encompasses the Restorative Justice component at its’ most grass roots level.  We work with the victims to identify the harm then take the steps to repair the harm. We gather all those involved into the process, to the extent that is possible, or those that have a stake in a specific offense. This can and does involve the victim, community and the offender. Then together, we work toward repairing the harm and addressing the needs and obligations that must be met to bring order and reparation back into the victims ‘lives, the community, and into the offenders life as well.  We utilize whatever Restorative Justice process is needed to make that happen whether it is through victim/offender dialogue, community conferencing, community justice forums, healing circles, alternative measures program, or public education. Volunteers accepted & Placements provided.

Target Groups: Young Offenders, Adults, Aboriginals and Other

Contact
Betty J. Lynn-Benson
1010 – 4th Ave. South
Lethbridge, AB, T1J 0P5
Tel: (403) 329-0220 (office) OR (403) 715-8776 (cell)
Email:  bbenson@communityconflictresolution.org
General inquiries can be sent to: info@communityconflictresolution.org
Website: www.communityconflictresolution.org

Fairview Community Restorative Justice

Location: Fairview, Alberta

Contact:
Mary Bracken
PO Box 730
Fairview, AB, T0H 1L0
Tel.: (780) 835-5471
Email: fcrc@telus.net
Website: www.fcrj.ca

Innisfail Restorative Justice Society

Location: Innisfail, Alberta

Contact:
Jean-Jaques Beauchamp
Innisfail Restorative Justice Society
5219 45 Street Close
Innisfail, AB, T4G 1K6
Email: jjbeauch@telusplanet.net

Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Contact:
Susan Logan, Executive Director
Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre
#430, 9810-111th Street
Edmonton, AB, T5K 1K1
Tel: (780) 423-0896 ext. 202
Fax: (780) 423-2467
Email: mrjc@mrjc.ca
Website: www.mrjc.ca

Restorative Justice Ministries

Location: Calgary, Federal Institutions in Bowden, Drumheller and Edmonton, Alberta

Languages: English

Services Offered

• Restorative Justice Processes
• Resources
• Training
• Workshops
• Presentations
• Coordination of Restorative Justice Programs
• Newsletter

Description of Program:

Man to Man / Woman to Woman (M2/W2) is a prison visitation program that focuses on befriending prisoners while inside prison and that friendship often continues when the prisoner is released. Volunteers meet one on one with a prisoner that they are matched with one evening per month. The visit revolves around a friendly chat, playing cribbage or scrabble, discussions about faith and life – whatever the pair decides on.

Community Chaplaincy or Bridge Ministries engages a Chaplain and community members to provide practical and spiritual support to men and women released from prison. They work closely with parole officers, faith groups and community agencies alike to help ex-prisoners turn their lives around. Connecting released prisoners into the community in positive ways provides the opportunity for those men and women to start their lives over on a good path.

Caring for Families is a support group for family members of those incarcerated. Monthly meetings provide the opportunity to gain understanding about the penal system and to provide mutual support to one another. It isn’t easy to find someone to talk with about issues that you face because a loved one is in prison – this is the place where it is alright to open up and share from the heart. Volunteers accepted & Placements provided.

Target Groups: Prisoners, released prisoners, those in the community that work with released prisoners.

Description of Training:

Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) match a small group of volunteers with a released prisoner to provide support and accountability as that prisoner re-enters the community. Volunteers are trained and together with staff they work with those released prisoners that are deemed high risk to re-offend. This program has a proven success rate and runs across Canada. Attending church together, celebrating birthdays, social outings and even camping trips are all part of bringing a sense of belonging and acceptance to someone who may have lost hope.

Contact:
Abe Janzen
210-2946-32 St NE
Calgary, AB, T1Y 6J7
Tel: (403) 275-6935
Fax: (403) 275-3711
Email: abejanzen@mccab.org
Website: www.alberta.mcc.org/programs/rjm

Victim Offender Reconciliation Program and Crime Program

Location: Calgary and area, Alberta

Languages: English

Services Provided:

• Restorative Justice Processes
• Presentations
• Coordination of Restorative Justice Programs

Description of Program:

The Calgary John Howard Society is a community-based charitable organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of crime and increasing community safety through preventative and restorative justice practices. Our vision is An informed community active in preventing crime and our mission is Promoting positive change through humane, just, and informed responses to crime and its effects.

The Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) is based on a foundation of Restorative Justice principles and values, which focuses on accountability, empathy, healing and closure for those involved in and affected by youth crime. The program often involves a face-to-face mediation, in which the mediator acts as a supportive facilitator of meaningful dialogue. Thorough assessment and preparation is involved and is designed to be restorative in nature.

The purpose of the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program is to assist people affected by youth crime by:

• empowering them to take ownership through understanding and addressing the impact of the crime;
• providing them with a process to work towards accountability, empathy, healing and closure; and
• creating a safe environment to encourage open, honest and meaningful dialogue

The Crime Impact Program (CIP) is also based on a foundation of Restorative Justice Principles and values, which focuses on accountability and empathy for young people involved in crime. The program connects a young offender with a facilitator and offers the young person an opportunity to explore the impact of their actions in a one on one setting. 

The purpose of the Crime Impact Program is to assist youth involved in crime by:

• empowering them to take ownership through understanding the impact of the crime;
• encouraging them to recognize their triggers to offending behaviour;
• facilitating a process to encourage the development of meaningful strategies to address their triggers;
• creating a safe environment to encourage open, honest and meaningful participation

Along with supporting local Restorative Justice projects, the Restorative Justice Coordinator is involved in province wide Restorative Justice initiatives and works towards educating the community on the principles, values, and processes of Restorative Justice. Volunteers accepted & Placements provided.

Target Groups: Youth aged 12-18 with offending behaviour

Contact:
Lindsay Shultz
917 9 Ave SE
Calgary, AB, T2G 0S5
Tel: (403) 543-7825 OR Tel: (403) 266-4566
Fax: (403) 265-2458
Email: lindsay.shultz@calgaryjohnhoward.org
Website: www.calgaryjohnhoward.org

Youth Restorative Action Project

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Contact:
Eman Joumaa, Executive Director
Suite 600, Melton Building
10310 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB, T5J 1Y8
Tel: (780) 415-5831
Fax: (780) 427-9367
Email: yrap@ycdo.ca
Website: www.yrap.org

The King’s University College

Location: Campus, residences, and local community, Alberta

Description of Program:

The mandate of The King’s University College could be described by our mission “…to provide university education that inspires and equips learners to bring renewal and reconciliation to every walk of life as followers of Jesus Christ, the servant-king”.

Restorative Justice is an integral part of our student conduct process, and is also utilized as a tool to bring healing for broken relationships. Our objective is to provide a discipline model that ‘spirals up’ in positivity toward reintegration rather than a standard model which pits community values against student conduct in a process whose result is either compliance or separation (expulsion).

Ultimately, our hope is that parties learn from one another’s experiences in order that recidivism declines because of a deep sense of understanding and ownership. We employ both circle and conference models for Restorative Justice, and practice these through the use of a Restorative Justice manual. Volunteers accepted.

Targeted Groups: Students, Employees and Neighbours

Languages: English

Services Offered:

• Restorative Justice Processes
• Training
• Presentations

Contact:
Paul Jensen
9125 50th Street
Edmonton, AB, T6B 2H3
Tel: (780) 465-3500 OR (780) 465-3534 ext. 8037
Fax: (780) 465-3534
Email: paul.jensen@kingsu.ca
Website: www.kingsu.ca

Lethbridge Community College

Location: Lethbridge, Alberta

Programs and Courses: Criminal Justice Diploma

The Centre for Criminal Justice, located within the College, offers a two-year diploma program in criminal justice to prepare students for a career in some aspect of the criminal justice system. Following a common core program in the first year, students have the option of specializing in Corrections, Policing or Security, with courses appropriate to each specialty area. Within the program, there are two courses related to Restorative Justice and conflict resolution:

• CJP 291 - Alternative Dispute Resolution - an introductory course that provides an overview of conflict resolution and alternative sentencing methods for young offenders and adults. The main focus of the course is on mediation training and family group conferencing.
• CJP 287 - Crisis Intervention - The course deals with victimology, human interaction and behaviour. It covers the knowledge and skills required for safe and effective intervention, mediation and referral in a range of situations. Role plays and simulations are a key part of the learning experience.

Contact Person:
School of Justice Studies Chair
Tel: (403) 329-7246
1-800-572-0103, ext. 7246
Email: infojustice@lethbridgecollege.ab.ca
Website: www.lethbridgecollege.ab.ca

Mount Royal College

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Programs and Courses: Bachelor of Applied Justice Studies

The Criminology Department offers a Bachelor of Applied Justice Studies program which includes a course on conflict resolution. The program is designed to prepare students for a career in either law enforcement or correctional services. It is also considered to be a solid foundation for students seeking entry to post-graduate law programs in Alberta.

The course AJUS 4407 - Conflict Resolution aims to provide students with the basic concepts and requisite skills to deal with conflict resolution in a variety of criminal justice settings.

Contact:
Department Chair,
Criminology Department
Mount Royal College
4825 Richard Road S.W.
Calgary, AB, T3E 6K6
Tel: (403) 240-6379
Fax: (403) 240-6201
Website: www.mtroyal.ab.ca

Programs and Courses:

The Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension offers a Conflict Resolution Extension

Certificate Program: The program is oriented toward skills development, discusses some theory, and consists of nine core courses, and a further choice of three electives relating to the different areas of conflict resolution. Courses include:

• Core courses
  • Introduction to Conflict Resolution
  • Communication in Conflict Resolution
  • Dealing with Anger
  • Cultural Diversity and Conflict Resolution
  • Negotiation Skills, Level 1
  • Mediation Skills, Level 1
  • Shifting from Positions to Interests
  • Negotiation Skills, Level 2
  • Mediation Skills, Level 2
  • Negotiation Assessment Exam and/or Mediation Assessment Exam
• Elective courses
  • Children in Conflict
  • Understanding Family Conflict
  • Consensus Building for Groups
  • Multi-Party Mediation
  • Resolving Conflict in the Workplace

Certification in Conflict Resolution fulfills the educational requirements for the following two accreditations (in Alberta): Chartered Mediator and Registered Family Mediator.

Contact:
Dimitra Fotopoulos, Program Coordinator
Conflict Resolution Certificate Program
Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension
Mount Royal College
4825 Richard Road S.W
Calgary, AB, T3E 6K6
Tel: (403) 440-7743
Fax: (403) 440-7270
E-mail: dfotopoulos@mtroyal.ca
Website: www.conted.mtroya.ca

University of Alberta

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Programs and Courses:

The Faculty of Law offers a course titled Law 474:B1 - Alternative Dispute Resolution as an option within the LL.B. program. The course is intended to introduce students to the scope of dispute resolution alternatives available to lawyers, with a focus on Alberta. It is designed to provide practical information that could be helpful when conducting negotiations and will also be of interest to lawyers working in cooperation with dispute resolution practitioners. Topics covered include: interest-based negotiation; mediation and the lawyer's role; the lawyer and mediator; and court-annexed ADR.

Contact:
Catherine E. Bell, Professor
Faculty of Law, University of Alberta
Room 484B, Law Centre
Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H5
Tel: (780) 492-3062
Fax: (780) 492-4924
Email: CBELL@law.ualberta.ca
Website: www.law.ualberta.ca

University of Calgary

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Programs and Courses:

The Faculty of Law requires students to take the following courses:

• In first year: 36-hours, 1-credit: Dispute Resolution I: Conflict Analysis, Information Gathering, Dispute Resolution Processes and Counselling. This required course is an introduction to dispute resolution, including: conflict analysis; fact-finding through client interviewing; an overview of dispute resolution processes; client-centred client counselling; and ethical issues. The focus is on problems, problem-solving and skills development and therefore on individual and small group exercises centered on facts and role-plays.
• In second year: 36-hours, 1-credit Dispute Resolution II: Consensual Dispute Resolution Processes. This required course is an overview of the spectrum of consensual dispute resolution processes: negotiating; interest-based bargaining; collaborative lawyering; mediation; case and client assessment ; selecting the mediator; the lawyer's preparation for mediation; preparing clients for mediation; identifying and overcoming barriers to settlement; the role of the lawyer during mediation; ethics and professional responsibility; judicial dispute resolution (JDR).
• In third year: 36-hours, 1-credit Dispute Resolution III: Adjudication. This required course concludes with a simulated trial, administrative hearing or arbitration in various substantive law fields, preparation for the simulation includes discoveries and settlement negotiations; preparation of all hearing documentation.

The Faculty of Law also offers the following upper year optional courses:

• Dispute Resolution Clinical: Offered every year and capped at 20 students, this course focuses on interest-based, consensus-building dispute resolution processes to enhance understanding of dispute resolution theory, which will be applied through placements drawing on the mentorship of lawyers and dispute resolution practitioners engaged in court-annexed or private mediation, facilitation, collaborative law, and other processes.
• Commercial Arbitration Law: Offered in alternative years, this course looks at private (between individuals) and mixed (investor\state) arbitration. Coverage includes domestic and international arbitration rules, including UNCITRAL and International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) rules.

Contact:
Iwan Saunders, Associate Dean
University of Calgary - Faculty of Law
2500 University Drive N.W.
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4
Tel: (403) 220-8081
E-mail: saunders@ucalgary.ca
Website: http://law.ucalgary.ca