The 2007 Award Recipient

Mr. Harry Nigh

CSC is proud to announce that this year's recipient of the Ron Wiebe Restorative Justice Award is Harry Nigh.

Mr. Nigh has been advancing the principles of restorative justice and community building for over 30 years. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Conflict Mediation Services of Downsview in Toronto, a restorative justice program that focuses on the needs of victims, offenders, and the community. He was actively involved in organizing prison volunteer programs such as M2W2, a Christian prison ministry that helped to reintegrate offenders into society, and Dismas Fellowships, offender and chaplaincy volunteer groups that meet for meals, companionship, reflection, and support.

In 1994, he used his knowledge of restorative circle processes to create the first ever Circle of Support and Accountability in Canada for a high-risk sex offender in Ontario. This idea caught the attention of CSC, and has since become a world-renowned initiative. Most recently, he developed "Emmaus Partners", another volunteer-based program that safely reintegrates high-need offenders back into the community.

A graduate of Brock University and ordained by the Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada, Mr. Nigh is currently the Community Chaplain in the Central Ontario Parole District for CSC.

Created by the Correctional Service of Canada in 1999, the award recognizes Canadians who have demonstrated, through their work or lifestyle, ways of transforming human relationships by promoting communication and healing between people in conflict, including victims, offenders, colleagues, families or neighbours.

Mr. Nigh lives in Hamilton, Ontario, with his wife and two children.

Congratulations to Harry Nigh!

Ross Toller
Assistant Commissioner
Correctional Operations and Programs