Honouring Canadian leaders in restorative justice

Comments by Jordan Wiebe, son of Ron Wiebe

The 2009 National Ron Wiebe Restorative Justice Award Recipient

John McKendy

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is proud to announce that the 2009 National Ron Wiebe Restorative Justice Award was awarded posthumously to John McKendy!

John was an individual who was deeply committed to restorative justice, both as an individual and as a community service worker.

He was a Quaker, a peace activist, and a Sociology Professor at Saint Thomas University. John spent thirty years doing academic research and social activism with the goal of improving the lives of those living on the fringes of society.

Deeply concerned with social inequality and motivated to change it, John spoke for those who are often silenced, including the imprisonned, the poor, the disadvantaged, and the countless "forgotten" segments of society.

He promoted and practiced non-violent conflict resolution, and for many years, he assisted men in Dorchester Penitentiary in discovering alternatives to violence.

Outside of Canada, John spent time in Burundi, a small African country living in the aftermath of genocide, where he assisted in the construction of a woman's AIDS clinic.

Sadly and tragically, a little over a year ago, on October 31st 2008, John’s life was taken violently by his estranged son-in-law.

John’s wife and daughter attended the award ceremony on November 19, 2009 to accept the award on his behalf.

He befriended a wide array of individuals, as evidenced by the diversity of people present at his funeral. Former inmates, university students, professors, young social activists and countless others came together to remember him on November 5th, 2008.

This year’s recipient often took people by surprise with random acts of kindness and found joy in life’s simple things.

Owning few material possessions, he replaced consumer culture with simplicity. He loved hiking and camping, and spent many summer days on the trails of New Brunswick and Maine. A dream of his was to hike the Appalachian Trail in its entirety.

Although many are deeply impacted by his death, countless people were impacted by his life.

He will continue to live on because of the people and lives that he touched and through the work he accomplished in the field of restorative justice.

Chris Price
Assistant Commissioner
Correctional Operations and Programs

Distinguished 2009 Award Nominees

Pierre Allard
President,
Just.Equipping

Danisha Bhaloo
Case Worker,
Big Brother Big Sisters of Greater Montreal

Etta Connor
Restorative Justice Trainer Coordinator,
Peninsula Crossroads Community Justice Program

Janet-Sue Hamilton
Retired Warden,
Edmonton Institution for Women

Doreen Lesperance
Native Program Coordinator,
Edmonton Young Offender Centre

John McKendy
Facilitator for Alternatives to Violence Project and Circles of Support; Sociology Professor and Peace Activist
Fredericton, NB

Karen Youden Walsh
Retired Career Development Practitioner
YMCA - YWCA

Presentation of Nominees