Detailed Schedule
8:15 am | Crystal Ballroom 2 & 3
Welcome & Opening
9:00 am –4:00 pm | Engagement Room | Crystal Ballroom 1
9:00 – 10:30 am | Keynote Presentation | Crystal Ballroom 2 & 3
The Slow Leadership Framework: Ushering in a New Approach to Belonging
The Slow Leadership Framework offers an alternative to forceful, autocratic, anxiety-driven models of leadership by providing strategies for diffusing tensions and working across interpersonal divides and systemic barriers. Restorative justice trainer, educator, and practitioner Sheryl Wilson will discuss how this new framework humanizes leadership, has a social justice orientation, offers a process to decolonize systems, and ultimately places a high value on the concept of belonging.
Sheryl R. Wilson
Sheryl R. Wilson, MLS, is the Vice President of Culture and Belonging at Bethel College, KS,and has been a practitioner, trainer and educator in restorative justice for over 20 years, working with individuals, non-profits, academic institutions, and public agencies from around the world. Her work in restorative justice has included facilitating restorative justice dialogues in various venues (including virtual circle-keeping for national forums), working as a community mediator and serving as a researcher. Her experience also includes teaching restorative justice courses at the college level, community outreach, victim offender dialogue, and victim outreach in capital cases. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) holding a restorative justice-based master of liberal studies degree, a Kansas state-approved mediator, past President of the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ) board of directors, and serves by appointment on the Kansas Supreme Court’s Advisory Council on Dispute Resolution. Sheryl is the former Executive Director of the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) at Bethel College. She is the author of a chapter in Colorizing Restorative Justice, a book about restorative justice practitioners of color and the challenges they face. She is also co-author of The Little Book of Restorative Justice and Community: Reclaiming Connection and Responsibility for our Neighbors, which focuses on the role of community in restorative practices, to be published in 2025.
10:30 – 10:45 am | Break
10:45 am – 12:00 pm | Presentations/Workshops
Restore our Humanity: Utilizing Talking Circles for Racial Healing
Presenter: Pamela A. Taylor, PhD – The Circle Works
Room: Tiffany C
Racism is a plague that remains one of our most pervasive social problems and a topic that people find the most difficult to talk about. Some excuses given for refusing to talk about it are either they don’t know how to, and/or they feel afraid, ashamed, or guilty. To be healed from the residuals of racism, we must confront it head-on. Racial healing as experienced in talking circles is a process that restores individuals and communities to wholeness, repairs the damage caused by racism, and transforms societal structures into ones that affirm the inherent value of all people. It makes it possible to acknowledge and speak the truth about past wrongs created by individual and systemic racism and to address present-day consequences for people, communities, and institutions.
Utilizing talking circles is a different way of talking about race and racism. They provide a process that is safe, preemptive, and proactive; a way that is aimed at building strong relationships capable of holding these much-needed dialogues to heal racism. Racial healing circles can build trust and authentic relationships that bridge divides created by real and perceived differences. During this session participants will learn about practical uses for racial healing circles utilizing peacemaking circle process for discussing critical race-based issues.
Pamela A. Taylor, PhD
Dr. Taylor has the distinction of being Professor Emerita at Seattle University, as well as a nationally recognized peacemaking circle practitioner and trainer. Her circle work stems from a long tradition dating back to when she coordinated and facilitated groups, as a counselor, social worker, and community organizer. Pamela reconnected with these traditions by joining the Peacemaking and Healing Circle Initiative with the Center for Ethical Leadership, as a consulting affiliate. She has enjoyed leading innumerable circles and workshops, in a variety of settings. She especially enjoys special interest circles on topics related to social justice, leadership, and racial healing.
Throughout her professional career, she has worked in a variety of settings that have intersected across the fields of education, social and human services, and criminal justice. She has extensively studied a wide range of conflict resolution, mediation, and peacemaking circle traditions in programs across the United States, Canada, and South America.
Aligning the Inside with the Outside: Implementing Restorative Aproaches within Value-Driven Workplaces
Presenters: Catherine Bargen – Just Outcomes
Room: Waterford
Our places of work are being called to new levels of adaptation and innovation as they respond to the fallout from a global pandemic, an uncertain economy, increasing ideological polarization, game-changing new technologies, and numerous other currents. The challenge of preventing and addressing workplace bullying, harassment, micro-aggressions, and discrimination is ongoing. Many workplaces are also beginning to reckon in earnest with the systemic inequities that workers with marginalized identities – those who are Indigenous, racialized, queer, female, neurodiverse, or otherwise variously excluded from privilege by colonial norms and institutions – have been pointing out for decades.
For the past 10 years, Just Outcomes has come alongside dozens of organizations, from non-profits to corporations to government agencies, as they’ve reimaged just responses to harm and its causes within their unique contexts. From assisting workplaces in developing satisfying responses to conflict or harassment, to working more proactively to improve workplace culture, we have observed the harm that poor workplace culture can have on employees, their relationships with each other, and on an organization’s productivity. We have also observed the promise that exists when workplaces embrace a culture that nourishes healthy and just relationships. Based on our practical experience, we immersed ourselves in the growing discourse about restorative and just workplaces. We have become increasingly curious about the real impact of relational approaches in the workplace, and how (if at all) this impact is being measured and discussed in relevant fields such as human resources, law, business ethics and organizational leadership.
We believe that while a “restorative” approach in the workplace offers distinct and valuable principles and practices to the kind of shift in organizational consciousness we’ve spoken of here, this term and the framework behind it is new to many organizations. Complicating matters, those who use the term often bring different meanings to it. This presentation aims to bring greater clarity to the meaning of a restorative approach from our perspective, explore its implications and benefits for the workplace, and talk about some of the common challenges workplaces face in working to adopt this approach.
Catherine Bargen
Catherine is the Director and Co-founder of Just Outcomes Canada, an agency which supports communities and organizations in reimagining just responses to harm and its causes. Catherine began her career at the Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre in Edmonton, Alberta where she coordinated the Victim-Offender dialogue program from 1999-2001. From 2001-2008, Catherine was on staff with Langley’s Fraser Region Community Justice Initiatives Association (CJI).
Catherine received her Master’s degree in Conflict Transformation in 2008 under the supervision of Dr. Howard Zehr. From 2008-2017 she was BC’s Restorative Justice Coordinator within the provincial government. Just Outcomes has been fully operational since 2017, providing Catherine with years of experience implementing restorative justice principles and practices in a large variety of contexts.
Catherine has been invited by and provided training to international audiences including Colombia, Ukraine, Brazil and Switzerland. She resides in Vancouver with her husband and daughter.
Restorative Alberni: Moving Towards a Restorative City
Presenters: Alex Glassey – Alberni Valley RJ Society
Room: Tiffany A
In December 2023, the Alberni Valley Restorative Justice Society embarked on a five-year mission to integrate restorative practices throughout the Alberni Valley. Join Alex Glassey, the Society’s president, as he shares insights from the initial phase of this journey, focusing on three pivotal questions:
1. Where Do We Fit?
At the start of 2024, we engaged with traditional RJ partners like the RCMP, who have historically provided some referrals. However, our potential partners list quickly expanded to include the Provincial Crown, Federal Crown, the Court, BC Corrections, several First Nations, high schools, the school district, a local union, and over a dozen social support organisations such as Island Health and the Salvation Army.
Our vision broadened, recognizing RJ’s potential in diverse contexts and its capacity to address critical social issues in our community.
2. How Do We Create Awareness?
We follow a structured three-step process to raise awareness about RJ in the Valley:
- Exploratory Meetings: One-on-one meetings with senior leaders in local organisations to introduce RJ concepts.
- Detailed Discussions: More in-depth conversations that sometimes include experiential learning sessions for organisational members.
- Pilot Projects: Initial cases where we closely collaborate with organisations to align with their processes and outcome needs.
3. How Do We Become a Sustainable, Trustworthy Partner?
We focus on three crucial aspects:
- Process Documentation: Developing tailored forms and procedures to ensure seamless referral and service integration with each organisation.
- Funding Growth: Securing financial support is essential for training and delivering high-quality RJ services, which demand significant upfront investment and ongoing effort.
- Attracting High-Quality People: We operate like a professional services organisation, continually seeking talented individuals to enhance our board and activities.
These efforts have deepened our understanding of how RJ can address a broad range of issues, ultimately improving the quality of life for everyone in the Alberni Valley.
Join us to explore how restorative societies can transform communities, foster collaboration, and tackle pressing social challenges.
Alex Glassey
Alex Glassey is a renowned expert in leadership and organizational development, serving as the founder and Managing Director of The Circular Leader. With a rich background that spans over four decades, Alex dedicates himself to studying and implementing human-centric leadership practices that significantly enhance the workplace experience and organizational performance. He coined the terms “linear leadership” and “circular leadership” to describe two fundamentally different approaches to leadership, advocating for the latter’s collaborative and empowering methods.
In addition to his work with The Circular Leader, Alex is the co-founder of Conductor Software, which provides strategic tools and insights for business leaders. His practical, research-driven methods have helped organizations globally foster high-performing, engaged teams. Alex also serves as the President of the Alberni Valley Restorative Justice Society, leading efforts to integrate restorative practices throughout his community.
Alex holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and resides on Vancouver Island.
Just Governance: Relational Leadership & Restorative Justice
Presenter: Christina Benty & Brenda Morrison – Strategic Leadership Solutions
Room: Tiffany B
In today’s dynamic and ever evolving justice landscape, governance as it pertains to restorative justice is about more than just decision making—it’s about relational accountability, representing those we serve, and navigating complexities with wisdom and boldness. Whether you are part of a board, executive committee, or an association, this workshop will address the essential questions of how to govern effectively, relationally, and inclusively.
Together we will explore
- Building Relational Accountability: How do we engage with accountability at the governance table in ways that foster trust and warrant collaboration?
- Effective Representation: How can we ensure that we truly represent the people we serve and gain a seat at the tables of those who govern us?
- Navigating Complexity: How can we make wise decisions amidst complexity and ambiguity?
- Modeling Values: How can we demonstrate our commitment to relational currency, generous inclusivity, and courageous accountability?
- Widening the Circle of Accountability: Who are our decision-makers, and how can they be accountable to us? What voices are at the decision-making table?
- Decision-Making Processes: Do we follow traditional Robert’s Rules, or is there room for more inclusive alternatives like Roberta’s Rules?
Workshop Format
This interactive session will provide a platform for participants to dive deep into these questions. With the growing curiosity and advancements in restorative justice, the workshop will offer a timely and engaging environment for exploration and growth.
Objectives
- To equip participants with the knowledge and tools to build healthy governance relationships.
- To foster a deeper understanding of effective representation and accountability.
- To explore strategies for navigating complexity with wisdom.
- To model and implement values of inclusivity and accountability in decision-making processes.
Join us for an enriching experience that will challenge your perspectives and equip you with practical strategies for effective governance. Let’s navigate the complexities together and build a future where our governance models truly reflect what is needed at this time.
Christina Benty
Christina Benty, MA is a recovering politician who still loves governance. She works with leaders and organizations committed to building a culture of excellence in an environment that is kinder, wiser, and more conscious. She is a speaker, facilitator, published author and a performance coach for governing bodies and management teams who want to develop a culture of high performance. Her superpower is that she can deliver intellectual content with energy and enthusiasm. As former Mayor for the Town of Golden, her leadership journey forced her to face her own resistance to uncertainty and discomfort. Now she uses her lived experience to help others develop their own leadership muscles, welcome curiosity into discomfort and expose the stories that keep us out of partnership and out of collaboration. She does it in the political arena where power dynamics, hierarchies, and competitive ‘us and them’ thinking is a risk to all of us.
Brenda Morrison
Brenda Morrison is Simon Fraser University’s Director of the Research and Engagement Centre for Restorative Justice. She is passionate about interdisciplinary work that develops critical and reflective praxis that frames problems of crime, public safety and justice in ways that re-imagine and transform individuals, communities and governance. Her work in the field of restorative justice focuses on praxis within and between three institutional systems: justice; education and health. Dr. Morrison is a theoretical social psychologist with field experience in outdoor education, governance, regulation and restorative justice. She has engaged in research in diverse areas: social identity, the self and self-interest, art-based and Indigenous praxis. She serves on a range of working groups internationally, nationally, provincially and locally. A number of current projects and initiatives focus on re-imagining justice through the arts.
12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 pm | Keynote Panel | Crystal Ballroom 2 & 3
Honouring the Voices of Survivors of Sexualized Violence: A Panel Discussion with two Survivors and two RJ Practitioners/Trainers
There is a growing recognition that restorative justice (RJ) may have, under the right circumstances, much to offer as a justice response to sexualized violence. One part of what may make RJ valuable in this area is the knowledge, skill, and particular personal qualities that the practitioner must bring to their work with survivors. Crucially important, as well, is an understanding of what survivors need from a justice process. And that understanding starts with hearing directly from survivors about their victimization, their bravery, their resilience, and about how RJ needs to respond to their justice needs in knowledgeable, flexible, and compassionateways.
This panel discussion will foreground the voices of two survivors of sexualized violence who participated in restorative justice processes as a way of assisting them in their recovery. Even though their stories are very different from each other, each will offer key insights into what made their RJ experiences valuable.
Alan Edwards & Alana Abramson
Alan Edwards and Alana Abramson have been working together and separately in restorative justice for over 25 years. Jointly, they served for two years as the RJ training development specialists for the Department of National Defence’s Restorative Engagement Program, a program that facilitates communication between survivors of sexualized violence and senior defence representatives, within the Canadian Armed Forces. In 2012-14, they were part of a training team that developed and delivered advanced RJ training to practitioners in British Columbia. Since 2018, they have developed and delivered the course “Are We Fulfilling the Promise of Restorative Justice for Victims: Moving towards Victim-Centred Practice”, offered to RJ programs in BC. In 2022, they delivered the well-received “RJ and Sexualized Violence Cases: Practitioner Skills” Pre-Conference training at ARJA’s annual conference and delivered a version of this course at the 2023 National Restorative Justice Symposium. As well, they delivered a pilot course, “Inviting Responsibility: RJ casework with those who have committed sexualized violence” at ARJA’s 2023 Pre-Conference.
Dr. Alana Abramson is involved in the field of restorative justice as researcher, educator, practitioner, and trainer. She has extensive experience implementing restorative justice in community, prison, and school contexts. Her research has discussed the role of police and community related to restorative justice and she has organized and participated in numerous conferences on issues related to restorative justice, trauma and mental health, victim/survivors of crime, and prison justice. Alana’s doctoral and current work explores restorative justice in post-secondary education, most recently advancing the philosophy and practice of restorative justice as an approach to academic integrity. In 2017, Alana was the recipient of the Restorative Justice Award from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. She also worked to develop the first victim-sensitive principles and standards for restorative justice providers in BC. Dr. Abramson is currently a full-time Criminology Instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Co-Chair of the Restorative Justice Association of BC, Coordinator and Facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project, Board Member for BC Bereavement Society and trainer for Achieve/Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute.
Alan Edwards has developed and delivered training in restorative justice throughout Canada. And, like Alana, he has spoken about restorative justice philosophy and practice to government leaders, correctional staff, victim serving agencies, gender-based violence workers, and university students. Since 2004, Alan has worked as a facilitator exclusively on cases of serious and violent crime, in the Restorative Opportunities Program of Correctional Service Canada. He has co-authored several papers on restorative justice and violence. He was a co-author of the 2018 ARJA publication “Serving Crime Victims Through Restorative Justice: A Resource Guide for Leaders and Practitioners”. In 2017-18, he was a member of the University of Alberta’s Working Group on Restorative Initiatives for Sexual Violence. Alan presented advanced, Pre-Conference training at both the 2018 and 2020 Canadian Domestic Violence Conference in Halifax; as well, Alan presented in 2020 to the roundtable forum “Restorative Justice and Gender-Based Violence: Revisiting the Conversation in British Columbia”. In 2016, Alan received the Ron Wiebe National Restorative Justice Award, in recognition of his contributions to the field of restorative justice.
Alana and Alan continue to develop and deliver RJ trainings that focus on trauma-informed practice, gender-based violence, working with violence, and victim-centred practice.
Sara Morales-Mendoza
Sara Morales-Mendoza has been a Christ follower throughout her life and was raised in a Christian environment. She is a dedicated professional committed to community service. With nine years of experience as a youth leader, Sara is passionate about being a positive role model, advocating for young people, particularly young girls who have gone through sexual violence. She has a deep commitment to addressing the needs of youth and creating safe, supportive environments for them. Sara takes pride in ensuring young girls have a trusted person to turn to.
Sara is a graduate of the Royal Roads University Bachelor of Arts program in Justice Studies and aims to attend the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. Her goal is to become a lawyer and pursue a career in Criminal Law. Sara is also a participant and an advocate for the Restorative Justice program in Alberta, where she continues to bring awareness to the program for both victims and individuals impacted by crime. Additionally, she seeks to shed light on the justice system and its impact on individuals affected by sexual violence. Sara looks forward to furthering her advocacy in Restorative Justice and youth support. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and exploring new brunch spots and coffee shops.
Stella Braun
Stella Braun is passionate about early childhood education, specifically outdoor education. She is the cochair of a non-profit nature playgroup, combining her own passion for the outdoors with her commitment to shaping young children’s futures in a positive way. In her free time, Stella enjoys reading, hiking, and camping, and works as a full-time nanny.
Stella is committed to dismantling rape culture and teaching children the importance of consent from a young age. She has spoken at multiple conferences, studies, and to a class regarding her experience as a participant in a restorative justice process. Stella is very grateful for the opportunity to be a panelist at the RJABC Provincial Symposium.
2:30 – 2:45 pm | Break
2:45 – 4:00 pm | Presentations/Workshops
Alternatives to Violence Project Information Session
Presenter: Alana Abramson, Bobbi Terrel, Pat Richmond, & Yves Cote – AVP
Room: Waterford
Racism is a plague that remains one of society’s most pervasive social problems and a topic that people find the most difficulty talking about. Some excuses given for refusing to talk about it are either they don’t know how to, or they feel afraid, ashamed, or guilty. To be healed from racism, we must confront it head-on. Racial healing as experienced in talking circles is a process that restores individuals and communities to wholeness, repairs the damage caused by racism, and transforms societal structures into ones that affirm the inherent value of all people. It makes it possible to acknowledge and speak the truth about past wrongs created by individual and systemic racism and to address present-day consequences for people, communities, and institutions.
Utilizing talking circles is a different way of talking about race and racism. They provide a process that is safe, preemptive, and proactive; a way that is aimed at building strong relationships capable of holding these much-needed dialogues to heal racism. Racial healing circles can build trust and authentic relationships that bridge divides created by real and perceived differences. During this session participants will participate in a racial healing circle from which they will gain ideas for utilizing peacemaking circles for discussing critical race-based issues.
Alana Abramson
Dr. Alana Abramson has been involved in the field of restorative justice (RJ) as an researcher, practitioner, and trainer since 1999. She has extensive experience implementing trauma informed, culturally responsive RJ in community, prison, and school contexts. Alana’s doctoral research related to transformative learning within post-secondary education and she has been involved in delivering trauma informed practice training with the JIBC since 2019. In 2017, Dr. Abramson was the recipient of the Restorative Justice Award from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Alana is currently a full-time Criminology Instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project and the BC Bereavement Society and the co-chair of the Restorative Justice Association of BC. She currently resides on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory (Kamloops) and loves vegan food, travel, being in nature, and her cats.
Bobbi Terrell
Bobbi Terrell joined the Alternatives to Violence Project in 2006. Bobbi’s passion for supporting the community and helping those in need were why she originally became a volunteer. Eventually, she realized this project was so much more about personal growth than helping those around you. Bobbi has since become a facilitator and a co-coordinator with AVP. Outside of volunteering Bobbi works in the non profit sector supporting and engaging marginalized people. Bobbi’s education is in criminology, youth and restorative justice. For fun Bobbi loves to hike, kick box, and sing.
Pat Richmond
Pat Richmond is 39 and resides in the Fraser Valley. His work is fuelled by a dedication to restorative justice, a cause he has been actively championing through his involvement in the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) since 2017. Pat’s commitment to promoting understanding and healing within communities is evident in his role as a workshop facilitator for AVP. Over the years, he has leveraged his expertise to lead numerous workshops aimed at fostering reconciliation and building bridges among individuals and groups. In all aspects of his life and work, Pat Richmond exemplifies integrity, empathy, and a steadfast belief in the transformative power of restoration and reconciliation.
Yves Cote
Yves served nearly 32 years in prisons all over Canada. He has spend time in 18 different institutions at every security level, including the Special Handling Unit in Quebec which is the country’s highest level of security. As a child, Yves was subjected to unspeakable trauma and victimization at the hands of those who were entrusted to care for him. As a result, Yves learned to use violence as a tool to protect himself. During his incarceration, Yves found a new way forward to live a life without violence. Through committing himself to personal growth, spiritual service, and volunteerism, Yves transformed. In 2010, Yves became a Certified Facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). He also Co-ordinated this Project for several years and played a key role in inspiring and influencing other prisoners to explore a path of non-violence. Yves has been living in the community on parole for almost 11 years. He works tirelessly at his job, continues to volunteer with AVP and speaks publicly to criminology students. He enjoys spending time with friends and his loving partner. Yves is also the author of a memoir “Metamorphosis: My path to transformation.”
Integrating Arts and Restorative Practices: an experiential presentation
Presenter: Kaile Shilling
Room: Tiffany C
A culturally relevant, community-centered arts practice is inherently inclusive. It grounds participants in a shared human experience and offers opportunities to value the stories each of us bring to the act of creating art. Art and cultural resources provide a powerful outlet for our personal struggles and are a conduit for relationship and community building by valuing inclusion, expression, vulnerability and social connection.
The collective power of the arts resides in its ability to mobilize and empower people to shape their lives and their environments, setting the groundwork for addressing social conditions and structural inequities. It naturally follows that arts have an important role to play in restorative practices, and in fact can play a critical role in the practice of restorative and transformative justice efforts.
Along with a brief overview emphasizing the data supporting the impact of arts engagement, the presentation will engage participants in the practice of collective art-making: in an effort to move away from traditional presentation models, this will be highly interactive and participatory (non-stressful, invitation-based/no one put on the spot!), trusting the collective wisdom and in-session experience to guide further discussion.
Finally, the presentation will conclude by sharing a model for integrating arts into restorative/circle based practices that emerged from several years working in prisons, and co-developed by a collaborative of teaching artists working with incarcerated youth.
Kaile Shilling
Kaile has worked for decades at the intersection of creativity, storytelling, healing, education, and justice reform, and is deeply committed to the idea that there’s no better tool than the practice of arts to create community, understanding, and transformation.
As the Founding Executive Director of the Arts for Healing and Justice Network in Los Angeles County, she co-created curriculum and practices that centered the transformative, restorative, and healing power of arts with the Departments of Arts and Culture, Mental Health, Public Health, Probation, Child Protective Services, and schools. Since relocating to Vancouver, she’s been teaching creative writing at Mission Institution.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Anthropology from Harvard University, where her honors thesis explored the connection of arts and social values, and a Master of Theological Studies from Loyola Marymount University. She’s also a certified Healing-Centered Engagement Worker through Dr. Shawn Ginwright’s Flourish Agenda, and a Certified Level I Council Facilitator.
Circles of Dialogue of Engagement with Youth in Schools
Presenters: Denisa Dyck & Melissa Krsanac – ARJAA
Room: Tiffany B
In partnership with the Abbotsford School District, Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association’s (ARJAA’s) Restorative Action (RA) program serves youth in the school district, with the goal of building more safe and caring schools.
A key component of our work in schools is focused on prevention. Prevention work is rooted in our dialogue circles wherein we engage students in discussion and activities to build relational skills which assist students in better managing their relationships both at school and in all of their circles of belonging.
Circles of Dialogue and Engagement, or C.O.D.E, is a restorative prevention strategy that is a primary focus of the RA program, facilitated in the Abbotsford Middle School System. We have seen the transforming power of circles change school culture towards a more safe and caring environment in which students can learn and thrive.
ARJAA would like to do an experiential workshop on our C.O.D.E sessions at this year’s RJABC Symposium. These sessions are done in grade 6, 7 and 8 classrooms and promote social and emotional learning that is part of the school curriculum. These learning circles raise awareness and engage students in dialogue covering various topics related to the social competencies necessary to succeed in school and everyday life. These include: understanding our values and how they impact decision making and behaviour; awareness of emotions and empathy and associated relational skills; communications skills; conflict styles and skills for conflict resolution, and; bullying/bullying prevention and skill development to effectively respond to situations of bullying.
This workshop will help practitioners learn how to facilitate classroom sessions in ways that promote dialogue and engagement with students through the use of videos, games and worksheets. ARJAA trainers will speak about the topics we facilitate and how C.O.D.E has benefited the students we work with both inside and outside the classroom. In the workshop, trainers will demonstrate hands on activities with the practitioners that are done in the schools, walk them through how to facilitate the activity as well as a debrief, and then how to connect it back to the bigger picture with the students.
The goal of this workshop is to:
- Equip practitioners with a variety of topics that can be talked about in the schools;
- Share how to facilitate circle conversations with a group of students;
- Demonstrate ways topics can be adapted to different ages and what activities and videos to use and;
- Discuss how to facilitate debriefs in ways that promote learning and discussion.
- Improve connection in the classroom
As facilitators of the C.O.D.E program, our goal is to create connections with students. These connections not only aid in our goal of transforming school culture, but aid in our intervention work as well, creating a more restorative school community.
Denisa Dyck
Denisa Dyck came to ARJAA as a practicum student and was later hired on as a Restorative Action Facilitator in September 2022. Denisa facilitates ARJAA’s Circles of Dialogue and Engagement sessions in the classrooms which foster open communication and help to contribute to social and emotional development in students. Alongside this, she does conflict management and mediation with youth in order to grow and develop their conflict resolution skills. In July 2023 she started working as the Mentoring Coordinator and works to match at-risk youth in the Abbotsford community with responsible adult mentors.
Melissa Krsanac
Melissa began her work with ARJAA as a practicum student from the Criminology program at the University of the Fraser Valley in September 2022. Following her practicum, she was hired as a Restorative Action Facilitator in January 2023. Part of her role at ARJAA is facilitating restorative action conferences with students who are in conflict, a process which allows students to grow and develop skills in conflict resolution. Another key role is her work facilitating Circles of Dialogue and Engagement sessions in the middle school classroom. These sessions allow students to have meaningful dialogue around conflict, emotions and communication, contributing to their social emotional development.
7 Steps to Freedom: Transformation, and Redemption for the Stigmatized, Hard-Core Recidivist
Presenter: Warren McDougall – 7th Step RJ and Reintegration Society of BC & Yukon
Room: Tiffany A
The journey of individuals who have suffered or witnessed sexual harm and subsequently engaged in criminal offending is complex and multifaceted. Traditional justice systems often fail to address the underlying trauma that contributes to such behaviors, leaving survivors without a sense of true healing or closure. Moreover, survivors are stigmatized, shamed, and neglected for their refusal to enrol in programs alongside sexual offenders, leaving them no reasonable recourse to healing and reintegration. The 7th Step Society offers an innovative, restorative justice approach that prioritizes the healing and empowerment of these individuals, recognizing the profound impact of their experiences on their paths to offending.
In this presentation, we will explore how 7th Step serves as a restorative response for individuals affected by sexual harm, focusing on the following key areas:
1. Understanding the Intersection of Trauma and Offending:
- Examining the correlation between experiencing or witnessing sexual harm and subsequent criminal behavior.
- Highlighting the importance of addressing trauma in restorative justice practices.
2. The 7th Step Approach:
- Outlining the principles and practices of 7th Step, which emphasizes positive peer support, personal accountability, becoming a productive citizen, and giving back.
- Showcasing the integration of the Seven Sacred Teachings and the Seven Steps to Freedom in the restorative process.
3. Healing and Empowerment Through Restorative Practices:
- Sharing success stories and case studies of individuals who have benefited from 7th Step’s approach.
- Discussing the role of empathy, active listening, and community involvement in facilitating healing.
4. Challenges and Opportunities:
- Identifying the challenges faced in implementing restorative practices for individuals affected by sexual harm.
- Exploring opportunities for collaboration with other restorative justice initiatives and community organizations.
5. Decolonizing Restorative Justice:
- Addressing the journey of decolonizing restorative justice practices within 7th Step.
- Engaging with Indigenous teachings and perspectives to create a culturally safe and inclusive environment.
By highlighting the transformative potential of the 7th Step approach, this presentation aims to inspire dialogue and collaboration among practitioners, stakeholders, and community partners. Together, we can catalyze change and build a restorative justice culture that truly heals relationships and communities.
Warren McDougall
Warren McDougall is an Indigenous counsellor, consultant, and trainer specializing in trauma, addictions, and restorative justice. With a wealth of lived, living, and professional experience spanning 20 years of engagement with correctional and health systems, Warren brings a unique blend of cultural, experiential, and professional wisdom. His approach challenges conventional beliefs about healing and justice, advocating for innovative, holistic methods that prioritize true restoration and empowerment.
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Closing Remarks
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Headshot Station
Room: Crystal Ballroom 1
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Networking Event
Room: Baccarat Room
8:30 am | Crystal Ballroom 2 & 3
Welcome & Opening
9:00 am –4:00 pm | Engagement Room | Crystal Ballroom 1
9:00 – 10:30 am | Keynote Panel | Crystal Ballroom 2 & 3
Restorative Responses to Racial Harm
This panel brings together justice practitioners from various organizations across Canada to share how they respond to racial harm using restorative principles and practices.
Catherine Ann Kelly
Catherine Ann Kelly (she/her) is the Lead Facilitator with Community Justice Connect, a restorative justice program with the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission. Community Justice Connect provides a variety of conflict resolution and restorative justice (RJ) services to Indigenous, racialized and religious minority communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Catherine has been practicing and living RJ since the late 90s – in community, federal institutions, schools and most importantly, with her family. Her work and volunteer commitments have involved youth justice, community corrections, community based reconciliation, and dementia care advocacy. Catherine serves as Past President to the St. Leonard’s Society of Canada, Chair to Harbour Main’s Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee and is a member of the Canadian Consortium of Neurodegeneration in Aging’s Lived Experience Alumni. Catherine’s justice work is centred on culture shift and the belief that community requires all of us. Catherine loves hiking with her family, and searching beaches for the perfect soft rock.
Kamil Ahmed
Kamil Ahmed (he/him) Kamil (he/him) is a first-generation immigrant and settler from Pakistan who identifies with various communities including Queer and Muslim. Passionate about mutual aid, resource distribution and building communities of care, Kamil is a community organizer, restorative justice practitioner and space-maker in Kitchener-Waterloo, on the Haldimand Tract. and He is a photographer, facilitator, music enthusiast, vegetarian, and a big fan of farmers markets. At Community Justice Initiatives, Kamil gets to work alongside and in service to Waterloo Region as the Program Coordinator to Community Mediation Services and Workplace and Culture Services facilitating restorative approaches to strained relationships and identity-based harm across all stages of intervention; approaches that proffer opportunity to build understanding, foster curiosity, and strengthen capacity for competent and peaceful communities.
Karen McKinnon
Karen McKinnon (she/her) resides as an uninvited guest on the on the Unceded territory of the K’ómoks First Nation and its four clans Sathloot, Sasitla, Eiksan, and Puntledge. She is the Managing Director of the volunteer-powered Comox Valley Community Justice Centre (CJC). She brings with her into this work, the experience of her Ashkenazi Jewish ancestors and the youth in her family, along with her own encounters with violent antisemitism. These stories are wrapped in awareness of how her whiteness and cisgender relationship afford her privilege and can shield her from systemic and overt harms that family, friends, and neighbors do not have. Since 2009, the CJC has responded to instances of discrimination and hate. When Karen joined the CJC in 2023, the community called on her to increase the anti-hate work. Through community consultation, the CJC affirmed its role and initiated a focused effort on evolving and expanding anti-hate education and response. This evolution has included establishing a heart-lead advisory group composed of racialized and systemically excluded identifying individuals, ensuring accountability, and centering those most impacted by hate. The CJC and the advisory group are tackling complex paradoxes and curiosities such as the role of allyship, determining who should lead response efforts in a predominantly white organization, and how best to support the volunteers involved, including when racial harm is unintentionally caused. Concurrently, the organization is committed to decolonizing its structure and embedding an anti-racism and anti-hate frameworks into its operations. Karen is deeply honored to collaborate with her community on this critical journey as they strive to create a more just and inclusive society through the power of Restorative Justice and community-led initiatives.
Lila Shibley
Lila Shibley is a Sergeant with the Ottawa Police Service. She was hired in 2006 and was the first Lebanese, Muslim female hired in the service. She spent eight years on patrol serving the public before transitioning into a role in the Diversity and Race Relations Section. She spent five years in that role, building trust and positive relationships between marginalized communities and the police. This role was a pivotal one in her career. She worked hard to respond to hate related incidents in the community and took on that role before the hate crimes section was reinstated in 2020. Her work with the Indigenous communities led her to become a member of the Restorative justice committee with Tungasuvvingat Inuit, an Inuit serving organization in Ottawa and across Ontario. The program is the first of its kind that services Inuit specific needs and looks to divert Inuit from the criminal justice system. She has been part of that committee since its inception six years ago and is also one of the facilitators for the program. She now works in outreach and recruiting where she is excited to find the next generation of police officers to serve and represent the Ottawa community. She is currently the Chair of the Employee resource group representing Ethno-Religious diverse members in the Ottawa Police Service where she continues her passion of ensuring fairness and equity to every member. Lila is a mother of two children and partner to her husband in Ottawa.
10:30-10:45 am | Break
10:45 am – 12:00 pm | Presentations/Workshops
Widening our Imagination through the Arts: Inside and Out
Presenter: Brenda Longfellow, Natasha Warren, Pam Young, Meena Toor, & Brenda Morrison
Room: Tiffany A
This experiential workshop will showcase arts-based circle work with formerly incarcerated women; specifically, our collaborative production of “What Fools these Mortal’s Be”, based on Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream. This production features a series of tableaux vivants (living pictures) that were shown, for example, at Whistler’s Audain Gallery, April to Sept 2024, and the Canadian Embassy in Japan, May to Sept 2023. Our goal with this project is to foreground the voices of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, and our process is rooted in principals of reciprocity and deep collaboration actualized through ongoing circles, participatory design processes and novel community engagement. We co-imagined and designed the production of “What Fools” – from the inception of the idea, to the set, costumes and more. Stepping into the world of the play during the filming, was magical. The aim of this project is not only to co-create art together, but to feature the art in prominent public spaces, so to open the public’s imagination about the carceral system and those inside and outside its walls. Join us and learn about the magic of stepping into a collaborative masterpiece, and what each of us has learnt in the process.
Brenda Longfellow
Brenda Longfellow is an award-winning filmmaker whose documentaries and installations have been screened and broadcast internationally. She teaches film in the Department of Cinema and Media at York University. She is co-director of The Circle Project, an evolving collaboration of artists and formerly incarcerated women in Vancouver who have produce new media works aimed at prison abolition including The Circle, What Fools These Mortals Be and The Dreaming.
Natasha Warren
Natasha Warren is a passionate activist around prison rights and the acclaimed manager of two women’s shelters in the DTES. She holds a BA in Criminology from Simon Fraser University.
Pam Young
Pam Young is the Peer-Coordinator with the UBC Transformative Health & Justice Research Cluster, where she provides leadership and guidance to support social justice-oriented research activities, policy action, and community-driven change for people in prison and post-release. Pam is also currently a manager for Unlocking the Gates Services Society which operates as a non-profit organization.
Meena Toor
Meena Toor is a mom and an administrative supervisor within the public health care sector. She has been an active member of The Circle Project and sits on The Circle Project’s advisory group.
Brenda Morrison
Brenda Morrison is Simon Fraser University’s Director of the Research and Engagement Centre for Restorative Justice. Her work in the field of restorative justice focuses on praxis within and between three institutional systems: justice; education and health. She serves on a range of working groups internationally, nationally, provincially and locally. A number of current projects and initiatives focus on re-imagining justice through the arts. She is co-director of The Circle Project with Brenda Longfellow
Alternatives to Prosecution Pilot Project: A Restorative Approach to Federal Crown Files
Presenters: Gillian Angrove & Chantelle Coulson – Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Room: Waterford
In January 2023, the BC Regional Office of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada implemented a pilot project aimed at reforming its role in the criminal legal system through expanded use of alternatives to prosecution. The project seeks to increase access to Indigenous Justice, restorative justice, and other appropriate alternatives for a broader scope of accused and a broader scope of offence. Project coordinators have since reviewed over 400 Federal Crown files with a view to diversion, including files involving complex drug trafficking investigations, economic crimes, and environmental offences. This presentation will outline driving forces of the project, lessons learned from building and shaping a restorative justice culture within the PPSC, and future project goals.
Gillian Angrove
Gillian Angrove graduated from the Schulich School of Law in 2014. She has worked as litigation counsel for the Department of Justice and as Crown Counsel for the PPSC. Gillian has prosecuted drug offences, regulatory offences, and has worked in specialized courts. She is a current LLM candidate with Osgoode Hall Law School, and in 2023 was appointed as Coordinator of the PPSC Alternatives to Prosecution Pilot Project.
Chantelle Coulson
Chantelle Coulson graduated from the Schulich School of Law in 2015. After completing articles with the Department of Justice, she worked as Crown Counsel with the PPSC. Chantelle has prosecuted drug offences, environmental offences, and has worked in specialized courts including the Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver, and First Nations Court throughout BC. In 2023, she was appointed as a Coordinator of the Alternatives to Prosecution Pilot Project.
Proceed with Care – Centering Victims in Restorative Justice Practices
Presenter: Celine Lee – Police Victim Services of BC
Room: Tiffany B
Restorative justice grounds itself as being a practice that is relational, providing those directly impacted by a criminal office with the opportunity to be active participants in the process of addressing the harms that resulted from the offending behaviour. Victims and survivors of crime are one of the key stakeholders in restorative justice.
Many of the central concerns for victims participating in restorative justice initiatives include the risk of re-victimization or secondary victimization, pressure to participate, safety and confidentiality. Another key concern is that restorative justice often viewed as an offender focused process. As support continues to grow for the use of restorative justice processes in increasingly complex cases, we need to have a conversation about the dynamics that make these cases complex.
Victim centredness is a key element that restorative programs promote. But what does victim centredness look like within the complexities of the victim and offender dynamic? Using her lived experience and background as a victim support worker and victim advocate, Celine will walk workshop participants through the principles of victim
centredness, including legislated rights victims are entitled to. This session will create a thought-provoking environment for participants to consider whether their programs are victim centred.
Celine Lee
Celine Lee is a settler of Chinese descent, expressing respect and gratitude to be able to learn, play, and work on the stolen shared traditional territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and other Coast Salish Peoples.
Celine became involved with the criminal justice system at the age of 15 after a surviving an early morning house fire that was the result of a break and enter and lead to the deaths of her mother and younger sister.
Over the past 30 years, Celine has provided a victim’s voice to policy, practices and training related to victim engagement within the criminal justice system and restorative justice initiatives.
Celine has spent over 25 years working in various capacities for police-based victim services and crime prevention programs. Celine has also been the Chairperson of the Pacific Region Victim Advisory Council since September 2015.
A Different Approach to Harm – Transformational & Restorative Justice to Address Sexual Harm and Interpersonal Violence
Presenter: Carol Bilson & tyler redskye – First Peoples House, UVIC, RJV, & RJ Institute of Maine
Room: Tiffany C
In this workshop we will cover: What are the roots and lineage of Restorative and Transformational Justice? How can RJ organizations hold the tension of working within institutions while holding transformational justice values. How can we center Indigenous knowledge and BIPOC knowledge to honor liberation when using TJ to work with people who have been in the dynamics of sexualized and/or intimate partner violence. We will also be looking at Somatic abolitionism, the Criminalization of trauma and Liberatory Harm Reduction.
Carol Bilson
Carol Bilson Ph.D. (c) – Latina/x (Mapuche, Quiche, Spanish, Italian, Portugues) from Wallmapu, Chile; pronouns are She/Her/Ella, currently a Ph.D. candidate in the program Social Dimensions of Health in the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria and previous Director of Operations and Outreach at the Anti-Violence Project the on-campus sexual assault center. In addition, held the positions of Alt-Justice Coordinator at the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre (VSAC) and Education Coordinator at the Victoria Women’s Transition House Society (VWTH) where she trained staff, volunteers, and fellow service providers on the issues of Intimate Partner Violence and Trauma-Informed Practices. Carol further facilitates cultural safety workshops (Co-Creating Decolonial Futures) supporting organizations to work in more collaborative and relationally accountable ways with Indigenous peoples. Carol has over 15 years of experience in community education and has developed multiple community workshops on Decolonization, Anti-Racism, Consent, Men’s Wellness, Healthy Masculinities, and prevention of Gender-Based Violence for boys and male youth
tyler redskye
tyler redskye is a queer trans non-binary settler whose ancestors come from Sicily, Ireland, the Maghreb, the Aegean islands, Malta and the Levant. They see their work in this world as building up communities of care by listening, remembering and imagining new ways of being. They hold a Masters in Community Participatory Planning from Pratt. They are a Transformational Justice facilitator, anti-violence advocate and abolitionist. They serve as a Youth Justice consultant for Restorative Justice Institute of Maine for a US federal grant developing a Continuum of Care for Rockland, Maine. They were formerly the Programs and Training Lead at Youth Led Justice where they developed and led training for youth-led Restorative and Transformational Justice processes. They were also the first practitioner to hold RJ processes for Title IX cases within the Portland public school system.
They come to the work of Restorative and Transformative Justice with a deep understanding of trauma and systemic oppression. They also come to this work as someone who has both caused and experienced harm and violence. They are
committed to the work of reorienting our culture away from the false binary of good + evil and guilty + innocence, turning towards Transformational Justice to support us in learning how to hold harm differently.
12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch
1::00 – 2:30 pm | Keynote Panel | Crystal Ballroom 2 & 3
Decolonizing Restorative Justice
Erica Littlewolf, Vonahe’e – sending regrets
Harley Eagle -Indigenous Cultural Safety & Humility Consultant
Harley Eagle is Dakota and Ojibway, a member of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, and currently resides in the Territory of the K’ómoks Peoples. Indigenous life ways guide his work as an Indigenous Cultural Safety & Humility (ICS&H) consultant and facilitator. His experience includes working nationally and internationally consulting and training in transforming conflict, anti-racism, dismantling oppression, cultural safety & humility, and trauma healing with many organizations and companies across many sectors. Harley holds an MA in Conflict Analysis and Management and is the former Indigenous Scholar in Residence for a Master of Arts in Leadership Health Specialization.
Tala Bautista
Tala Bautista is a member of the Sumacher First Nation in Kalinga, Philippines. She got involved in peacebuilding in 2008 and currently works with Peacebuilders Community Inc., (PBCI) as Director of Strategic Partnership and Advocacy, and Chief Operations Officer. She also served as Senior Vice President of Coffee for Peace Inc. She finished Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia, U.S.A. Her passion is to center indigenous peoples’ and women’s voices and narratives in peacebuilding.
Her work with PBCI is focused on community organizing and advocacy to local leaders to adopt the Peace and Reconciliation framework in their organizations. She helps develop the local communities’ own vision for peace, crafting contextually-based, culturally-sensitive strategies to address peace issues in their place. Her approach in peacebuilding is intensive listening and intentional relationship-building with the people most impacted by injustices. She believes that peacebuilding should be firmly grounded on people’s lived experiences, taking care to be sensitive to power differences and relations.
In 2023, she started her own social enterprise called Kape de Lin-awa to support her advocacy and to operationalize the concept of indigenization of social entrepreneurship as a way of decolonization.
Dr. Muhammad Asadullah
Dr. Muhammad Asadullah is an Associate Professor at the University of Regina’s Department of Justice Studies. He completed his PhD as well as a Masters in Criminology from Simon Fraser University, Canada. He also holds a Masters in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, USA. He is the recipient of multiple awards and scholarships, including CTL Teaching Award, Neekaneewak Indigenous Leadership Awards, Contemplative Social Justice Scholar Award, Liz Elliott Memorial Graduate Scholarship, President’s PhD Scholarship, and Law Foundation Scholarship in Restorative Justice. His research interests include restorative justice, decolonization, Indigenous justice and youth justice. Currently, he serves as a board member of Circles of Support and Accountability, South Saskatchewan (ww.cosass.ca) and Saskatchewan Restorative Justice Network. Previously, he was on the board of the Vancouver Association for Restorative Justice, & Salish Sea Empathy Society. To showcase his work, Asadullah has participated in a number of international conferences in Bangladesh, India, Canada, China, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK and USA. Dr. Asadullah is deeply grateful to the Elders in Treaty-4 territory who guided him to walk on this land with humility and respect.
2:30 – 2:45 pm | Break
2:45 – 4:00 | Presentations/Workshops
Weaving Our Narratives Into Our Practice: Bringing An Arts-Based Approach to RJ Collaboration
Presenters: Tina Overbury, Kaile Shilling, & Brenda Morrison – Coalition for Regenerative Work
Room: Tiffany C
What is the strand, the strength, the thread of your life, your experience, and your lived expertise that you bring to your practice of Restorative Justice?
Can we embrace the radical idea that there is no “one way,” no “right way” to practice Restorative Justice that will fit all communities and situations? Is this notion itself a way to decolonize the practice of Restorative Justice? What kind of work do we need to do as practitioners, to serve our communities more cohesively, not in spite of, but because of our differences?
There are many ways to be in practice of Restorative Justice which speaks to the unique needs, circumstances, and resources of their communities. We offer that what is wanted in the current landscape of RJ is more awareness, connection, and appreciation of ourvaried strengths and approaches.
This presentation/workshop embraces an arts-centered process to move into an active practice of weaving: bringing together our differences within a tapestry of collective dreaming through a non-linear, non-dialogue-based process. The workshop itself weaves together the varied expertise of its three facilitators through, expressive arts therapy, and arts for social change.
This “presentation”/workshop will set the container for an emergent, open-ended experience with a goal of weaving together a stronger RJ community. Unlike traditional conference presentations, it will be centered on who is in the room,and will be truly co-created in the moment with the practices, narratives, and strengths of those who join.
We will open with an invitation and prompt to story: Who are you? What is your story? What is your core strength and what makes you and your practice of RJ unique?
Stories help us see each other in all our complexity, help us celebrate our differences, as well as our commonalities. We will debrief the exercise, and engage with questions. We will not arrive at answers, but participants will get a small taste of what it feels like to weave our practices, to appreciate the tapestry, the beauty of the different threads that, woven together, can blanket our communities in support and wellbeing.
Tina Overbury
Tina Overbury is a Storyteller, Facilitator, and Expressive Arts Therapist (in training) who works with narrative and story structure as a vehicle for human connection. As an artist, she offers visceral storytelling for reconciliation experiences rooted in the principles of restorative justice. She has created pieces for film, the stage, digital storytelling, and in her writing. Most recently, she was published in Poeisis, an academic journal of Expressive Arts and Communication, and her 90 minute solo show, OMYGOD about ‘the women we burned, the babies we buried and Gods we worship’, has screened to global audiences. While her art centres around harmscapes and the imprints they leave, her work is rooted in the healing power of the Arts. Tina brings thirty years of storytelling in theatre, film, and workshop facilitation and is the founder of Live Your Best Story, a deep listening retreat held on Bowen Island, BC, Canada.
Kaile Shilling
Kaile’s worked for decades at the intersection of creativity, storytelling, healing, and justice reform, and is deeply committed to the idea that there’s no better tool than the arts to create community, understanding, and transformation.
As Founding Executive Director of the Arts for Healing and Justice Network in Los Angeles, she co-created curriculum and practices centering the transformative, restorative, and healing power of arts with the Departments of Arts and Culture, Mental Health, Public Health, Probation, Child Protective Services, and schools. Since relocating to Vancouver, she’s been teaching creative writing at Mission Institution and consulting with Inside Circle, an RJ organization working in prisons.
She holds a BSc. in Social Anthropology from Harvard University, where her honors thesis explored arts and social values, and a Masters of Theological Studies from Loyola Marymount. She’s a certified Healing-Centered Engagement Worker through Dr. Shawn Ginwright’s Flourish Agenda, and Certified Level I Council Facilitator.
Brenda Morrison
Brenda Morrison is Simon Fraser University’s Director of the Research and Engagement Centre for Restorative Justice. She is passionate about interdisciplinary work that develops critical and reflective praxis that frames problems of crime, public safety and justice in ways that re-imagine and transform individuals, communities, institutions and governance. Her work in the field of restorative justice focuses on praxis within and between three institutional systems: justice, education and health. Dr. Morrison is a theoretical social psychologist with field experience in outdoor education, governance, regulation and restorative justice. She has engaged in research in diverse areas: social identity, the self and self-interest, art-based and Indigenous praxis. She serves on a range of working groups internationally, nationally, provincially and locally. A number of current projects and initiatives focus on re-imagining justice through the arts.
Becoming An Ally: A Decolonial Approach to Restorative Justice
Presenters: Shelley Saje-Ricci & Lindsay Poll (Loyer) – Bears Den Consulting & Training
Room: Tiffany B
In the evolving realm of restorative justice, the role of an ally through a decolonial lens is crucial. Our presentation, “Becoming an Ally: A Decolonial Approach to Restorative Justice,” introduces a transformative four-step model to effectively support communities that mush have their voices heard.
1. Decolonial Awareness:
This initial step focuses on recognizing the enduring impacts of colonial histories on current social inequalities. We emphasize education on historical and contemporary contexts to foster a deep understanding of peoples lived experiences.
2. Intentional Engagement:
In this phase, we highlight strategies for authentic engagement with communities you need to listen to. The goal is to promote genuine dialogue, respect, and solidarity while dismantling performative allyship in favor of true, actionable commitments.
3. Critical Reflection:
This step involves ongoing introspection and learning. Allies are encouraged to challenge their biases, acknowledge their privilege, and understand the complexities of intersecting identities within social justice work. This fosters an openness to transform lives.
4. Sustainable Action:
The final step outlines methods for long-term actions that amplifies voices that must be heard. Allies should use their positions of power to influence policies, higher subject matter experts, and form lasting partnerships with people who have lived experience.
Our interactive session will include real-world examples, case studies, and participatory exercises to equip attendees with practical tools and insights. Join us in advancing restorative justice by embodying decolonization principles through this essential work.
Shelley Saje-Ricci
Shelley (Bear), MBA, brings extensive expertise in human relations. Her Cree, Métis, and Mohawk heritage from Treaty 6 Territory (central Alberta and Saskatchewan) ties her to the Michel First Nations and the Victoria and Red River Métis Settlements. As a mixed-ancestry woman with settler heritage, Shelley adeptly navigates diverse cultural landscapes.
With over 30 years of service to children, youth, and families, Shelley has worked in group homes, youth centers, school districts, an Aboriginal health center, and client-centric organizations aiding Indigenous people and newcomers to Canada. Her decade-long union activism has made her a strong advocate for social justice and Indigenous and women’s rights.
Shelley excels as a Facilitator, Knowledge Carrier, and Change Maker, specializing in transformative leadership training. She focuses on Cultivating Safe Spaces and courses on truth and reconciliation and allyship. Recently, Shelley completed her MBA in Indigenous Business and Leadership, graduating in June 2024.
Lindsay Poll (Loyer)
My name is Lindsay, known as Wâpikihew Iskwew (White Eagle Woman). I am of Cree, Métis, Mohawk, and Dutch descent from Michel First Nation and Lac St. Anne Métis. As the adoptive mother of five children with diverse needs, embracing my Indigenous culture has been vital in parenting.
With a 22-year career as a flight attendant, I have actively championed inclusivity and fought workplace sexism. I’ve defended my right to express traditional customs and contributed to the CUPE National Indigenous Council as an Airlines representative. I’ve spoken at the CUPE Women’s Conference and chaired the Committee Against Racism and Discrimination.
I share Cree knowledge in harm reduction with Safelink Alberta and serve on a parent advisory committee for the Center for Sexually Creating Education Tools. Committed to cultural safety, 2 Spirit allyship, and anti-racism, I advocate for child protection, safe spaces, and restorative justice. I believe Indigenous voices can shape a better future.
Cultivating Safe Spaces
Presenter: Robyn Ward – Rewarding Relationships
Room: Tiffany A
What is Cultivating Safe Spaces?
Cultivating Safe Spaces was developed by Elaine Alec and it provides you with the tools and understanding you need in order to support meaningful relationships and Cultivate Safe Spaces. This training will provide you with knowledge and practical tools to support your ongoing commitment to healing, connecting, nurturing and supporting healthy relationships internally and externally.
Every individual has the unique opportunity to show leadership and play an important role in creating change and influencing those around you. This presentation could have an enormous positive impact on the way you communicate, respond and manage relationships not only within your working environment but throughout your entire network. This training will provide you with tools and language to cultivate safe spaces for your families, friends, teams, clients and partners.
People learn about Cultivating Safe Spaces to:
- Learn how to build a successful business with a heart-centered approach.
- Learn to cultivate safe spaces for others.
- Promote diversity and inclusion.
- Learn more about what reconciliation can look like as an ally.
- Learn how to decolonize their work, in policies and processes with a reconciliation framework.
- Reduce team burnout, exhaustion, or conflict.
- Promote healing and wellness.
Robyn Ward
Robyn Ward is the CEO and Founder of Rewarding Relationships. Robyn Ward is a Certified Executive Coach (ICF/ACC) Certified Cultivating Safe Spaces Facilitator (CSS), volunteer counsellor (ENH), speaker, activist, and change-maker. She has mixed European heritage (Ukrainian, English, German) and is the proud mother of two Indigenous teenagers. Her life and her family’s life is rooted in the Anishinaabe 7 Sacred Teachings: Respect, Courage, Wisdom, Humility, Truth, Honesty and Love. These values guide her daily and hold her personally and professionally accountable throughout her life. For 20 years she has focused her professional development on four fields: psychology, business, coaching and technology.
When she’s not supporting clients or facilitating workshops, Robyn is a Board Member and consultant at Animikii. As well, she serves on the Board of the ICF Vancouver Island Coaches Association and she serves as a (non-Indigenous) Matriarch at the Sage Initiative.
She is an ally and social justice disrupter to all spaces lacking inclusion and human rights, frequently Womxn, BIPOC and 2SLGBTQQIA+ intersections. Her focus is healing, connecting, nurturing and supporting healthy relationships internally and externally. Learn more @ www.rewardingrelationships.ca
Trauma-Informed Engagement in Federal Victim Services
Presenter: Lisa Saether & Tara George – Parole Board of Canada & CSC
Room: Waterford
This session will provide an overview of Correctional Service of Canada’s (CSC) and Parole Board of Canada’s (PBC) trauma-informed services to victims of offenders under federal jurisdiction. It will explore how victims can exercise their rights to information, participation, protection and restitution as the offender moves through the criminal justice system from incarceration to a safe and timely return to the community.
Together representatives from CSC and PBC will share how their agencies work together to fulfill victims’ rights through a trauma informed lens.
Lisa Saether
Lisa Saether, Regional Manager Regional Manager of Community Relations and Training for the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) Pacific Region.
Lisa has over 20 years working in the criminal justice field. Prior to joining the PBC, Lisa worked in the field of corrections as an Institutional Parole Officer with the Correctional Service of Canada for nine years. Her area of focus was the safe and timely reintegration of Indigenous offenders. In 2012, Lisa joined the PBC in the Conditional Release section focussing on quality decision-making for both federal and provincial/territorial offenders throughout British Columbia and the Yukon. In 2017, she joined the Communications Division where her areas of responsibility include the delivery of information to victims, Board Member and staff training and the sharing of conditional release information with members of the public.
Tara George – Regional Victim Services Manager – Correctional Service of Canada (CSC)
Tara began work in the field of federal corrections in 1994. She started her career working for non-profit agencies in the community and eventually accepted a position in the federal government with the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) where she has worked for the last 28 years. She has worked in the areas of child and youth care, volunteers, community parole supervision, sex offender relapse prevention facilitation, restorative justice, incident investigations, temporary detention, inter regional transfers and victim services. Within CSC she has worked out of the Vancouver Parole Office, the Temporary Detention Unit within Pacific Institution, Pacific Regional Headquarters in Abbotsford, BC and National Headquarters in Ottawa, ON. Tara has held the position of Regional Victim Services Manager, Pacific Region since its creation in September 2007. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and a Master of Arts in European Criminology from Katholiek Universit Leuven in Belgium. Her Master’s Thesis was on The Concept of Community in Restorative Justice Theory.