October 22, 2025 | Morning Session Keynote | Plenary room

Restorative Justice in Education

This dynamic keynote panel brings together leading experts and practitioners in the field of restorative justice (RJ) to explore its transformative potential within educational settings. The panel will delve into how restorative principles and practices can cultivate safer, more inclusive, and equitable school communities, moving beyond punitive discipline towards approaches that prioritize relationship-building, empathy, and accountability. Panelists will share their diverse experiences and insights, discussing the practical implementation of RJ in K-12 and higher education, addressing common challenges, and highlighting successful models. The discussion will cover strategies for fostering a restorative culture, addressing harm effectively, supporting student well-being, and empowering school communities to resolve conflicts constructively.

 Dr. Alana Abramson

Dr. Alana Abramson is a scholar, practitioner, and educator specializing in restorative justice since 1999. With a PhD and MA in Criminology from Simon Fraser University, her research investigated the role of community, transformative learning, decolonization, and serious and violent crime in relation to restorative justice.

As a researcher and seasoned trainer, Dr. Abramson has implemented restorative justice in diverse contexts—community, prison, and school settings—and has trained hundreds of facilitators across B.C. Her seminal contributions include the development of British Columbia’s first victim-sensitive standards for restorative justice providers and the organization of numerous conferences and workshops addressing trauma, mental health, policing, and prison justice.
Recognized with the provincial Restorative Justice Award from B.C.’s Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (2017), Dr. Abramson currently serves as a full-time Criminology instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University where is focused on developing restorative justice responses to academic and non-academic harms.  She coordinates the Alternatives to Violence Project, facilitates traumatic loss support groups for BC Bereavement Society, and is the former co-chair for the Restorative Justice Association of BC.

Anita Wadhwa

Anita Wadhwa is a native Houstonian and daughter of Punjabi immigrants. She is Executive Director of Restorative Houston, and a former classroom teacher and restorative justice coordinator. She is author of Restorative Justice in Urban Schools: Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline, co-author of The Little Book of Youth Engagement in Restorative Justice. and a contributor to Colorizing Restorative Justice. She hires and consults with former students to train in restorative practices. She owes everything to her parents, husband, and two lovely girls. She lives in Houston, Texas on the land of the Karankawa, Sana, and Atakapa.

Dr. Barbara (Neé Bobbi) A. Sherrod

Dr. Barbara (Neé Bobbi) A. Sherrod (she/they) is a Baltimore native and proud mother of two. Her use of endarkened feminist epistemology in restorative justice and abolition centering the lives, experiences, and art of Black girls, Black women, and femmes is enlightened by her lived experience as a Black American girl growing up in Baltimore and the Carolinas; her B.A. in English Language and Literature; her M.S. in Negotiations and Conflict Management; and her Ed.D in Urban Educational Leadership. As the Director of the Programs for Restorative Response Baltimore, Bobbi manages day-to-day oversight and administration, including planning, development, execution, and management of the organization’s programs and direct services. They provide continuous support with the organization’s role in grant writing and development, restorative practices research, policy work, school implementation, and training. They work directly with caretakers, community members, and school staff, coaching them through the cultural shift from a carceral to a connected and restorative approach. Bobbi trains administrators, teachers, support staff, caregivers, and justice advocates, facilitates conferences, and assists with citywide and statewide restorative practices policies.

Through experiential and learning circles, Bobbi educates school communities, including youth, on the use of restorative justice for building relationships and navigating conflict, drawing on African-Indigenous wisdom and practices. A poet and essayist by inclination, her website, MillennialMochaMoms, offers a space for Black millennial mothers to share their maternal experiences and build community. Her writing is featured in the first restorative justice anthology centering on Black and non-Black practitioners of color, Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing Our Realities, and in the digital media publication Juvenile Justice Information Exchange. Her research focuses on Afro-Indigenous Restorative Justice and Practices, fugitive pedagogy in school-based restorative justice, and the use of restorative justice and practices by Black women in urban education, as well as the quality of restorative justice and practices programming for Black girls and femmes.

dorothy vaandering

dorothy vaandering is a professor in the Faculty of Education, Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador. She has been researching Restorative Justice in Education (RJE) for 20 years and is passionate about nurturing relational communities where all   are honoured as worthy and interconnected. Her research focuses on designing and implementing innovative, transformative professional learning approaches for the sustainable implementation of RJ in education and community contexts.  As a settler-Canadian, making reconciliation real has become a priority in her work. She is the author and co-author of a variety of academic and professional publications including “The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education.” She is honoured to serve as Director of Relationships First Newfoundland and Labrador where she is discovering the intricacies and challenges of living out relational accountability.

Teiahsha Bankhead

Teiahsha (Tee-ah-sha) Bankhead, Ph.D., LCSW, is a distinguished social work professor emeritus and a leading advocate for restorative justice and community healing. With a strong academic foundation, she educates the next generation of justice advocates on the importance of culturally responsive practices and trauma-informed care.

Dr. Bankhead’s research focuses on the intersections of race, identity, and restorative and social justice, particularly examining experiences of Black people and the cultural significance of freedom and liberation. Her commitment to social equity informs her work, empowering practitioners to engage critically with pressing societal issues.

As the CEO of Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY), Dr. Bankhead plays a pivotal role in developing programs that address violence and community healing through restorative practices. Under her leadership, RJOY has extended its reach and fostered community resilience 13-fold. Additionally, as the immediate past board president of the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ), she has championed the integration of restorative justice principles across diverse communities, culminating in her presiding in 2024, as NACRJ President, over the largest gathering of RJ practitioners in US history.

Dr. Bankhead’s work bridges academia and activism, demonstrating a profound commitment to creating inclusive spaces where healing and justice can thrive.

October 23, 2025 | Morning Session Keynote | Plenary room

Justice as Healing Practices

This compelling keynote panel convenes a diverse group of visionary leaders and practitioners who are implementing “justice as healing” within various restorative justice programs. Moving beyond traditional notions of justice as punishment, this panel will illuminate how their innovative initiatives actively weave together restorative principles with deep healing practices, fostering genuine repair, transformation, and well-being for individuals, families, and communities impacted by harm. The discussion will explore the profound shifts required in mindset and practice to truly embrace justice as a pathway to healing, rather than merely a process of accountability.

Anna Tonasket

Anna Tonasket is of Syilx (Okanagan) ancestry and a member of the Penticton Indian Band. Anna has four adult children (2 sons and 2 daughters) and has been blessed with ten grandchildren (5 grand-daughters and 5 grandsons) and 4 great grandchildren (2 great grandsons and 2 great granddaughters). Anna’s family, community and Nation are her inspiration and motivation in doing the work that she does within the justice system.

Anna Tonasket has worked for the South Okanagan Restorative Justice Program (SORJP) since its inception in February 2009 and is currently the Program Manager. SORJP’s mandate is to effect change in the existing criminal justice system through the reinstatement of traditional discipline and traditional community practices that would assist in the rehabilitation of offenders and healing victims of crime.

In 2021 and 2023, Anna was elected as the President of the Indigenous Justice Association. The Indigenous Justice Association (IJA) was created in 2019 to share and promote the critical work of long-established Indigenous community justice programs throughout BC. The IJA’s goal is to grow their representative voice to speak directly to government and partner bodies who share their vision of delivering community justice programs for Indigenous people at risk of becoming or who have already come into contact with the criminal justice system.

David Remo

David Remo is a long-time community advocate with over 12 years of frontline experience supporting vulnerable populations in Ottawa, ON and Iqaluit, NU. He brings a deep commitment to healing, inclusion, and accountability in the communities he serves. A member of the Restorative Justice Committee and a facilitator with Tungasuvvingat Inuit, David works closely with Indigenous and at-risk populations, creating space for dialogue, repair, and community-led solutions. He believes restorative justice is not just a process, but a way of life rooted in relationships, empathy, and resilience. He also volunteers with Operation Come Home, preparing meals for homeless youth, and has been recognized with the United Way Community Builder Award for his contributions to community well-being. David is currently a career firefighter with Ottawa Fire Services, where he continues to serve through principles of care and collective safety. Raised by Inuit and Filipino parents, he is guided by values of service, cultural respect, and interconnectedness.

Mary Brown

Mary Brown, also known by her ancestral name Abux Stex’stum, which means “mother of rock,” is a member of the Heiltsuk Nation from Bella Bella, BC. She holds a criminology degree from Douglas College. Her original intent was to work within the RCMP organization. Her interests changed dramatically when she read “the story of Bob” this restorative justice book Inspired Mary which she then delved into restorative justice methods. This was the beginning of a new pathway in her life.

In 1999, alongside her mentor Larry Jorgenson, Mary developed and implemented the Heiltsuk Gvi’las Restorative Justice Program. This program integrated restorative justice principles into Heiltsuk laws, fostering a new relationship with the Provincial Court System, the RCMP, and crown counsel.

Mary’s work has been instrumental in building capacity and connectivity within the Heiltsuk community, positively preventing and responding to conflict and harm through value-based processes, such as isolation, mediation, facilitation, circles, prevention, education, victim offender mediation, sentencing circles, reintegration.

For the past 26 years, Mary has dedicated her life to restorative justice. Her work centers on supporting individuals through difficult processes, helping them see the good in themselves, and encouraging accountability and positive change. Her approach is deeply rooted in compassion, cultural values, and community healing.

Mary’s legacy is one of resilience, leadership, and transformation—a testament to the power of Indigenous law and restorative practices in building stronger, more just communities.

Elder Phil Gatensby

Phil Gatensby is a prominent figure from the Yukon, a member of the Raven Clan of the Inland Tlingit Nation from Carcross. He is widely recognized for his long-standing work in restorative justice, community healing, and addiction recovery. Key aspects of his work include:

Peacemaking Circles: Along with his brother Harold Gatensby, he introduced Peacemaking Circles into contemporary society and has trained communities across North America and Europe in their use.
Healing & Wellness: He has been an Elder, counsellor, and facilitator at the Jackson Lake Healing Camp, which focuses on a land-based healing model, particularly for those battling addiction.
Advocacy & Education: Having faced difficult challenges with the justice system and residential schools himself, he uses his experiential and traditional knowledge to empower others and participate in justice reform.
Community Leadership: He has been involved in various community initiatives and has been recognized for his service, including receiving the City of Whitehorse Volunteer of the Year Award.

Paula Corbiere

Paula Corbiere, Bne dodem (Ruffed Grouse clan), is a member of M’Chigeeng First Nation located on Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island) in Ontario. She attended the University of Ottawa and earned her B.A. in 1994 and her LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto) in 1997. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1999 and has been working for the United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising Tribal Council in their Justice Department since 2001. Paula has worked in several front-line positions in the Justice Department including youth and adult diversion, intimate partner violence, and the Gladue Program prior to becoming the Justice Manager. In her spare time, Paula enjoys doing pottery, scrapbooking, picking beach/sea glass and travelling.

October 23, 2025 | Afternoon Session Keynote | Plenary room

Transformative Justice

This thought-provoking keynote panel convenes leaders in the field of Transformative Justice (TJ) to delve into its core principles, radical potential, and practical applications. Moving beyond individual acts of harm, the panelists will explore how TJ aims to address and dismantle the systemic roots of violence, oppression, and injustice that contribute to conflict and harm in our communities.

This panel will offer a nuanced understanding of the differences and complementarities between RJ and TJ. The discussion will illuminate how TJ initiatives strive not only to respond to immediate harm but also to fundamentally change the social, economic, and political conditions that allow such harm to proliferate. The panel will explore community-led approaches, abolitionist frameworks, and the complex process of building sustainable alternatives to carceral systems.

Ardath Whynacht

Ardath Whynacht (she/her) is a queer feminist, researcher and activist based in K’jipuktuk. Her work explores connections between mental health & wellbeing and movements for social transformation. She has more than 20 years of experience in the family violence sector, including a decade working with lifers in the federal prison system in Atlantic Canada.  She wrote a book on transformative justice and de-colonial approaches to domestic homicide, and she continues to work with survivor groups and community organizations to build capacity for risk assessment and community-based rehabilitation. She is currently an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Health Studies program at Mount Allison University, with an adjunct appointment in the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine. You learn more about her work on violence and mental health at: www.ourpublicsafety.ca

Audrey Huntley

Audrey Huntley (she/her) is of European settler and Indigenous ancestry. She grew up an ‘army brat’ between Calgary, Alberta and Germany. As a young adult she lived in Europe for almost 20 years. She studied, worked and became part of anti-authoritarian social movements fighting racism, fascism and gender-based violence in Germany, France and Italy before returning to Turtle Island in 1998. She has been involved in anti-colonial struggles in BC and Ontario ever since.  Audrey is a licensed paralegal who works with survivors of violence at Aboriginal Legal Services. She is a filmmaker/storyteller and co-founded No More Silence, a community group that has been working with Indigenous women, trans and two-spirit people to end gender based violence and colonization. In 2023 they created a fully accessible sweat lodge, the Raónraon/Hummingbird Healing Lodge. The lodge now includes a wellness centre, a sacred space for respite, relaxation, and restoration supporting Indigenous people, MMIW2S families, survivors of state violence, co-conspirators and all those resisting colonial violence.

Shannon Perez-Darby

A founding member of the Accountable Communities Consortium, Shannon Perez-Darby is a queer, mixed Latina, anti-violence advocate, author and organizer working to create the conditions to support loving, equitable relationships and communities. With 20 years of experience Shannon Perez-Darby centers queer and trans communities of color while working to address issues of domestic and sexual violence, accountability and abolition.

Mimi Kim

Mimi Kim is Associate Professor of Social Work at California State University, Long Beach and a long-time advocate and activist working on issues of gender-based violence in communities of color. She is a co-founder of Incite!, an organization influential in the development of abolition feminism. In 2004, Mimi established Creative Interventions which created collective, non-criminalizing approaches to address domestic and sexual violence, now known as community accountability and transformative justice. Mimi’s research on the historical development of carceral feminism includes “The Carceral Creep: Gender-Based Violence, Race, and the Expansion of the Punitive State, 1973-1983” (2020). She has continued practice-based research with The CHAT Project in Northern California and documentation of grassroots transformative justice practice through a relaunch of the StoryTelling & Organizing Project. Mimi co-edited Abolition and Social Work: Possibilities, Paradoxes, and the Practice of Community Care (2024). In 2023, Mimi was recipient of the Marguerite Casey Freedom Scholar Award.