Call for Presenters
The 2023 PRJS Committee are seeking presenters for an in-person symposium on June 7-8, 2023. The theme is Gathering for Connection, Community, & Change: The Power of Restorative Justice. Since its establishment five years ago, Restorative Justice Association of BC (RJABC) has hosted several events from community dialogue gatherings, networking events, stakeholder strategic meetings, and the National RJ Symposium, positioning RJABC well to host BC’s first provincial restorative justice symposium this year.
AGM, Strategic Plan and Listening Project reports
The AGM was well attended with many of our members, partners, and the larger restorative justice community present at the meeting. After hearing from Co-Chairs Alana Abramson and Suzanne Dorey, and Executive Director Christianne Paras, we shared a summary of the Listening Project final report and presented our 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.
Welcome the newest staff member of RJ ABC, Christal Lok!
Please welcome the newest staff member of RJ ABC, Christal Lok! Christal is Chinese and Australian, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. She currently resides as an uninvited guest on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded land of the Kwikwetlem peoples in B.C., Canada. Christal joins RJABC in the role of Administrative Assistant and will be a key contributor in supporting projects and events for the association.
Board Member Profile: Warren McDougal
“I was at the lowest point in my life. The people in the AVP showed me how to find, build, and maintain safety through connection with others. I couldn’t believe that in the eyes of these strangers I mattered and that I had something of value to contribute. I started to remember what it feels like to be human. I didn’t change overnight but that weekend set me on the path I remain on today. I had a tremendous amount of healing and growing to do, and I’m still learning and growing. Without RJ I wouldn’t have had a chance to give back and probably wouldn’t even be alive. RJ is the reason I’m where I am today, and it’s the reason I do what I do.”
RJ in BC
Think you have the RJ landscape in BC figured out? In this article we will sharing some quick facts that may broaden your understanding of RJ in BC.
Board Member Profile: Roselle Quinones
I have been involved in the field of victim services since 1995 – first as a volunteer then in 2001 as a paid police victim services caseworker and in 2012 as the program coordinator of a police victim services unit. During this time, when the concept of Restorative Justice was introduced to me, it was deemed to be more beneficial for the offender and it set aside the needs of the victim. It wasn’t until I attended a conference in 2018 hosted in Halifax that I had an ‘ah-ha’ moment: Restorative Justice focuses on restoring the harm. Harm cannot be restored unless those who have been harmed have been considered and engaged.