In keeping with its mission to strengthen and advance the practice of restorative justice (RJ) in British Columbia, Restorative Justice Association of BC (RJABC) was invited by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) to design, develop, and deliver a foundational facilitator training for restorative justice programs including Community Accountability, Indigenous Justice Programs, and community partners across the province.

This initiative aims to address the disparity of access for RJ programs to free or low-cost foundational restorative justice training, and the need for developing and progressing a principled approach to victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices in restorative justice. The foundational restorative justice initiative aims to build capacity, enhance service delivery, and improve measures to support victims and survivors of crime in restorative justice in regions across BC.
This initiative is informed by the results of the RJABC’s Listening Project, a project that   engaged BC RJ programs and practitioners through surveys, focus groups, and interviews to hear directly about their experiences, needs, and the role of RJABC. The results of the project indicated that while funding was the most identified issue, education and training for restorative justice programs and enhancing relations with community partners such as referral sources were also identified as priorities.

The Listening Project report states,
“Many programs said they wanted to see more specialized training available to staff and volunteers, especially in terms of operating from an anti-oppression or intersectional lens, and dealing with complex issues such as mental illness, drug use, and marginalization.”

Increasing referrals and increasing capacity to work with more complex issues in the community through education and training initiatives such as the Foundational RJ Training Initiative is central and critical to RJABC’s strategic plan and establishing restorative justice in BC as an essential “core service” that requires sustainable and stable funding.

Through the foundational RJ training initiative, RJABC will develop a restorative justice (RJ) training strategy, collaborate with a team of educators and curriculum developers to design and create a RJ training curriculum and training resources grounded in a principled approach, recommended best practices, and research-based evidence. The training will be delivered to selected trainers from the four identified regions Northern, Interior, Vancouver & Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island to evaluate the curriculum and identify areas for further review and development. Selected trainers will deliver the free annual foundational RJ training in their respective regions. Regional training schedules and details will be provided at a later date.

Meet The Curriculum Developer Team!

Dante Fuoco (he/she/they) is a queer artist, educator, and facilitator living in Brooklyn, NY. For the last 12 years, Dante has worked in a variety of restorative justice roles: elementary special education teacher for young people with behavioral disabilities, therapeutic crisis intervention trainer and restorative practices coach for adults, peer mediation facilitator for young people, and non-profit program manager. Beyond RJ, Dante is a poet, theater-maker, and avid swimmer.

Darsheel Kaur (she/her) is a cultural educator and holistic healing practitioner, infusing mind-body therapeutic practices with creative expression into innovative design and facilitation work she offers to individuals and groups through Circle of Roots Medicines LLC. Drawing upon her ancestral spiritual roots in Sikhi and her cross-cultural experiences growing up as an immigrant in the Miami Valley of Ohio, as well as her life experience having lived in multiple cities across 3 continents, her work is culturally rooted and seeks to connect us more deeply with ourselves, one another, and the natural world as we truly realize and honor our sovereignty and interdependence globally across borders. Informed by her own personal healing and growth journey, more than a decade of community organizing and advocacy work, and her higher studies of global conflict transformation and trust building, she is passionate about creating spaces for the deeper work necessary to heal historical wounds within and amongst our communities so we can remember our wholeness, activate our creative power, and live more sustainable lives in mutual partnership with nature and the elements. She is continually seeking to integrate natural and sustainable living, food as medicine, creative expression, and circles as offerings for the spiritual benefit of all beings.

Rozina Ali (she/her) has been a community educator for over 13 years, blending her passion for teaching with a commitment to nurturing a strong sense of identity  and belonging within her students. Her work is deeply rooted in a community-centered ethos and grounded in the ethic of dignity and care for humanity. Rozina currently works for ITREB Canada, a faith-based community organization within the Isma’ili Muslim community. She recently completed her Restorative Justice Certificate from Simon Fraser University. She also holds a MA in Muslim Societies and Civilizations and a Masters of Teaching from the University College London