ABOUT US
Welcome to North Shore Restorative Justice Society. Whether you have been referred to our agency or have general questions about restorative justice and the services we provide, we hope our site will provide you with some of the answers you are looking for.
Our Mission. We develop, promote and provide restorative approaches to prevent and heal harm caused by conflict and crime. We connect with affected individuals, families and organizations to strengthen our diverse community.
Our Vision. Our community resolves conflict and addresses harm through a restorative process of collaboration and dialogue.
Agency Overview
The North Shore Restorative Justice Society is a non-profit organization that advocates and supports restorative responses to crime and conflict. The Society has operated the Restorative Response Program, a community-based initiative that provides an effective alternative to the court system, since 1997. The program responds to situations of crime and conflict committed by youth and adults through the facilitation of mediation, conferencing, peacemaking circles and shuttle mediation based on the principles of restorative justice.
The Society was originally formed in response to the community recognizing the need to approach justice (particularly youth justice) in a different way than it had in the past. As a result of a town meeting held in November, 1997, The North Vancouver Restorative Justice Society was incorporated to develop a community-based program for dealing with the impacts of crime in the community which follow the guiding principles of restorative justice. The Society applied to the Ministry of the Attorney General, under its Community Accountability Program, for start-up funding which it received in February, 1998. The Program has been core funded jointly by the City and the District of North Vancouver since 1998.
In 2007, the Society expanded its services to include the District of West Vancouver and changed its name to The North Shore Restorative Justice Society (NSRJS). The Society remains a well-developed, grassroots restorative justice group with four programs including the Restorative Response Program, the Restorative Awareness Dialogue Program, Restorative Responses to Adult Abuse and Neglect Program and Restorative Approaches in Schools. NSRJS enjoys strong partnerships with other community agencies, the RCMP, and the West Vancouver Police Department. The Society’s ability to serve the citizens of the North Shore has been made possible through the commitment of Volunteer Facilitators and Board Members as well as caring staff and community partners.
