PROGRAMS + SERVICES
Restorative Response Program (RRP)
This program receives youth and adult referrals from the RCMP, West Vancouver Police Department, Victim Services, and community agencies such as schools, municipalities and non-profit groups. Referrals include situations where crime, conflict or harm has occurred and the people involved are searching for solutions that promote repair, reconciliation, learning and understanding. Cases commonly referred include physical assault, threats, break and enter, mischief, theft, community disputes and, on-going relationship conflict.
Once a matter is referred to us, we will contact all parties affected by the incident and meet with them individually to find out what happened, who is taking responsibility for what, how people have been affected, and what might need to happen next. Based on these exploratory meetings, we work to design a restorative response that might be a face-to-face encounter (like a mediation, conference or circle) or explore how else the harm might be addressed in a meaningful way. When a face-to-face encounter is not appropriate or desired, we seek a conciliated response that attempts to meet the needs of all parties involved.
What past participants have said about this program
“I hope other victims have the chance to go through this process. It allows everyone to maintain self-respect after an awful experience.”
“It was good to hear the other side of the person’s experience and I think we needed the time spent to bring it all out.”
Restorative Awareness Dialogue (RAD)
Our Society is working hard to increase its recognition in the community, expand its partnerships, and engage community members and agencies in meaningful dialogue around the topics of justice and peace. We believe that bringing people together in dialogue strengthens community and contributes to public safety and tolerance.
Our RAD initiative provides opportunities for people in the community to learn and dialogue about crime, conflict and our responses to these. We hold dialogue circles, arrange guest speakers, deliver presentations, workshops and training with respect to restorative justice.
Restorative Responses to Adults at Risk of Abuse and Neglect
After years of community dialogue, we learned of a strong need for a restorative response to the issues facing vulnerable adults. We have seen great opportunity for healing, promoting understanding and preventing future harm in cases of emotional, physical and financial abuse and neglect.
Because much of this harm occurs within families, citizens expressed the desire for an option other than the criminal justice system to help them dialogue about these sensitive issues. We sought to respond to this need by initiating a program to receive cases from Vancouver Coastal Health, the North Shore Disability Resource Center and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Restorative Responses in Schools
Over the last number of years, we have seen a great increase in interest in Restorative Justice from both elementary and secondary schools on the North Shore. Our program has welcomed the opportunity to work with individuals, schools and the Districts to explore how restorative approaches may be implemented. Currently, our Society offers the following services to individual schools:
- Supports Administrators to find alternatives to suspension and expulsion as well as re-entry plans after a suspension
- Training and workshops offered to parents, teachers, support staff and administration on the philosophy & values of restorative justice, communication skills, conflict resolution, and the use of restorative approaches in the classroom and on the playground/school property
We feel our restorative approaches in schools are consistent with the Social Responsibility mandate for School Districts in the Province of BC. We understand a socially responsible learning community to be characterized by the qualities of inclusion, safety, respect, trust, caring and acceptance. By focusing on social responsibility, schools aim to:
- improve students’ sense of belonging and connectedness to schools
- increase and expand students’ engagement in leadership, citizenship and the development of community
- improve students’ feeling of safety at school
- improve the emotional development and social functioning of vulnerable children
These long-term social responsibility goals are achievable through the use of restorative approaches in schools.
“Thank you for allowing my file to be resolved through your program. Having an alternative to the criminal arena is essential for good people who make mistakes.”