Lakeland Organizations to see funding for Restorative Justice Programs

Published On: July 18, 2017By

The Government of Alberta is supporting restorative justice initiatives in communities across the province with $360,000 in grants.

Grants have been awarded to 16 organizations across Alberta to support voluntary restorative justice programs. Restorative justice focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community. These programs are an alternative or supplement to any sentence and can be initiated at any time during the criminal justice process.

“These provincial grants enable organizations to help give victims a voice, while allowing offenders to repair the harm caused by their actions. Restorative justice is an innovative approach to ensure both victims and the community are a part of the resolution of conflict.”

Kathleen Ganley, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General
Local groups included in those 16 organizations are:
  • Elizabeth Metis Settlement Association – to build capacity for a restorative justice program in the Lakeland area
  • Frog Lake/Fishing Lake Youth Justice – to formalize a restorative justice committee to work with probations, the Crown, police and the community

One of the recipients this year, the Alberta Hate Crimes Committee, has received a $20,000 grant. The money will be used to fund training for committee members to strengthen their knowledge of restorative justice practices. The committee will also build a practical application tool and process that can be used to respond to hate incidents at a local level.

“This funding will allow the committee to build on the relationship between community and law enforcement, while also strengthening a collective response to hate. We feel this work is fundamental and will contribute to building safe and inclusive communities.”

Renee Vaugeois, Alberta Hate Crimes Committee

The funding is available each year through the Alberta Community Restorative Justice program. Receipents must be incorporated non-profit and/or volunteer organizations, coalitions, local community groups, Indigenous organizations or youth justice committees sanctioned by the Government of Alberta. Grants are awarded to a maximum of $50,000 per initiative per year over a period of up to two years.

This year’s funding recipients are:

  • Alberta Hate Crimes Committee – to help fund a training session enabling communities to respond to incidents of hate
  • Alberta Restorative Justice Association – to assist the association in providing resources and support to restorative justice agencies and practitioners across Alberta
  • The Calgary John Howard Society – to support their Victim Offender Dialogue and Crime Impact Session initiatives
  • Elizabeth Metis Settlement Association – to build capacity for a restorative justice program in the Lakeland area
  • Fairview and Area Well Community Action Association – to deliver restorative justice services to the Fairview community
  • Frog Lake/Fishing Lake Youth Justice – to formalize a restorative justice committee to work with probations, the Crown, police and the community
  • Innisfail Restorative Justice Society – to train facilitators to meet the demand for restorative justice services in the Innisfail community
  • John Howard Society of Red Deer – to engage the Crown to consider restorative justice as a tool for offenders with complex needs, and to offer restorative justice training within the school system, with a focus on First Nations students
  • Lesser Slave Lake Indian Region Council – to provide training for new committee members to help them promote and enhance restorative justice services for their First Nations members in five communities
  • Medicine Hat John Howard Society – to continue their work providing meaningful resolutions between victims, offenders and the community
  • Mennonite Central Committee Alberta – for its Restorative Action for Transformation (RAFT) program, to bring restorative justice services to offending youth and victims referred to them as a pre-sentencing intervention from Calgary Youth Court
  • Peace River Region Restorative Justice Association – to develop a formal referral process with the local RCMP and corrections and train volunteer facilitators
  • Three Hills and Area Restorative Justice Society – to develop educational and promotional material and promote victim participation in the restorative justice process
  • Victim Services Society of Stony Plain, Spruce Grove & District – to build on the work of the existing Enoch Elder Restorative Justice Committee and help youth resolve their conflicts with community elders acting as mentors
  • Volunteer Programs Association – Fort Saskatchewan – to offer interventions with perpetrators of domestic violence and expand their work dealing with school conflict to elementary schools
  • Youth Canada Association (YouCan!) – to place a full-time “Relentless Youth Worker” in Edmonton’s Harry Ainley High School as part of facilitating peacemaking circles and building a culture of engagement and accountability

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Lakeland Organizations to see funding for Restorative Justice Programs

Published On: July 18, 2017By

The Government of Alberta is supporting restorative justice initiatives in communities across the province with $360,000 in grants.

Grants have been awarded to 16 organizations across Alberta to support voluntary restorative justice programs. Restorative justice focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community. These programs are an alternative or supplement to any sentence and can be initiated at any time during the criminal justice process.

“These provincial grants enable organizations to help give victims a voice, while allowing offenders to repair the harm caused by their actions. Restorative justice is an innovative approach to ensure both victims and the community are a part of the resolution of conflict.”

Kathleen Ganley, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General
Local groups included in those 16 organizations are:
  • Elizabeth Metis Settlement Association – to build capacity for a restorative justice program in the Lakeland area
  • Frog Lake/Fishing Lake Youth Justice – to formalize a restorative justice committee to work with probations, the Crown, police and the community

One of the recipients this year, the Alberta Hate Crimes Committee, has received a $20,000 grant. The money will be used to fund training for committee members to strengthen their knowledge of restorative justice practices. The committee will also build a practical application tool and process that can be used to respond to hate incidents at a local level.

“This funding will allow the committee to build on the relationship between community and law enforcement, while also strengthening a collective response to hate. We feel this work is fundamental and will contribute to building safe and inclusive communities.”

Renee Vaugeois, Alberta Hate Crimes Committee

The funding is available each year through the Alberta Community Restorative Justice program. Receipents must be incorporated non-profit and/or volunteer organizations, coalitions, local community groups, Indigenous organizations or youth justice committees sanctioned by the Government of Alberta. Grants are awarded to a maximum of $50,000 per initiative per year over a period of up to two years.

This year’s funding recipients are:

  • Alberta Hate Crimes Committee – to help fund a training session enabling communities to respond to incidents of hate
  • Alberta Restorative Justice Association – to assist the association in providing resources and support to restorative justice agencies and practitioners across Alberta
  • The Calgary John Howard Society – to support their Victim Offender Dialogue and Crime Impact Session initiatives
  • Elizabeth Metis Settlement Association – to build capacity for a restorative justice program in the Lakeland area
  • Fairview and Area Well Community Action Association – to deliver restorative justice services to the Fairview community
  • Frog Lake/Fishing Lake Youth Justice – to formalize a restorative justice committee to work with probations, the Crown, police and the community
  • Innisfail Restorative Justice Society – to train facilitators to meet the demand for restorative justice services in the Innisfail community
  • John Howard Society of Red Deer – to engage the Crown to consider restorative justice as a tool for offenders with complex needs, and to offer restorative justice training within the school system, with a focus on First Nations students
  • Lesser Slave Lake Indian Region Council – to provide training for new committee members to help them promote and enhance restorative justice services for their First Nations members in five communities
  • Medicine Hat John Howard Society – to continue their work providing meaningful resolutions between victims, offenders and the community
  • Mennonite Central Committee Alberta – for its Restorative Action for Transformation (RAFT) program, to bring restorative justice services to offending youth and victims referred to them as a pre-sentencing intervention from Calgary Youth Court
  • Peace River Region Restorative Justice Association – to develop a formal referral process with the local RCMP and corrections and train volunteer facilitators
  • Three Hills and Area Restorative Justice Society – to develop educational and promotional material and promote victim participation in the restorative justice process
  • Victim Services Society of Stony Plain, Spruce Grove & District – to build on the work of the existing Enoch Elder Restorative Justice Committee and help youth resolve their conflicts with community elders acting as mentors
  • Volunteer Programs Association – Fort Saskatchewan – to offer interventions with perpetrators of domestic violence and expand their work dealing with school conflict to elementary schools
  • Youth Canada Association (YouCan!) – to place a full-time “Relentless Youth Worker” in Edmonton’s Harry Ainley High School as part of facilitating peacemaking circles and building a culture of engagement and accountability

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