BONNYVILLE — Understanding your legal rights shouldn’t depend on where you live or how far you have to travel to find help.

For 25 years, Portage College’s Public Legal Education Program has worked to make legal information more accessible to individuals and families across northeastern Alberta.

Justice professionals, Indigenous leaders, educators, and community service providers gathered at the Centennial Centre in Bonnyville on Friday, October 9, to celebrate the milestone at the Just Paths: Navigating Justice Together Symposium.

The event marked the program’s 25th anniversary and highlighted the challenges rural residents face in understanding their rights, accessing legal services, and navigating the justice system.

Since 2001, the program has helped residents access legal information and better understand the processes that can affect their lives.

In rural communities, where transportation, distance, and limited access to specialized services create additional barriers, this work continues to play an important role.

Exploring different approaches to justice

The symposium opened with an Honour Song and Indigenous teachings, setting the tone for a day focused on relationships, respect and community-based approaches to justice.

Three keynote speakers offered different perspectives on how the justice system can better serve individuals and communities.

The Honourable Justice Ivan Ladouceur, a judge of the Alberta Court of Justice in St. Paul, spoke about relational justice and the importance of relationships within the justice system.

Marlene Orr, CEO of Native Counselling Services of Alberta, explored approaches grounded in Indigenous knowledge, healing and community leadership.

Human rights practitioner Renée Vaugeois addressed dignity, inclusion and the importance of protecting human rights.

Together, the presentations examined how justice can extend beyond legal proceedings to include prevention, education, healing and community support.

St. Paul Healing to Wellness Court highlighted

One regional initiative discussed was the St. Paul Healing to Wellness Court, which officially opened in June 2024.

The court offers an alternative approach for eligible individuals charged with non-violent offences, incorporating Indigenous traditions, community supports and individualized healing plans.

Its approach focuses on addressing underlying factors that may contribute to offending while supporting accountability and rehabilitation.

Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr, who attended the symposium and delivered welcoming remarks, previously participated in the court’s official opening alongside Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery and Justice Ladouceur.

The symposium also highlighted restorative justice initiatives, including the Saddle Lake Restorative Justice Program.

In March 2026, the province announced $720,000 in restorative justice grants for 19 organizations, including Cold Lake First Nations and Native Counselling Services of Alberta.

Connecting legal education with community supports

Throughout the day, presenters examined the challenges that can make accessing justice difficult, particularly for people experiencing trauma, mental health challenges, violence or other complex circumstances.

Organizations and programs represented included the Regional Police and Crisis Team (RPACT), Dragonfly Counselling & Support Centre, Lakeland Centre for FASD, Edmonton Community Legal Centre, Legal Aid Alberta and Portage College’s Public Legal Education Program.

The discussions highlighted the importance of connecting people with appropriate services before challenges become more difficult to manage.

Dragonfly Counselling & Support Centre’s presentation focused on supporting individuals affected by violence and trauma.

The organization also recently received $175,000 through Alberta’s 2026–27 Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program for its Roots & Wings: Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative.

The funding will support school-based outreach, youth wellness programming, and connections to community resources for young people and families.

A regional conversation

The symposium brought together representatives from several Lakeland municipalities, reflecting the regional nature of the issues being discussed.

Attendees included Bonnyville Mayor Elisa Brosseau and Councillor Kayla Blanchette and Yvonne Szydlik; Cold Lake Mayor Bob Mattice and Councillors Chris Vining, Vicky Lefebvre and Raymond Cowell; and Bonnyville Deputy Reeve and M.D. Ben Fadeyiw.

Cyr said the event provided an opportunity to hear directly from people working with residents who face barriers to accessing justice.

“Spending the entire day listening to these discussions and connecting with those working directly in our communities provided valuable insight into the challenges residents face and the solutions being developed locally,” Cyr said.

The symposium also gave service providers a chance to exchange experiences and discuss how different organizations can work together to improve access to information and support.

Bonnyville Mayor Elisa Brosseau with Scott Cyr and Councillor Kayla Blanchette and Yvonne Szydlik

Cold Lake Mayor Bob Mattice and Councillors Chris Vining, Vicky Lefebvre and Raymond Cowell with Scott Cyr.

Twenty-five years of public legal education

The anniversary celebration also recognized the people who have helped sustain Portage College’s Public Legal Education Program over the past quarter-century.

Cyr thanked Public Legal Education team members Shelley Jackson, Megan Tucker and Ruth Snyder, along with the Alberta Law Foundation, community partners and volunteers who helped organize the symposium.

The event celebrated the program’s history while looking ahead to the continuing need for accessible legal information throughout the region.

For Portage College, 25 years of public legal education represents a long-standing commitment to helping people better understand their rights, find appropriate resources and make informed decisions when facing legal challenges.

As Friday’s discussions showed, improving access to justice takes more than one organization. It requires cooperation among legal professionals, Indigenous communities, educators and frontline service providers working to make the system easier to understand and navigate.