The latest publication from the Intl. Institute for Restorative Practices is titled: "Restorative Practices and the Transformation at West Phiiladelphia High School". For the text, email www.iirp.org.  To see the video, with interviews by teachers and students, see www.iirp.org/westphilahigh

APPRECIATION FOR DOREEN HUNTER AS CHAIR OF STEERING COMMITTEE OF GREATER VICTORIA RJ RESOURCE GROUP. 2005 - 2009

Doreen was presented with a basket of plants and a small poster with her photograph at a meeting  held in the RJVic meeting room.   A fine cake marked the occasion. She replied as follows.

To Restorative Justice Resource Group Steering Committee Members:-  May 7, 2009

Having enjoyed your friendship and support during my sojourn as Chair of this committee since October 2005, this is to regretfully tender my resignation, effective this date.

 I have been rewarded these years by your faithful attendance to the business of training and education of volunteers and informing and educating the public.  The time and energy you have all put into this endeavor is a gift to the restorative justice community in the Greater Victoria area, and on behalf of our sponsoring programmes and myself, I thank you with heartfelt appreciation.  Without you our goal of educating the public not only in our twice-a-year training workshops but in projects like the Circles in the Stream theatre and last fall’s All Candidates meeting would not have been so effective in their achievements.  Our volunteer manual for BC communities Training Manual will be used for years to come.  We have three well trained and experienced restorative justice instructors, at present.  All our members are involved in their own RJ programmes activities, attend RJInfonet, other meetings and conferences,  hand out brochures at information fairs, and are willing to be present and accounted for whenever  needed.

Let no one say it isn’t work, but it is also fun and we learn a lot from each other in everything we do,  I know I did.

Doreen Hunter

  Circle Facilitation

A one-day training on the Art of Consensus Building will be provided in Victoria by Gordon White. Three different models will be included: a. peacemaking and organizational circles, b. narrative semi-circles for high conflict groups, c. simultaneous multiple circles which structure facilitations of 30 - 100 people.
Timing: To be announced
Location: 111 Superior St (at Saint Lawrence) , in James Bay, Victoria.
Cost: $125, fulltime students: $75.
Payment: Cheques are payable to Gordon White and Associates Consulting. Send to 1-1270 Balmoral Rd., Victoria, BC V8T 1B3
Further Information: email gcwhite@telus.net  or call 250-389-6231

   Greater  Victoria RJ Resource Group

  Website traffic

“Alternatives to Violence”  Workshop

This workshop attracts a range of participants: those who have a general interest in the topic, those who have serious conflict to deal with and those interested in developing helping skills for conflict resolution.  From attending the workshop last month for the first time, I can say that this is a refreshing learning experience with very creative methods and fun exercises on perspective taking and transforming conflict into workable situations. It is popular with youth too. The AVP organization is based on volunteers helping volunteers hence the very low fee; however, the Workshop facilitators are professional helpers. The Workshops provide opportunities for them to coach AVP apprenticing facilitators, youth and adult.

“In this Workshop participants learn through self-expression and interaction. Participants gain  insight and develop skills which can be applied back home to everyday life. Agendas for each  session include periods of reflection and lively activities designed to develop self-awareness and  trust within the group. While AVP workshops follow a well-established format, the participants  set the stage for each workshop to take on a life of its own. Four basic elements of non-violence action:
Affirmation, Community Building, Communication Skills, Conflict Resolution.” (Brochure)

Who?  Anyone interested in preventing violence; age: 12 years+; Minimum:  8 - 12 persons; maximum: 20

When?    To be announced

Where? In Victoria - city location; to be announced

Fee? $50 (sliding scale available). Make cheque payable to “AVP Victoria”.  If you have taken this course and would like a free refresher, contact Marianne Ostopovich.

Contact? To register and obtain more information, call Marianne Ostopovich, Facilitator; Cel 220-0727; Tel. 478-1295.

An investment in volunteerism makes good economic sense

"Why youth crime rates are higher"

MACLEAN'S (August 4/08, p.25) reports on a recent Statistics Canada release on youth crime in 2007. However, several criminologists believe that the statistics are deceptive. Factors include our aging population,and much more sensitive reports on youth crime. This is partly because of zero-tolerance policies in many schools about youth violence, Many schools now call in the police for minor offences which would never have occurred in the '80s.  Check out the full article and reflect on the role which RJ could play in many of these cases.

  Youtube has RJ videos!

Put "Restorative Justice" into Youtube's search function and 88 titles pop up!  The first is by the renowned Howard Zehr; half a dozen are from last October's RJ conference. Most videos are less than 10 minutes. Check it out! Des. C.


restjustbc - Restorative Justice B.C.

This listserv was implemented following the RJ Retreat 2000 in Chilliwack as a way to make contact with other RJ activists especially those implementing CAP (RJ police diversion programs)across the province. Volunteers at the RJ Retreat 2002 in Chilliwack have offered to develp a web site for our purpose but this listserv will carry on until the new site is up and running. To subscribe and gain further info,, visit http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/kistinfo/restjustbc To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit restjustbc Archives  Moderator: Etta Connor, Victoria, BC etta@connor.bc.ca