Volunteer Newsletter of the
Community Justice Centre
“Justice is our middle name”
(250) 334-8101
Suite E, 450 -8th Street,
Courtenay, B.C. V9N 1N5
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: cjc-comoxvalley.com
Vol. 4, No. 3
December, 2009
Are we effective? You bet!
Did you notice a letter to the editor in Friday’s Record at the beginning of the month? It was the one from the Courtenay
Pool League member who had been involved in an incident with the bar waitress on November 11th? The writer was
publishing an apology for their inappropriate and aggressive actions during a league tournament, and for the disrespectful
treatment of waitress. The apology also included the promise to honour the agreement to be banned from both league
play and the pub for a while.
At the end of the letter, the editor posted this note in italics: “Editor’s note: the preceding was written as part of an
agreement with the Courtenay Pool League”.
Sound familiar? It’s the same wording used when the editor publishes anonymous public apologies as a result of
resolution conferences conducted at the Community Justice Centre. It appears that restorative practices are being
adopted and used in other organizations in the Valley – and that reflects so well on the work of all our volunteers at the
CJC. People have seen what we do, they like it, and they are applying it in their own ways.
In this case, Rose Kantor, the founder of the league, convened a meeting of the Executive of the League and invited the
respondent to a meeting. In this case, the individual waitress wasn’t involved, but her comments and point of view were
conveyed to the Executive who served as the complainants. But since the league believed that it’s reputation, and it’s
fundamental values of good sportsmanship had been harmed, they were also eligible to take the complainant position.
When the CJC spoke with Ms. Kantor, she indicated that she had felt that there had to be a clear message from the
League that the behaviour was not going to be accepted, but that the respondent should be able to make amends for it
and apologize to those who were affected. The respondent will be welcome to return to playing in the league and the
various venues in which they hold their events when the banning term has been completed.
We would like to believe that this is the result of the CJC’s increased emphasis on public education about restorative
justice and how effective it is. And in this case, it’s true. The idea of the public apology published in the newspaper arose
because people in the league had seen CJC apologies previously. And the return to active participation in the league
represents a real return to the community which has been harmed. So the restorative message is spreading thanks to the
work of all the CJC volunteers.
And did you know that we have also begun to have an important impact in the schools?
As of the middle of November, the CJC has expanded the programme of direct referrals from the large retailers and is
applying it to the schools of District #71 (Comox Valley). School administrators are often faced with issues involving
students is the schools, and sometimes on the way to and from the school sites. They need to maintain positive relations
with their communities so when an issue arises, school administrators can now make a direct referral to the CJC, notifying
the RCMP of their intent and receiving a police file number for the case.
These cases are handled in the same way as any other case, but the direct referral model permits a much more expedited
handling of the case here at the CJC. Particularly with young people, it is important to make the connections between the
event and follow-up, so this process will make that connection more real and allow it to happen quickly. Three cases have
been referred so far, and the procedure appears to be working very effectively.
Page 2
Community Justice Centre
December, 2009
Come one, Come all
A Winter Open House Gathering
for all our Volunteers, Supporters, & Friends
Monday, December 21st
10 Am to 12 Noon
CJC Office Closure
To provide all our volunteers with a seasonal rest, the Office will close at
Noon on Tuesday, December 23rd
and re-open on
th
Monday, January 4 at 9:00 AM
We extend our wishes for a well earned break and joyful holidays!
December, 2009
Community Justice Centre
Page 3
Third class of Justice School
graduates largest class ever!
Congratulations to: (not all present for photo) Derek Beech, Rick Bentley, Linda Devitt, Stephanie Dicker, Sarah Duncan, Phyllis Giovanetti, Dean Gray,
Susan Guthrie-Dick, Moira Henderson, Ramesh Lad, Daryl Marklinger, Christina McKnight, Blaine McMillan, Gloria McNarland, Naomi Wolfe, Sandra
Wright, and Qiang Hua Zhao.
The fall session of Justice School saw seventeen new graduates from Justice School presented with their graduation
certificates and welcomed into the Restorative Justice community. This is the highest number of participants in any
session and a large number of these individuals have decided to join the ranks of our on-going volunteers.
Included in this class are several individuals interested in work as case co-ordinators, a couple who are interested in
becoming facilitators, and a few who will help out as administrative co-ordinators. Also, there are two who may become
active in some of the Justice Centre’s other programmes around racism and homophobia and public education.
Justice School is a four week training programme which provides an introduction to the principles and history of
Restorative Justice, an overview of how the CJC’s programme operates and the ways in which it is similar to, and different
from, the other RJ programmes throughout British Columbia and around the world. Each session, funning once a week
for 2 ½ hours in the evenings, uses interactive sessions, experiential exercises, and presentations to cover the materials.
The School runs twice a year and is open to both volunteers (or prospective volunteers) and those with a general interest.
Page 4
Community Justice Centre
December, 2009
In support of Lilli House and Men’s Shelter
Community Reading of Dickens’ Christmas Carol
“Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the
clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good for
anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.“
The words that begin Dickens’ Christmas Carol are among the almost universally known opening lines of any story – and
it’s because the story has such powerful associations with this season of the year. It is a story that demonstrates real
Restorative Justice.
For the last twenty years, it has become a part of many people’s annual observance to attend a reading of the story to
benefit those charities that were closest to Dickens’ own interests – literacy, family abuse, hunger and poverty, children.
This year, a reading has been organized for Tuesday, December 22nd at 7:30 PM in the Rotary Room, lower level of the
Filberg Centre in Courtenay. Tickets will on a sliding scale of $10 - $25, with all proceeds being sent to Lilli House
(Women’s Transition Society emergency safe house) and the Salvation Army Men’s Shelter. This reading is being
organized by Our Big Earth with many community partners, including the CJC. The City of Courtenay has donated
the room for the cause.
Tickets (sliding scale of $10 – $25) will be available Monday Dec 14th at Seeds Natural Foods Market in Cumberland,
Laughing Oyster Books in Courtenay and Planet Kids in Comox The ticket price includes the reading by various
prominent community members, music and treats at the intermission.
Megan Cursons, organizer of the event says: “We are all big fans of all the wonderful parts of the Christmas season. But
for some folks this is a time of conflict, violence and strife in a place that should be sacred and safe - our homes. That is
why we are motivated to do this event. It is to come together with friends and community allies to support the
organizations who provide a place that is safe when there is nowhere else for people to turn.“
Advance Notice....
Annual Winter Celebration Thursday, Jan 28
Every year, after the rush of the winter holidays and the CJC’s office closure, we gather at the end of January to meet and
greet in the somewhat calmer part of the winter. It always includes a meal which our friends and guests select from the
restaurant’s menu (and self-pay) as well as a traditional re-gifting game.
Because we hold this event after the gift-giving season, it is possible to offer up an item which you received the previous
month that somehow doesn’t quite fit your lifestyle or personal style. Bring it along for “re-gifting” – the fourth R of the
environmental movement! (You know, reduce, reuse, recycle, regift.)
This year’s event will be held in the private dining room of the White Spot at the south end of Courtenay, on Cliffe. It
would be appreciated if you called the Centre (334-8101) to leave a message to let us know if you’re planning on coming
so we can let the restaurant know how many to set up for.
The Community Justice Centre’s
Board of Directors, Volunteers and Staff
Extend our wishes that all may experience the peace & joy of this season
and return in the New Year refreshed and revitalized
for our exciting and new challenges!