A Collective member described,

“The exhilaration you feel when you are at the top of a roller coaster; it feels like we are cresting a hill.”

We see the harm caused by polarization, divisiveness, and conflict in our local communities and around the world. The Restorative Collective is committed to creating dialogue across differences by offering transformative restorative processes.

One member shared,

“Every time I meet in circle, I leave different than I arrived. It takes me from my head to my heart, and I want to do that in everything that we do.”

A special thank you to Betty Lepps, the new Executive Director of Collingwood Neighbourhood House, for welcoming us into their beautiful space.

Our Restorative City Framework is currently under review by City of Vancouver senior staff and partners. Stay tuned!

We continue to move full steam ahead with the first Restorative Neighbourhood initiative in Hastings Sunrise with our partners at Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House and Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre.

Hot off the press - the City of Vancouver has just approved 50K funding to Hastings Sunrise CPC for this neighbourhood initiative!

Some more updates include:

• We gathered local leaders to build relations and invite collaboration in moving forward for this blossoming neighbourhood initiative. Their enthusiastic response was inspiring!
• The cohort of local peacemakers are facilitating circles and meeting to debrief and receive mentoring. If you live or work in Hastings Sunrise, let us know if you are interested in a dialogue circle.
• Our leadership team is meeting regularly to continue strategic planning, with a focus on developing a restorative program. We are incredibly grateful to also work with our fabulous colleague and restorative expert Gillian Lindquist.

Thank you to the leaders who attended our first neighbourhood leaders circle from Aboriginal Mother Centre Society, Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre, Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre, Attorney General Niki Sharma & MLA Vancouver-Hastings, Burrardview Community Association, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, G & I Shining Stars Youth Society, Hastings Community Association, Hastings Community Centre, Hastings Library, Hastings North BIA, Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre, Jenny Kwan MP Vancouver East, Joan Philip MLA office, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, Skeena Terrace, and Thunderbird Community Centre.

This cohort completed their next level Peace Circles: Deeper Dive training where they added more layers to their knowledge and skills. It was co-facilitated by Dr. Evelyn Zellerer with restorative expert Gillian Lindquist.

Have a look at our short video on our new YouTube channel!

The peacemakers are continuing to co-facilitate dialogue Circles. One commented,

“there’s an energy in circle, you feel your bones relax.”

If you live or work in Hastings Sunrise and wish to have facilitated conversations, let us know!

Hastings Sunrise is our first Restorative Neighbourhood initiative as part of Vancouver becoming a Restorative City.

Another fantastic group of administrators, teachers, counsellors, Indigenous educators & advisors from across the district came with open minds and hearts, and contributed so much.

It was a jam-packed 3 day training facilitated by Dr. Evelyn Zellerer. Students drummed us into circle to begin and we got to experience their whole school circle opening and closing in the gym.

Special thanks to principal Cory Hartling, St'a7mes School, and Josie Moore, Instructional Leadership Team - Restorative Practices, for bringing us together and powerfully moving this district initiative forward. We applaud Sea to Sky SD#48!

Join us in celebrating the expansion of the Southern Gulf Islands Community Justice Program and the community members who gathered on Mayne Island to complete our Peace Circles: Fundamentals training!

There was lots shared and learned, including about the roots and key elements of the peace circle process, appreciating the intentional design and flexibility. This two-day immersion was facilitated by Dr. Evelyn Zellerer.

Thanking Mayne Island Resort for welcoming us into their beautiful space and to Deborah, Don and Jim for bringing this circle together.

This RJ program serves four islands: Galiano, Mayne, Pender, and Saturna. If you live or work on one of them, get in touch!

It was a pleasure spending two days with leadership staff of Alex House and community partners, including members of the anti-racism coalition. They completed Peace Circles: The Fundamentals and we applaud their brilliance, enthusiasm and commitment in implementing Circles moving forward.

Dr. Evelyn Zellerer facilitated an immersive training where there were “massive learnings” as one participant said. Others shared:

 “I learned to lead in a totally different way.”

“There is a vastness of how and where this can be applied and implemented.”

Special thanks to Penny Bradley, Executive Director.

Participants included high school students, educators, First Nations, police, corrections, non-profits and more. Thanking Alberni Valley Restorative Justice Society for hosting and inviting Dr. Evelyn Zellerer to facilitate this training.

Some reflections from participants included:

"I really appreciated the emphasis on intentionality."

"It’s so simple and so complex, and that’s the beauty of it."

The National Restorative Justice Symposium in Ottawa was a fantastic opportunity to engage and learn about what’s happening across the country and beyond!

"I really appreciated the wonderful interest and feedback to my presentation on Vancouver becoming a Restorative City" shared Dr. Evelyn Zellerer.

The two-day symposium was brimming with interesting and informative workshops, speakers and conversations. We loved seeing our colleagues from Sea to Sky School District, Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre and so many more.

What a great way to spend RJ Week 2024!

Our founding director, Dr. Evelyn Zellerer, appreciated the wonderful reception in Alberni to her Executive Briefing on Restorative Principles & Practices and sharing about our Restorative City initiative.

Thanking the diverse leaders, First Nations, Chief of the Fire Department, practitioners, and community members for their openness, comments and questions. And gratitude to the high school students who opened with singing the Equality Song by Patrick Aleck (Xwaluputhut).

Thank you Alberni Valley Restorative Justice Society for inviting Evelyn to present and hosting this inspiring gathering!