I was surprised to hear of Stephen Covey’s passing on July 16. He was 79 and died peacefully in Idaho, USA, from residual effects of a bicycle accident. Dr Stephen R. Covey won many awards and sold millions of his books in multiple languages. He was recognized as one...

As a facilitator, I consciously create space and discuss how we are going to talk. As an educator, I spent years learning about how we learn. This led me to multiple intelligences, emotional intelligence, problem based learning and community based service learning....

I’ve had the honour of being invited as one of twenty people to present at the first international symposium on restorative justice and human rights in Greece. How could I possibly say no?! We’ll be meeting June 2-7, on Skopelos Island (yes where the movie Mama Mia...

Murder is a terrible, heinous crime. No doubt about that. We need to question though how we best respond. Especially our knee jerk reaction of lock 'em up and throw away the key. Are all murders and all murderers the same, equally deserving of the harshest punishment?...

I’m teaching a course on Justice. I always invite students to engage, both with the real world and with each other. Yesterday students facilitated a discussion on their own topic of interest: torture. I'm disturbed that some students think torture is justified. I’m...

How do you feel about Ryan Dickinson’s sentence? That was the opening question I was just asked in an interview with CBC TV news. Ryan, 20 years old, is the first person sentenced in Vancouver’s Stanley Cup riot. He pled guilty and was just given 17 months prison and...

We all know we're inundated with stories of violence, hatred and revenge in the news and on TV. The news doesn’t adequately cover what is really going on. I was fortunate to experience firsthand the goodness in people, and stories that never make it into popular...

"We must all learn to live together as brothers or we will all perish together as fools. We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Happy Martin Luther King Day! I’m glad we...

December is a month of many celebrations, such as Bodhi Day, Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas and Kwanzaa. I’m reflecting on our fabulous diversity, our challenges to get along with one another across divides, and the invitation for Peace on Earth. This month Buddhists...

I’m interested in stories of transformation and utilizing their potential for educating, healing and inspiring. We need to be reminded of what is truly possible. So I am dedicating this blog to The Forgiveness Project and the possibility of forgiveness. The...

Costa Rica doesn’t have an army. Imagine a country in Central America with no investment in war. What would it take for all countries to put down their arms and to end war on our planet? I was just in Costa Rica for a workshop. Reflecting on possible futures and...

My life’s work is about transformation; about getting from where we are to where we would like to be. The process or the means by which we bring about change is of utmost importance. I see two main paradigms in the world, and a movement with an opportunity. One...

I’m inspired when people have the courage to stand for what’s best for all humanity, especially when it means acknowledging societal outcasts or going against your group’s popular ideology. The Supreme Court of Canada and former Vancouver mayor Philip Owen did just...

Dear Canada, It’s time to get smart on crime and to create a more powerful vision of justice. I am concerned about the omnibus crime bill introduced by Canada’s conservative government. I spent a long time talking with national reporter Doug Quan and am thrilled to...

Pleas are being made to save Troy Davis’ life. He has been on death row in Georgia for the last 20 years; his execution is set for this Wed Sept 21. Troy claims he is innocent; there is no physical evidence tying him to the crime and most of the witnesses recanted or...

Death for me is a reminder to live. I am sad and reflective with the passing away of colleague and friend Liz Elliott on Sept 9th. I first met Liz in the early 90s as doctoral students at Simon Fraser University. She already had vast experience and went on to become a...

The report of the independent review of the Vancouver Stanley Cup riot was released by co-chairs John Furlong and Douglas Keefe on Sept 1st. (http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/vancouverriotreview) I commend Furlong and Keefe for including a section on justice and am thrilled...