As we start this new year, we reflect with gratitude and celebrate how much we’ve achieved, how far our movement has come. Thank you for you and for being part of our growing Circle!
In this special annual issue, we offer highlights of the year. May this provide inspiration moving forward. There is great power in walking in connection and care for one another.
Enjoy the following:
Restorative City Vancouver
Presenting our Restorative City Framework to Council & Staff
Provincial Support & Partnerships
Restorative Justice Works!
Restorative Neighbourhoods - Hastings Sunrise
Restorative Complaint Resolution, Vancouver Police Department
International Working Group on Restorative Cities
Peace Circles Trainings:
Sea to Sky School District
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
Southern Gulf Islands Community Justice Program
Boys & Girls Club of the Okanagan
Restorative Resources
Upcoming RJ Conferences
Restorative City Vancouver
Our journey to becoming a Restorative City is collaborative and transformative.
This past year, our team focused on completing our inaugural Framework, working with the Restorative Collective, and engaging with many leaders to strengthen relations, shared understanding and commitment.
The Restorative Collective Vancouver is an impressive diverse coalition that continues to grow and evolve, with leaders from 40 organizations.
At our meetings, we discussed our inaugural Restorative City Framework, projects, and working groups (see highlights below). Participant reflections include:
“This gives hope, which we really need right now.”
“We have found a way to get along.”
“You have done incredible work that is sustainable.”
Presenting our Restorative City Framework to Council & Staff
We celebrate another big milestone and historic moment - the presentation of our inaugural Restorative City Framework to Vancouver City Councillors and senior staff!
Dr. Evelyn Zellerer and Norm Leech facilitated the meeting in a circle, a first for Council and it was really well received! We provided a comprehensive vision with pragmatic examples. Our team is following up about next steps.
The need to be restorative is now more urgent than ever.
“Being restorative is fundamentally about recognizing our interconnectedness, appreciating the gifts that come from our diversity, and fostering respectful, healthy, just relations.”
~ Dr. Evelyn Zellerer
This is an invitation to create a safe, just, peaceful, thriving future for all.
Provincial Support & Partnerships
We are grateful for meetings with Hon. Niki Sharma, Deputy Premier of BC, Attorney General, and MLA.
While sharing our inaugural Restorative City Framework, possibilities emerged.
Thank you Hon. Niki Sharma for your leadership and ongoing support on this journey!
We appreciate meetings with Hon. Terry Yung, MLA and Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services. We shared our Restorative City Framework and discussed the need for restorative justice. Thank you Hon. Yung for also having served as a member of our Restorative Collective!
We are also grateful for productive meetings with Kimberley McLean, Executive Director, and Katherine Regan, Senior Policy Analyst, Victim Services and Crime Prevention, Ministry of Public Safety Solicitor General.
Thanking the Ministry of Public Safety Solicitor General for providing grants.
Restorative Justice Works!
A Restorative City includes everyone having access to restorative justice.
Restorative justice is an essential service and is effective. Cases are typically resolved and participants express satisfaction. At RJ Victoria, 100% of victims recommended it.
Vancouver does not have a community-based restorative justice program; a gap that we continue to work hard to fill. Funding is required.
Learn more from this powerful interview from a survivor’s perspective with Marlee Liss. The 5 minute national CBC News interview is also available on their YouTube channel.
“… when we shifted into restorative justice, it became so humane, so consensual, so trauma informed, and it felt like every step of the process was actually about my reclamation and healing.” - Marlee Liss
Restorative Neighbourhood - Hastings Sunrise
Hastings Sunrise was selected by the Collective as Vancouver’s first restorative neighbourhood as part of becoming a Restorative City. Our team continues to regularly meet to advance this dynamic initiative, with a focus this past year on developing a new restorative justice program for the neighbourhood.
The first cohort of local peacemakers received more training and ongoing mentoring. They have been co-facilitating dialogue circles on various topics including with youth, interfaith connections, the Chinese diaspora, staff team building, and collaboration among local organizations. Applauding over 21 dialogue circles so far!
"We’re moving forward in spite of every obstacle.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity and investment in us.”
“I feel connected. I’m hopeful.”
Local neighbourhood leaders and organizations were also brought together again to build relationships and shape the vision for a restorative neighbourhood. Rich exchanges and insights were shared where we used a world café format to explore two key questions: What is a restorative neighbourhood? and What restorative practices are already happening in Hastings Sunrise?
Peace of the Circle is proud to partner with Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House and Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre for this initiative. We are grateful for grants from the City of Vancouver and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
Restorative Complaint Resolution
Vancouver Police Department
We continue to contribute to advancing the Restorative Complaint Resolution program with the Vancouver Police Department, in collaboration with the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.
The restorative circle process is voluntary and led by independent non-police facilitators. To date, four Police Act cases have been successfully resolved.
We also provide annual training.
Applauding the participants from Professional Standards as well as HR and Diversity, Community, and Indigenous Relations who completed the latest training facilitated by Dr. Evelyn Zellerer and Norm Leech.
“The VPD recognizes that restorative justice offers a compassionate and transformative approach to addressing harm within communities, fostering accountability, and healing through dialogue and reconciliation. The VPD supports Vancouver becoming a Restorative City and looks forward to continuing to further develop restorative justice practices throughout the city.”
~ Adam Palmer, former Chief Constable, VPD
International Working Group on Restorative Cities
A Working Group on Restorative Cities with the European Forum for Restorative Justice began a two-year term with representatives from 12 countries.
Dr. Evelyn Zellerer is Co-Chair, representing Restorative City Vancouver, along with Jolan Van den Broeck, policy advisor at Halt juvenile diversion service in the Netherlands.
Dr. Evelyn is facilitating a mastermind approach tailored to this working group. They are having very informative dialogues!
Peace Circles Trainings…
Sea to Sky School District
We’re delighted to continue our partnership with the Sea to Sky School District. Celebrating all the educators who completed the first and second level trainings with Dr. Evelyn Zellerer!
These three-day immersions brought together administrators, teachers, counsellors, Indigenous educators, and support workers. We extend heartfelt acknowledgement for participants of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Lil'wat Nations, and students who shared songs and drumming.
As recommended, they are taking a whole school and whole district approach. The impact is showing, as culture changes and suspensions dramatically drop.
“With the training, there are clear ripples throughout the district. This process provides consistency, structure and flexibility which really works.”
“I’m so proud of the young kids. They had conflict and were so respectful in circle and they worked it out.”
Enjoy our short videos with training highlights on our new YouTube channel!
We greatly appreciate the leadership of Cory Hartling, Josie Moore, and Phillip Clarke. This work took place at St’a7mes School and on the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation).
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
We are honoured to work with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation on Vancouver Island.
Members of the nation’s Justice Department, along with invited guests from victim services and probation, gathered for training with Dr. Evelyn Zellerer at their oceanfront Tin Wis Resort in Načiks, now known as Tofino.
Grounded in culture and community-led justice, in this three-day immersion we learned so much about gathering, healing and resolution.
A special thank you to Justice Manager Curtis Joseph (Tayiisimčił) and the Elders who so generously shared.
His-shuk-nish-tsa-waak (we are all one)
Southern Gulf Islands Community Justice Program
We gathered again on beautiful Pender Island to dive into all things Circle, this time focusing on suitability and preparation, with facilitator Dr. Evelyn Zellerer.
This wonderful program was a fabulous host alongside Lifeboat Academy, and we applaud the participants who completed a tailored version of our “Peace Circles: Deeper Dive” training.
“Circle for me is hope. We’re in a world that’s really screwed up.
Circles are the only real tool that I know of that’s effective, connects people, creates real understanding, gives meaning and leads to change.”
Boys & Girls Club of the Okanagan
We are excited to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Okanagan to provide training.
Congratulations to two cohorts - including staff, youth workers, counsellors, managers, program facilitators, and restorative justice volunteers - for completing “Peace Circles: The Fundamentals” training with Dr. Evelyn Zellerer.
Feedback evaluations were overwhelmingly positive, which we greatly appreciate.
“Evelyn was very engaging and knowledgeable and the training was incredibly interactive, hands on, and inclusive.”
“It was an enlightening experience. I’m super excited to implement what we learned.”
Restorative Resources
Restorative approaches are successfully used for a range of issues and in diverse settings around the world.
Our updated special issues spotlights these 4 implementation areas and provides resources relating to:
- environment
- hate crimes
- sexual offences
- education
Access to Restorative Justice is a human right.
And restorative justice approaches are a way to uphold human rights.
The Manifesto for Restorative Justice and Human Rights is a collective call to centre dignity, participation, responsibility, and repair in how justice is understood and practiced. Provided by the EFRJ. We are proud to be a signee.
Let’s keep this conversation alive.
Join us in standing alongside victims/survivors of violence to meet their rights to safety and informed choices, including access to restorative justice.
We all know there is a problem. Gender-based violence remains one of the most underreported crimes. When they do report, survivors too often experience re-traumatization in the criminal justice system.
We also know that restorative justice is effective and benefits victims/survivors.
is an essential service that offers voice, healing and meaningful accountability. Yet restorative approaches are not equitably accessible and not sustainably resourced.
The problems and solutions are being clearly shared. Now it’s time to listen and act.
Resources include:
- A growing global Survivors for Justice Reform movement, calling for restorative justice.
- Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre, and thank you for being on our Restorative Collective Vancouver!
* Find out who are your local supports for victims/survivors, sexual and gender-based violence. - The Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime just released their final report, "Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Systemic Investigation".
One Key Take Away: “Survivors deserve real choices, and respect, for the justice paths they choose. Restorative and community-led models can be more responsive to survivors’ needs.” - Dr. Kim Stanton’s (2025) final report, “The British Columbia Legal System’s Treatment of Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence”.
“restorative processes have the potential to respond more comprehensively to the needs of both survivors and perpetrators.” - A new documentary, “The Limits of Forgiveness”, tells Marlee Liss’ powerful story of choosing to go through a restorative process meeting her assailant. This includes many voices, supporting change so more survivors can access restorative options.
Digitally premiered December 2025. - Activism Against Gender-based Violence
Upcoming RJ Conferences
13th International Conference of the European Forum for Restorative Justice
Poland
June 11-13, 2026
10th National Conference on
Community and Restorative Justice, USA
New Orleans
July 7-10, 2026
There are more resources and prior news on our blog…
Thank you for being in Circle with us!
With Love,
Evelyn and Peace of the Circle Team
Founding Director, Dr. Evelyn Zellerer