diverse voices working together to make Vancouver a Restorative City!
We acknowledge with gratitude that we are living, working and playing on the unceded, traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations
Vancouver is becoming a Restorative City
A Restorative City expands beyond legal systems to implement restorative values, principles and practices across multiple spaces – neighbourhoods, schools, parks, housing, policing and more.
A Restorative City aims to create safe streets, healthy people, strong communities in vibrant environments. It addresses all forms of conflict and offers healing.
It leads us toward a more connected city that is invested in uplifting the humanity of all people and creating respectful relations with each other as well as with the animals, land and water.
Vancouver is the first city in Canada to commit to becoming a restorative city! We are featured in a forthcoming publication: “A journey around restorative cities in the world: a travel guide” (European Forum for Restorative Justice).
The Restorative Collective Vancouver is currently developing a Restorative City Framework. We offer below our preliminary vision captured by Indigenous graphic recorder Michelle Buchholz.
Restorative Collective Vancouver
Restorative Collective Vancouver is an unprecedented, impressive team of diverse voices and wisdom from Indigenous-led organizations, service providers including for youth, seniors and women, LGBTQ2S+, Parks & Recreation, School Board, policing, community corrections, business associations and more. Our outreach continues, and the Collective is evolving and growing.
We are creating a relational, holistic, decolonizing approach to conflict, harm and crime. Vancouver faces multiple crises and we are collaboratively moving toward healing, safety, justice and peace. Read highlights of our journey in our recent blog post.
Peace of the Circle is proud to be the host organization, with coordinator Dr. Evelyn Zellerer.
With funding from the City of Vancouver and Civil Forfeiture Grant program, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General BC.
The Collective thus far includes representatives from the following communities:
Aboriginal Community Policing Centre
Atira Women’s Resource Society
BC Community Response Networks
BC Corrections
BIA Partnership Safety Committee
Board of Parks and Recreation
City of Vancouver
Community Corrections
Downtown Community Court
Elizabeth Fry Society
Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre
Living Interfaith Sanctuary
Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
Protect Our Indigenous Sisters Society (POISS)
QMUNITY: BC’s Queer, Trans, & Two-Spirit Resource Centre
South Vancouver Neighbourhood House
Strathcona Community Safety Association
Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA)
Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services Society (VATJSS)
Vancouver Police Department
Vancouver School Board
Victim Services
WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre
Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative
Youth Justice, Ministry of Children & Family Development
At the end of 2021, the Collective reached a consensus to work toward becoming a restorative city
City Council passed a motion forwarded by Councillor Michael Wiebe in support of our consensus on January 26, 2022 to:
- endorse the aspiration of Vancouver becoming a Restorative City
- create training opportunities for staff to learn about restorative justice and incorporate it in reports to Council when applicable
- commit to having a Council representative participate in the Restorative Collective Vancouver as a stakeholder
- allocate funding
Our Restorative Collective Shared Values
Respect
Compassion
Love
Authenticity
Honesty
Integrity
Trust
Diversity
Open-minded
Curiosity
Listening
Learning
Collaboration
Accountability
Wisdom
Humility
Self-Aware
Self-Reflective
Strength-based
Empowerment
Interconnectedness, Relational
Decolonizing
More News of our Journey thus far…
A Year of Restorative Justice and Beyond – 2022 Highlights
Looking back and celebrating as we powerfully move forward into 2023! In this special highlights issue, we share lots, including our journey with the Restorative Collective Vancouver toward becoming a Restorative City…
International Restorative Justice Week 2022
This month we are celebrating International Restorative Justice Week, November 20-26!
Check out many wonderful events occurring around the world…
Vancouver is becoming a Restorative City!
Restorative Collective Vancouver is celebrating and applauds the City of Vancouver! City Council passed a motion forwarded by Councillor Michael Wiebe to: endorse the aspiration of Vancouver becoming a Restorative City create training opportunities for...
Our restorative initiative has already made the news!
Restorative justice has had success both close to home and abroad. Now, a group of advocates is hoping to bring it to Vancouver in a meaningful way.
By Nathan Caddell
Restorative Justice Initiative
Months of extensive outreach led to our first stakeholders meeting with a focus on building partnerships for restorative justice in Vancouver