North Shore Restorative Justice (NSRJ) has been serving the Bowen Island community for over a decade, through work with police, schools, and our youth’s social justice lab. Restorative justice is a form of justice that works with existing systems to strengthen relationships and repair the harm done following wrongdoing. It is a form of justice that has roots in Indigenous and faith-based traditions, and we are currently developing new initiatives with the Squamish Nation and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
The practice of restorative justice has been shown to increase emotional literacy, mental health, empathy, develop understanding across diverse groups, build community and engagement at school, increase confidence in the justice system, reduce repeat offending and save cost in our justice system. One dollar spent on restorative justice saves eight dollars in our conventional justice system.
Restorative Justice offers:
- An opportunity to tell your story
- A chance to explain how you have been impacted
- A safe, caring and respectful place to share your story
- Involvement and support through a problem-solving approach
- Conflict resolution and a chance to repair relationships
- A better understanding of the incident and its impacts
- An opportunity to take responsibility for one’s actions
- Meaningful outcomes and an opportunity for closure
The practice is community born and lead, with community members serving in different ways; for example, as board members, volunteer committee members, restorative justice facilitators and supporters within the process.
Every year North Shore Restorative Justice participates in the Scotia Bank Charity Challenge to raise awareness and funds for community-based work. Two Bowen Island residents - Lisa Holland, volunteer facilitator, and myself, also a volunteer facilitator and board member – are excited to be participating in the Scotia Bank Half Marathon on Bowen Island to raise awareness and funds. We will be walking around Killarney Lake six times on July 11, beginning at 8 a.m. There will be information available at the picnic tables at Grafton Road (where you can park) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please drop by and say hello to our wonderful staff and volunteers, and/or walk a loop of the lake with us. We would also be honoured and grateful for any amount of donation. Tax receipts are available and you can also donate online.
We are so excited to be supporting restorative justice in our own backyard of Bowen Island. For more information, including phone and e-mail, please visit: nsrj.ca.
