Celebrating One Year of Restorative Approach
We are so proud to celebrate one year of fabulous restorative work in the community! We marked this occasion by hosting a lovely community gathering of colleagues, collaborators, supporters, family, and friends. Opening a business is not for the faint of heart but our first 12 months unfolded beautifully. It’s true, it can be hard to run a business, but the delight of doing work aligned with our visions for the future is a privilege. We are joyful in the work we do! And this joy is felt by others. This commitment and energy to the restorative lens has undoubtedly paved the way for the beautiful work we’ve accomplished. One year later, we are even more certain that restorative processes are the antidote to some of the greatest challenges we face today. We are excited and affirmed in our work!
Highlights of our Year
We are so proud of the work we’ve accomplished this year. To name a few highlights:
Shila, with Legal Information Society NS, has supported the creation, launch, and ongoing education for Moving Beyond the Binary, a lovely publication offering clear information on how to meaningfully include gender diverse people at work. This queer-led project was an absolute pleasure to work on alongside 7 collaborators, and Shila was happy to conduct 19 one-on-one consultations, and take 16 portraits of gender diverse Nova Scotians. The guide, which received significant media attention and uptake was launched on March 31st, International Day of Trans Visibility (watch here, listen here in English, or écouter ici en français). Shila also created a two-hour workshop to review best practice on gender inclusivity at work, which has been presented to nearly 500 people so far. These workshops continue!
Shila and Claire Leger, with Legal Information Society NS, were proud to create Bystander Intervention Training for Halifax Regional Municipality. The workshop gives practical advice on how to safely intervene, and highlights our individual responsibility in upholding a safe, healthy, and connected community. We all have a role to play!
We were thankful to offer the KAIROS blanket exercise to many groups, especially groups with young people.
Shila and Allison Smith joyfully co-facilitated a workshop on Restorative Responses to Sexual Harassment Investigations for the PEI Human Rights Commission
Shila was also a finalist for the EY and CGLCC Pitch Competition and Restorative Approach has seen some media coverage throughout the year.
Centering Restorative Conflict Resolution
Most importantly, we have been able to do the work we are interested in the most: restorative conflict resolution work. While we of course cannot identify the organizations we have supported, we have found only success in this approach and feel honored to be trusted to work with people in difficult situations. We cannot overstate the value of this work! Over and over we see the power of restorative conversations - hard conversations in good ways - and see particular power in our ability to offer these services in a flexible and spacious format, outside of the formal justice system. We are immensely committed to continuing our efforts to expand both awareness and access to restorative processes. The practice of getting closer to one another is not easy, but it is our best chance at building a healthy and connected community.
Our Team is Growing!
Though Restorative Approach is still in its infancy, we are already expanding our team of practitioners and supports. Working relationally is our goal and through each interaction we are nurturing bonds with each other. Shila is so proud to work with Becky Kerr, and Maliha Azhar as fabulous facilitators. Elder Billy Lewis continues to be an invaluable resource and gracious anchor in this work. Allison Smith is both a facilitator and brilliant mind behind the scenes. Claire Leger is also on board as both a fantastic facilitator and as our social media designer. We are also expanding our community connections and partnerships - details to come on this front. It is our hope to keep this expansion going! Shila was also pleased to be certified in Dialogue for Peaceful Change, an internationally recognized methodology for managing key aspects of both interpersonal and group conflict. This supported her to deepen her practice.
Looking Ahead…
We are overjoyed at what has happened, and even more excited about the work ahead. We are sowing seeds of peace and care, one day at a time, and look forward to witnessing the impact that healing has on individuals and communities. In Year 2, we are optimistic that we will start to pilot restorative processes in larger institutions, that we expand our practice in restorative conflict work, and that we shine our light further and brighter.
Thank You!
We wouldn’t be here without endless support from family, friends, community, collaborators, and comrades. In particular, we would like to thank:
Elder Billy Lewis for his wisdom, generosity, and fiery trickster spirit. We also thank his sweet partner Robbie for being there behind the scenes.
Mary and Doug Rigby for their endless love, support, and encouragement.
Heather de Berdt Romilly, Executive Director of Legal Info Society NS, for her steadfast leadership, strategic mind, and infectious enthusiasm.
To Lesley for all the care, cheerleading, and fun
To Al for the constant support and advice
To Philomena Hughes, whose generous support allowed us to get off the ground and has given us a peace of mind we wouldn’t have without her contribution
To Julie for being Shila’s loving partner and supporter
To Rory for being a loving family member and a dedicated dog dad
We can’t wait to see where we go from here!