You're Invited to experience a Dialogue Circle at the Community Justice Centre!

In January, seventeen dedicated Community Justice Centre (CJC)  volunteers completed extensive Circle training with Dr. Alana Abramson to become CJC Circle Keepers. As part of ongoing training these Circle Keepers are hosting practice circles on April 11, 12, and 13—and community is invited to attend! Circles are two hours.

 Each circle will focus on a different topic. You can see all the topics here:

 The purpose of circle is to explore the topic as a community, creating space for thoughtful discussion and connection. Each person will be given uninterrupted time to share their perspective. Everyone has the right to pass and just listen.

For more detail and to register : Circle Dialogue Registration Form

All circles will occur at the Community Justice Centre (Suite C-2, 450 Eighth Street). The facility is wheelchair accessible; please let us know about any other accessibility needs.

For questions, please email info@communityjusticecentre.ca,

Date: Wednesday, February 19
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Location: North Island College, Comox Valley Campus, Stan Hagen Theatre in Komoux Hall

Merriam-Webster’s 2024 Word of the Year is "polarization," and it’s not surprising. From conflicts in our communities and abroad, to tensions at our dinner tables and on social media, the world seems to be pulling us further apart.

 In this engaging presentation, Jennie Barron, Chair of the Mir Centre for Peace and Instructor in Peace and Justice Studies at Selkirk College, will offer insights into the dynamics of polarization, the underlying factors driving it, and what each of us can do to help reverse this troubling trend

Helping to facilitate this important talk is award-winning national journalist and North Island College’s Associate Director of Community and Public Affairs, Melanie Nagy. ” The event is presented by the Community Justice Centre in partnership with NIC.

Tickets are required but admission is free, with donations gladly accepted.

Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Native Sons Hall, Courtenay

This opportunity is open to board members and senior staff from Comox Valley-based organizations.

Pre-registration is required (maximum two attendees per organization)

Spaces are limited.

Co-presented with the Comox Valley Community Foundation

This complimentary three-hour workshop will focus on relational and restorative justice approaches to conflict and harm in the workplace and is tailored specifically for charitable, not-for-profit, and social sector organizations.

Facilitated by Catherine Bargen, M.A., Director and Co-Founder of Just Outcomes Canada, participants will:

Build their understanding of current human resource issues and pressures on workplaces, including responding to complaints, culture-building and implementing equitable policies. 

Understand how restorative justice can offer a unified framework to assist workplaces in navigating these pressures cohesively instead of with a "piecemeal" approach.  

Explore examples, and gain tools on how to implement this unified restorative framework in the workplace. 

Explore the highlights and achievements of the past year as we reflect on our ongoing commitment to restorative justice and community well-being.

This report showcases the transformative work of our volunteers, the impact of our initiatives, and our dedication to addressing harm with compassion and accountability. From anti-hate programs to innovative conflict resolution practices, discover how the CJC is fostering healing and strengthening connections in the Comox Valley.

Thank you for joining us in celebrating a year of growth, resilience, and meaningful change.

Dates: January 17, 18, 19 and April 12, 13, 2025
Location: Community Justice Centre, 2-450 8th Street, Courtenay

The Community Justice Centre is excited to announce that we will be adding Circle Dialogue to our offerings in 2025.

To support this new initiative, we are looking for people who want to be Circle Dialogue Facilitators.

Please follow the link below to learn more about the volunteer role, the required training (which we are providing), and how to become involved.

Anti-hate Bystander Training → participation by invitation

Cultivating Safe Spaces with Elaine Alec → participation by invitation

More information to come in 2025

Date: November 12, 2024

Time: 2:00 –4:30, Doors open at 1:30 for a prompt 2 pm start time.

Location: Florence Filberg Centre, upstairs. 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay,

Hosted by: The Community Justice Centre, The Comox Valley Health Network, and Comox Valley Emergency Management

In this interactive presentation, Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility consultant and facilitator, Harley Eagle will build a foundation of understanding that includes, an Indigenous perspective on colonization, addressing systemic racism, and trauma-informed practice which are major components of Indigenous cultural safety and humility. This workshop builds on these foundational understandings so that participants together emerge what is meaningful to an individual’s and an organization's professional practice in times of working through conflict and in pressure-filled emergencies and crises.

The Community Justice Centre is a non-profit organization that uses restorative justice principles and practices to support peacemaking and the resolution of criminal and non-criminal conflicts for the community. This is achieved through resolution conferences, dialogue, and education. 

As a CJC Director, you will have the opportunity to work with an engaged, supportive 13-person Board of Directors and contribute to an evolving, growing organization. Your participation will help grow a safe, inclusive, resilient, and peaceful Comox Valley. 

We are looking for an individual with experience in anti-racism and hate, decolonization, cultural competency, equity, restorative justice, and/or accessing community support services. Prior board experience is not a requirement. 

Time commitment is approximately 5 hours a month for most Directors. Meetings are currently the third Monday of each month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Downtown Courtenay.

Date: August 26, 2024
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Location: Florence Filberg Centre, upstairs, 411 Anderton Ave

Please contact manager@communityjusticecentre.ca for registration information

This engaging and informative presentation will strengthen our community’s ability to identify and respond to hate crimes and discrimination. At a time when hate crimes are on the rise nationally, this is an opportunity to build our collective knowledge on how to address hate and support victims.

Presenters: Warren Silver, from the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety, Statistics Canada and Elvis Musinovic, RCMP Media Relations Officer BC Hate Crimes

Dates: June 1 and June 2, 2024 and six hours of online self-paced learning to be completed before May 23, 2024
Time: 9:00- 5:00

Location: Community Justice Centre

Open to CJC Facilitators and Case Coordinators at no charge.
Registration may be opened up to others closer to the event date. Cost : $450. If you are interested, please contact us to be on the waitlist.

Facilitator: Allen Peabody

The interactive and engaging training takes a principled approach to Restorative Justice, with an emphasis on empathy and understanding, and proven restorative justice skills. You will explore a structured, problem-solving process to find a path to restoration for victims and communities, and accountability for people causing harm, while honouring the dignity of everyone involved.

Training will consist of: RCMP Community Justice Forum Training, Trauma Informed Practice, Cultural Awareness, Competence and Safety, Gladue Principles, Practice Standards, Anti-Bias and Impartiality Skills, Legal Regulatory and Ethical Considerations

Participants will receive a student work book, and a certificate of completion.

Date: April 30, 2024
Time: 4:00-6:30
Location: Community Justice Centre

Open to CJC volunteers
We have pleased to welcome, Chris Bennett, the Manager of the Campbell River Foundry and Clinical Counsellor Sarah Day for a workshop about providing trauma-informed service when working with youth and adolescents.

Date: Saturday, Feb 17th
Time: 9:30 to 4:00
Location: Community Justice Centre

Open to all community members

An engaging day learning about and discussing Restorative Justice history, principles, case examples and how restorative justice can show up in your life. The day will be facilitated by Bruce Curtis who holds 20 years of Restorative Justice experience and past Community Justice Centre manager.

Attendance is highly encouraged for volunteers, even if you have attended before it is a worthwhile opportunity to refresh your knowledge and connect with others.

Time: 9:30 to 4:00
Location: Community Justice Centre board room

For non Community Justice volunteers a $25 donation is requested (not required) to cover lunch expenses.

Dates: Two parts. Thursday Feb 1 and Feb 8 .
Time: 10:00-12:30, 2024
Location: Online Training

Open to all community members

Learn:
-How to recognize and respond to racist incidents
-The history and practices of bystander Intervention
-Strategies to interrupt racism in different contexts and spaces
-Strategies to hold difficult conversations about race
- How to de-escalate situations and use active listening skills
This training is being hosted by the Community Justice Centre and the Welcoming Communities Coalition. It is sponsored by the Resilience BC Anti-Hate Network. The training facilitator is Tariro Murwira of the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria.