SPEAKERS
Marlee Liss
Marlee Liss is a somatic educator, social worker, and sparkle-loving lesbian Jewish feminist. She made history in the justice system when her sexual assault case became the 1st in North America to conclude with restorative justice through the courts. Since then, she has supported thousands in learning trauma-informed pleasure and inclusive consent education .
Marlee's work has been featured in Forbes, Huff Post, Buzzfeed, the Mel Robbins Show and
more. As an award-winning speaker, she's delivered talks for: National Sexual Assault Conference, Vanderbilt University, University of Toronto, Trauma & Recovery Conference, Women's Mental Health Conference at Yale and more. Marlee was 1 of 25 survivors on an elite panel for the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence informing federal policy and her story is currently being made into a documentary directed by Kelsey Darragh. Learn more at marleeliss.com or follow @marleeliss
Dr. Alana Abramson & Alan Edwards
Alan Edwards and Alana Abramson have been working together and separately in restorative justice for over 25 years. Jointly, they served for two years as the RJ training development specialists for the
Department of National Defence’s Restorative Engagement Program, a program that facilitates communication between survivors of sexualized violence and senior defence representatives, within the Canadian Armed Forces. In 2012-14, they were part of a training team that developed and delivered advanced RJ training to practitioners in British Columbia. Since 2018, they have developed and delivered the course “Are We Fulfilling the Promise of Restorative Justice for Victims: Moving towards Victim-Centred Practice”, offered to RJ programs in BC. In 2022, they delivered the well-received “RJ and
Sexualized Violence Cases: Practitioner Skills” Pre-Conference training at ARJA’s annual conference and delivered a version of this course at the 2023 National Restorative Justice Symposium. As well, they
delivered a pilot course, “Inviting Responsibility: RJ casework with those who have committed sexualized violence” at ARJA’s 2023 Pre-Conference.
Sara Morales-Mendoza
Sara Morales-Mendoza has been a Christ follower throughout her life and was raised in a Christian environment. She is a dedicated professional committed to community service. With nine years of experience as a youth leader, Sara is passionate about being a positive role model, advocating for young people,
particularly young girls who have gone through sexual violence. She has a deep commitment to addressing the needs of youth and creating safe, supportive
environments for them. Sara takes pride in ensuring young girls have a trusted person to turn to.
Sara is a graduate of the Royal Roads University Bachelor of Arts program in Justice Studies and aims to attend the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. Her
goal is to become a lawyer and pursue a career in Criminal Law. Sara is also a participant and an advocate for the Restorative Justice program in Alberta, where
she continues to bring awareness to the program for both victims and individuals impacted by crime. Additionally, she seeks to shed light on the justice system and its impact on individuals affected by sexual violence.
Sara looks forward to furthering her advocacy in Restorative Justice and youth support. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and
exploring new brunch spots and coffee shops.
Stella Braun
Stella Braun is passionate about early childhood education, specifically outdoor education. She is the cochair of a nonprofit nature playgroup, combining her own passion for the outdoors with her commitment to shaping young children’s futures in a positive way. In her free time, Stella enjoys reading, hiking, and camping, and works as a full-time nanny.
Stella is committed to dismantling rape culture and teaching children the importance of consent from a young age. She has spoken at multiple conferences, studies, and to a class regarding her experience with restorative justice. Stella is very grateful for the opportunity to share her experience as a survivor who participated in restorative justice.
Noreen Demeria
Boozhoo, Aniin
Noreen Demeria nindizhinikaaz…
I am an Anishanbe Kwe who has treaty status with the government of Canada, as a card carrying and recognized member of treaty 4. I was born to parents who both attended a government and church run Indian Residential School and a Day School that was local to Tootinaowaziibeng First Nation in Manitoba. Their attendance at these schools is relevant to my understanding of colonialism and the transmission of intergenerational trauma; for myself, my family, my community and the nation overall.
I am part of the first generation - post residential school generation. This is significant because when I was a child, the residential schools and their impacts were not talked about. However, Indigenous People, families and communities were living and reacting to the trauma imposed upon them. (and it continues) It was not until I attended university that I became aware of colonialism and the resulting genocide. But once you have knowledge it is your responsibility to act. Since that time, I have made it a part of all that I do, to reclaim our position as First Nation people that are Indigenous to this country.
Cory Hartling
As the coordinator for restorative practice in School District #48 Sea to Sky, I bring over a decade of dedicated commitment to transforming educational environments. My journey began as a teacher and administrator in alternative education, where I first recognized the profound impact of restorative practices. I spearheaded the integration of these principles into mainstream schools, advocating passionately for their adoption across all levels of our district.
During my tenure as Principal of Don Ross Middle School, I championed restorative circles as a cornerstone of community-building and conflict resolution. My approach emphasizes collaboration with partner groups to ensure these practices are woven into the fabric of our educational system. These partnerships have allowed us, as a district, to place restorative practice in general, and circle in particular, as a key structure across all aspects of our work.
Phillip Clarke
Currently I am the Director Of Instruction: Learning Services for the Sea to Sky School District. My portfolios include: Inclusion, Mental Health, Community Partnerships etc.. Part of my role is to assure that our districts enduring understandings of Inclusion that we accept the moral imperative to intentionally design student learning, learning environments, and restorative practices which foster a sense of belonging, positive personal and cultural identity, and equity is met. We work collaboratively and create short and long term plans, systems, and structures for the learning and implementation of restorative practices and creating a restorative community across the district.
Brielle Mariucci
Brielle Mariucci, a recent MFA graduate in Design for Social Innovation focuses on participatory community action and restorative practices. With a background in experience design, conflict mediation, and participatory action research, Brielle explores how social-emotional learning and equitable collaboration improve community autonomy, and public safety. Her graduate work culminated in "at-oneness," a digital platform for resources and guides to support personal and community wellbeing (at-oneness.notion.site).
As a human-centered designer, Brielle collaborates with governments to improve public services, emphasizing relationship-building and values-driven solutions guided by restorative justice principles. She has worked with the Vera Institute of Justice, The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, The Center for Justice Innovation, and most recently, the Public Policy Lab exploring reentry pathways to post-secondary education.
Brielle sees systems thinking as an invitation to investigate the complexity amongst us, and within us. She advocates for integrating restorative practices into research and community development to promote healing and accountability while challenging traditional, exclusionary methods of research.
Dr. Evelyn Zellerer
Dr. Evelyn Zellerer is the Founder/Director, Peace of the Circle. Evelyn is a sought after facilitator and trainer with 30 years of experience, specializing in communication, peacemaking, restorative justice and conscious governance. She has the privilege of working internationally with governments, Indigenous Nations, justice agencies, RJ programs, workplaces, schools and communities. Evelyn is a published author and has presented at many forums, including the United Nations. Recently, Evelyn launched an initiative and is the coordinator for Vancouver becoming a Restorative City, the first in Canada. Over 30 organizations are participating.
She was born in Ottawa on the unceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory, where her immigrant parents met. When not working, you will find immersed in nature near her home in Vancouver, the unceded, traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Visit: peaceofthecircle.com
Norm Leech
Norm Leech is a Restorative Collective Vancouver founding member, Co-Chair of Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council and former Executive Director, Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre. Norm grew up in East Vancouver, with ancestry in the T’it’q’et community of the St’at’imc nation.
Norm is an advocate for urban Indigenous peoples and speaks on the Indigenous experience and trauma from colonization drawing on his experiences as a recovering alcoholic/ addict, inter-generational survivor, and spiritual explorer. He offers land-based, body-centred, cultural approaches that provide inspirations for modern restorative practices.
As a trained facilitator for human rights and Restorative Justice, Norm facilitates the Indigenous cultural sessions for Police Academy and Sheriffs Academy at the Justice Institute.
Norm is the current ED of Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House and serves on various boards and committees including; MVAEC, AFDS, VPD IAC, and the DTES CLT.
Angela Green
Angela Green is a former elementary educator and consultant who is passionate about the power of relationships and thrives on fostering positive learning communities for adults and young people. As a curriculum specialist in literacy and numeracy, Angela has engaged in instructional design, school improvement planning and consulting using a restorative approach for over 30 years. She is currently an instructor for the IIRP in Canada and adjunct Mathematics Education Instructor at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario Canada.
Catherine Bargen
Catherine is the Director and Co-founder of Just Outcomes Canada, an agency which supports communities and organizations in reimagining just responses to harm and its causes. Catherine began her career at the Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre in Edmonton, Alberta where she coordinated the Victim-Offender dialogue program from 1999-2001.
From 2001-2008, Catherine was on staff with Langley’s Fraser Region Community Justice Initiatives Association (CJI). At CJI, she co-authored several manuals and books which describe the successes and lessons of implementing restorative principles into the school setting.
Catherine received her Master’s degree in Conflict Transformation in 2008 under the supervision of Dr. Howard Zehr. From 2008-2017 she was BC's Restorative Justice Coordinator within the provincial government. Just Outcomes has been fully operational since 2017, providing Catherine with years of experience implementing restorative justice principles and practices in a large variety of contexts.
Catherine has been invited by and provided training to international audiences including Colombia, Ukraine, Brazil and Switzerland. She resides in Vancouver with her husband and daughter.
Erin Lee
Erin Lee is a passionate advocate who has spent decades working to end violence against women. Her experience spans anti-violence programs, school board initiatives, provincial associations and numerous boards and committees. Currently Erin is the Executive Director of Lanark County Interval House and Community Support, a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan(CSWBP) member, a Coordinating Committee member and member of the Victimology Advisory of Algonquin College. In recent years, Erin was a recipient of the MAG, the Attorney General’s Victim Services Award of Distinction (2021) and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario award for social change (2016). Erin was a member of the Ending Violence Association(EVA) Renfrew County Inquest working group and offered testimony related to rural realities. Erin was appointed to a two-year term in 2023 as a member of the Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review committee. Erin’s advocacy is characterized as solution-focused, mentoring to new advocates and inclusive to all.
Pamela Cross
Pamela Cross is a feminist lawyer; a well-known and respected expert on violence against women and the law. She works as a researcher, writer, educator and trainer with women’s equality and violence against women organizations across Canada.
In June 2024, Pamela was awarded a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa, by the Law Society of Ontario.
In March 2023, Pamela was appointed to a two-year term with Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee, which reviews all domestic homicide deaths to identify risk factors and propose recommendations for systemic change.
In 2022, Pamela participated in the Inquest into 2015 triple femicide of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam in Renfrew County, Ontario, both as an expert witness in her role as Luke’s Place Legal Director and as an external consultant producing a report for the Inquest on behalf of the community. Following the Inquest, Pamela was commissioned by End Violence Against Women Renfrew County to develop a toolkit about community engagement with inquests, “We Remember”.
Pamela also participated in the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Inquiry as an expert witness on intimate partner violence.
Pamela is an author on the Luke’s Place toolkit, “The law and parenting arrangements after separation” (2021) and “Family Court and Beyond” (2018, 2021). With funding from the federal Department of Justice, she led a team that conducted research into the use of family violence screening tools for family law practitioners. The final report, entitled “What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: The importance of family violence screening tools for family law practitioners” (2018), includes a draft screening tool.
As a member of the teaching faculty with the National Judicial Institute, she trained criminal and family court judges on managing domestic violence cases, and, in 2012, she developed violence against women curriculum for law schools in a project with the Law Commission of Ontario.
For the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Pamela co-authored “Muslim and Canadian Family Laws: A Comparative Primer” and was the author of “Violence Against Women: Health and Justice for Canadian Women.” She also delivered workshops on family law to CCMW members.
In her previous role as Luke’s Place Legal Director, Pamela was the lead trainer for Ontario’s Family Court Support Workers, providing both in-person and online training and support for approximately 100 frontline workers who assist abused women in family court. She led the development and delivery of domestic violence awareness training to approximately 2,500 Legal Aid Ontario staff, community clinics and lawyers across the province. She was also Co-Chair of the Violence Against Women Roundtable, which provided guidance to the provincial government on this issue.
Pamela is the 2020 recipient of the Corry Award from Queen’s Law, the 2019 recipient of both the Laura Legge Award from the Law Society of Ontario and the Guthrie Award from the Law Foundation of Ontario, and a 2015 recipient of the Attorney General’s Victim Services Award of Distinction. In 2006, she was a YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction for her work in the area of law reform.
Dr. April Clay
April M. Clay is the founder and CEO of Clay Counseling Solutions and the nonprofit Clay Counseling Foundation. Since 2015, she has led a team providing counseling and behavioral health services to over 2,000 individuals annually in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Dr. Clay holds a License in Marriage and Family Therapy, a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling, and a Doctorate in Education focused on Educational Justice. She is a national trainer on restorative justice, suicide prevention, and cultural competence, and has directed school counseling at universities.
Deeply involved in community service, April chairs the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health’s Cultural Competency Advisory Committee and celebrates 30 years with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She also serves on several nonprofit boards and is a life member of the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). April contributes to research on educational justice and Critical Race Theory, with her latest work published in December 2023. Recently featured on BET’s "America in Black," April is dedicated to her family and celebrates 28 years of marriage.
Elle Halladay
Elle Halladay, born and raised in Lanark County, is the manager at Cornerstone Landing Youth Services, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth at risk or experiencing homelessness. With a master's degree and frontline experience in grassroots organizations; restorative justice, women's shelters, and housing for youth, Elle has a deep understanding of rural youth challenges. She furthered her education with a Graduate Diploma in Program Evaluation, focusing on social and health policies. Prior to her current role, Elle served as a regional director for United Way East Ontario, where she mobilized resources and fostered collaborations for community-driven initiatives. Elle continues to stay committed to the grass roots impact, through roles on the local DEI committee, Smiths Falls for All, the National Alliance to End Rural and Remote Homelessness, and the steering committee of the new Community Food Centre, Falls Food Hub.
In her presentations, Elle Halladay combines her expertise in restorative justice and youth homelessness, highlighting the intersections of these crucial areas. Her work emphasizes the importance of community involvement, empathy, and addressing root causes to empower and support rural youth effectively.
Stacey Mountford
Stacey Mountford is a Safe Schools and Well-Being Learning Coordinator with the Thames Valley District School Board. As a classroom educator, she identified the importance of getting to know her students and co-creating safe spaces for them in optimizing their learning. Stacey has been instrumental in the creation of the Essential Conditions for Learning and aligning the implementation with restorative practices across Thames Valley. She is passionate about travelling, photography and her grandbaby Wren.
Lesley Robertson
Lesley has always prioritized relationships in education; as a classroom teacher, teacher librarian, implementation coach and learning coordinator for both the Thames Valley District School Board and York Region District School Board. Knowing relationships are the foundation of the Essential Conditions for Learning, she is committed to supporting educators and administrators to build safety, connection and a restorative mindset. Lesley enjoys life's adventures with three daughters, and live music with her husband whenever she gets the chance.
Catherine Brooke
Catherine Brooke is the Executive Director of St. Leonard’s House Windsor and has been an advocate for justice involved persons for over 25 years. She has worked in a variety of fields including addictions, mental health and homelessness. She is a strong advocate for peer approaches to working with vulnerable and marginalized communities
Dirk Young
Dirk Young is serving a life-sentence in the community and is employed as a part-time Outreach Peer Worker for St. Leonard’s House Windsor. He is the author of ‘Under, Over or Through it’, an autobiographical piece about his life.
Alina Raza
Ariel Burns
Fairooz Kermalli
Danielle McGettigan
Danielle McGettigan (B.Sc, B.Ed (Int/Sec), M.Ed)) is a high school teacher, dance teacher, event coordinator, and RJ advocate from St. John's, Newfoundland. Her research, The K-12 School Experiences of People Who Are Incarcerated in NL, seeks to understand the mechanisms of the school to prison pipeline in NL and shed light on the stories of the human beings at its center, with the intent to inform policy and practice. In 2023, she worked with the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training as the coordinator for Connect & Transform: Trauma-Informed Perspectives, Policy and Practice in Education, a virtual professional learning symposium for policy makers.
Danielle has a unique and varied teaching background and has presented her research nationally and internationally, including the Relational Schools World Conference and the National Restorative Justice Symposium. Over the years, she has worked in a variety of coordinating roles with Relationships First NL to encourage relational ways of being and knowing in all capacities.
We are Social Workers and a Psycho-Educational consultant for the OCDSB.
Collectively we have worked with the school board for a decade.
We provide crisis support, assessment, counselling and groups for students Grades JK-12.
Both Social Workers have a Masters in Social Work and are currently Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
The Psycho-Educational Consultant has a Masters in Developmental Psychology and is working towards a Doctorate in School and Clinical Psychology.
Upon receiving further training in Restorative Practice we have applied concepts and techniques to the work we do to further support students, finding that it enhances relationships, facilitates healing and opens channels of communication.
Heather Loudon
Heather Loudon is the full-time Restorative Justice Caseworker at Tungasuvvingat Inuit. Her work is driven by her empathy, passion, and understanding. Heather is originally from Kingston, ON, which sets on the unceded land of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat peoples. She graduated from Carleton University with a concentration in Law, and a post-graduate certificate in Mediation- Alterative Dispute Resolution. Throughout her education, Heather focused her studies on Indigenous history and the impacts of colonization, specifically within the criminal justice system. She does not identify as Indigenous, but is a strong ally, advocate, and supporter of Indigenous rights and autonomy.
Ish Orkar
As an attorney, social worker, and RJ practitioner, Ish has dedicated her career to trying to answer the question: how can we best live in right relationship with each other? Ish is passionate about creating liberatory and healing spaces, working with organizations to evaluate and redesign existing systems, and supporting individuals as they engage in healing and restorative practices. She enjoys being both a facilitator and a student in shared learning spaces on topics relating to restorative living, mental health, wellness, and workplace inclusion and belonging.
Holly Deckert
Holly Deckert is a Restorative Facilitator with St. Leonard’s Community Services with a background in federal justice research. Holly holds a master's degree in Criminology and in Research for Policy Evaluation and is dedicated to implementing restorative approaches within our communities to build and maintain healthy relationships, with a focus on the impact of social media on conflict and our relationships.
Karen Coward
Karen Coward is a Justice Worker at St. Leonard’s Community Services with over 33 years working specifically in youth diversion. Through her IIRP training, Karen utilizes restorative conferencing through her youth justice work in extrajudicial measures and extrajudicial sanctions. Karen is also the Court Liaison Worker, working closely with the youth court therapeutic team.
Danielle McGettigan
Danielle McGettigan (B.Sc, B.Ed (Int/Sec), M.Ed)) is a high school teacher, dance teacher, event coordinator, and RJ advocate from St. John's, Newfoundland. Her research, The K-12 School Experiences of People Who Are Incarcerated in NL, seeks to understand the mechanisms of the school to prison pipeline in NL and shed light on the stories of the human beings at its center, with the intent to inform policy and practice. In 2023, she worked with the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training as the coordinator for Connect & Transform: Trauma-Informed Perspectives, Policy and Practice in Education, a virtual professional learning symposium for policy makers.Danielle has a unique and varied teaching background and has presented her research nationally and internationally, including the Relational Schools World Conference and the National Restorative Justice Symposium. Over the years, she has worked in a variety of coordinating roles with Relationships First NL to encourage relational ways of being and knowing in all capacities.
Lisa Charlong Norris
Lisa comes to RJ work with a BA, a BEd and an MEd and over 15 years of experience working in research administration - whether it’s grants facilitation, proposal writing or managing Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Tier I and Tier II projects. She also brings extensive experience in structured data and data management as well as in scholarly communications and humanities computing. Her current interests include demonstrating research (and public engagement) impact and research project management.
Outside of regular work hours, Lisa is passionate about working with young women and men who walk a restorative path towards healthy relationships with self, with family, with community and with the Creator.
Her favorite place is in the cold, salt water, even in winter months.
Matt Schaaf
Matt Schaaf (B.Ed, SEP) is a conflict resolution practitioner and trainer experienced in working on issues of gender and racial justice. As a student of somatics, he is passionate about transformative responses to trauma that engage the mind, body and community. He has served alongside Indigenous communities to reduce the impact of civil war and environmental racism, and from inside mainstream post-secondary institutions, community-based agencies and the public service on issues of gender-based violence.
Nadine Okalik
Driven by her passion for family, community and Inuit culture, Nadine Inuusiq Okalik serves as the Restorative Justice Liaison at Tungasuvvingat Inuit. Nadine recognizes the need for the criminal justice system to be more reflective of and culturally relevant for the Indigenous population in Canada. A graduate of Community and Justice Services at Algonquin College, a former attendee of Nunavut Sivuniksavut and working on a degree in Criminology at Carleton University, Ms. Okalik applies her knowledge with her community in mind. With experience working with Public Service and Procurement Canada on the Indigenous Peoples Space, Nadine has a proven track record of supporting Indigenous needs within services amongst varying stakeholders. Nadine is an urban Inuk located in Ottawa, her family is originally from Panniqtuuq, Nunavut.
Michael Wade
Michael Wade is the Assistant Director of Shelter and Transitional Housing at Youth Services Bureau. He has spent the last 12 years involved in professionally supporting individuals experiencing homelessness in the City of Ottawa. Starting his career as a front-line shelter worker he discovered a passion for systems navigation, program development and evaluation. Since then, he has held various positions of increasing responsibility aimed at driving impactful change while improving the individual client experience. With a focus on collaboration and the development of transparent and easily understood systems, he believes that services should be readily accessible and work for everyone.
Meriem Abou-Saoud
Avec 13 ans d’expérience dans le domaine de l’éducation, dont 9 ans en tant qu’enseignante, Meriem est actuellement conseillère pédagogique au service des écoles sécuritaires et bienveillantes pour le Conseil scolaire Viamonde. Elle se consacre à l’amélioration du climat scolaire et à l’appui des enseignant·e·s dans la mise en place d’approches proactives fondées sur des relations solides et une communication efficace. Meriem est passionnée par la richesse de la diversité de notre société et cherche à appuyer les écoles dans la création d’un environnement inclusif, entre autres, grâce à l’intégration des pratiques réparatrices.
Shana Louallen
Combining over 16 years of experience as a licensed Social Worker, former Chief of Equity, and previous co-Executive Director, Shana has deep expertise in the advancement of anti-racist, anti-oppressive work through a restorative and transformative justice lens. Focusing on the workplace has not shifted their abolitionist framework which grounds their ability to help organizations:
-Deconstruct power and punishment paradigms.
-Build out diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives.
-Design accountability processes such as restorative mediations in HR/Culture departments.
-Strengthen community/relationship building across large and small teams.
-Expand shared power and shared decision-making between leaders and organizational stakeholders.
She offers expert-level executive coaching for existing business teams as well as entrepreneurs looking to break into social innovation. She is based in New York City.
Saara Saddiqi
Saara Siddiqi is an established conflict resolution and restorative justice practitioner with 25 years specializing in justice and equity issues faced by youth and adult survivors of many violent circumstances. Grounded in anti-racist, anti-oppressive and intersectional feminist frameworks, Saara has facilitated, designed and implemented culturally responsive restorative processes and programs on the streets of Toronto, within community-based organizations and from inside institutions. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University. Her lived and professional experiences drive her commitment to justice and trauma-informed care for everyone.
Chantal Chicoine
Coming soon.
Skye Bowen
Skye Bowen is a high school administrator with over 20 years in education. She is a passionate leader and advocate for equity and social justice, working in various roles within her school board. Skye and her husband, Orlando Bowen, dealt with the trauma of Orlando being assaulted by two police officers in a racial profiling incident. Despite this challenge, she continued to mentor students and has been instrumental in creating community partnerships, athletic programs, and leadership opportunities for students. Skye’s experiences teaching in a variety of schools, including teaching in youth corrections, gave her first hand experience on the impact of the school to prison pipeline. This further motivated Skye to advocate for youth in order to address systemic racism and oppressive barriers that exist in the justice and education system. Skye provides training to educational and community leaders in restorative justice from an Afro-Indigenous perspective, focusing on the power and possibilities to shift our thinking and praxis to ensure equitable approaches to restorative justice. She has been married for over 20 years and has three teenage boys, Dante, Justice, and Marcus.
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Stacey Alderwick
Principal of Alderwick & Associates, provides education, resolution and facilitation services since 2001. A human rights, equity and anti-racism educator and consultant, she cultivates interactive and experiential learning and supports organizational efforts to decolonize, increase cultural safety and develop anti-oppressive competencies. A seasoned mediator and restorative justice practitioner, Stacey works with people on a difficult journey with compassion, empathy, and a desire to leave them feeling whole.
Tracey Devereaux
Tracey is a transplanted Cape Bretoner who combines his unique sense of humor and warmth with extensive teaching and training experience. He has been educating restoratively for over 25 years. After fourteen years with Correctional Services, he spent two years with the Restorative Initiatives Unit (RIU) as the Restorative Approach in Schools Coordinator before returning to Corrections to be the Manager of Training and Development. He is currently the Director of the RIU.
For over 25 years, Tracey has been developing his talents as an educator and a seanchaí, working not only in public and private schools, but also spending fourteen years working with med-high risk young offenders as well as incarcerated adults with Correctional Services. In addition, Tracey has been a Learning Facilitator for Phoenix Youth Program, a teaching Vice Principal at King’s View Academy and a Lead Facilitator for the Kiwanis Key Leader Program since 2013, traveling across North America providing leadership development to high school students.
Sophia Torres
Sophia Torres is a recent graduate from DePaul University with an MA in sociology and a certificate in social research. Her research interests focus on prison writings
and abolitionist work in the carceral system. She spends her time outside of academia volunteering with Aunt Mary’s Storybook, a non-profit organization helping incarcerated parents record themselves reading books for their children. She aspires to earn a PhD and actively contribute to the realization of a future driven by restorative practices, which we all envision.
Kaile Shilling
Kaile has worked for decades at the intersection of creativity, storytelling, healing, education, and justice reform, and is deeply committed to the idea that there’s no better tool than the practice of arts to create community, understanding, and transformation.
As the Founding Executive Director of the Arts for Healing and Justice Network in Los Angeles County, she co-created curriculum and practices that centered the transformative, restorative, and healing power of arts with the Departments of Arts and Culture, Mental Health, Public Health, Probation, Child Protective Services, and the schools. Since relocating to Vancouver, she’s been teaching creative writing at the Burnaby Youth facility, and directly with Medium and Minimum security facilities at Mission Institution. In other words, putting arts, creativity, and healing into practice.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Anthropology from Harvard University, where her honors thesis explored the connection of arts and social values, and a Master of Theological Studies from Loyola Marymount University. She’s also a certified Healing-Centered Engagement Worker through Dr. Shawn Ginwright’s Flourish Agenda, and a Certified Level I Council Facilitator.
Johnny Aitken
Elder Johnny Aitken, he/him is a physical actor, writer, carver, filmmaker, activist, and educator. Johnny’s mixed ancestry includes Coast Salish, Scottish and Haida. Johnny, self identifies as an Indigenous 2Spirit interdisciplinary storyteller. Johnny most enjoys collaborating with members of the Settler community, creating stories that lead us all to a place of healing. Johnny is currently writing a series of children’s books, targeting ages 6-8 with his friend and colleague Jess Willows. These books focus on truth, healing and reconciliation and explore the friendship between First Nation character Johnny and Settler girl named Jessie. These books are being published by Victoria BC’s Orca Publishing. First book will be available May 2025. Also, Johnny has worked for many years collaborating with a team of theatre professionals who co-create with William Head on Stage. William Head on Stage is the only theatre company in North America which permits a live audience to enter the prison to watch their production. This experience has given Johnny the ability to fully understand that mistakes are made in life, some more serious than others, but at the end of the day: we are all human, all deserve kindness and love.
Jess Willows
Coming Soon.
Sarah McDonald
Sarah McDonald Moores, a graduate of Memorial University’s Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Education (Leadership Studies) programs, is passionate about holistic restorative justice in education and the transformative power of music. Currently seconded to Relationships First Newfoundland and Labrador (RFNL) from her role as a public school music educator, Sarah has been teaching since 2006. At Memorial University, she teaches the graduate course “Relationships First: Rethinking Educational Engagement.” As Restorative Justice Education Coordinator with RFNL, she promotes restorative justice across all education levels. Sarah is a founding member of Lady Cove Women’s Choir and Projēkt Chamber Voices, serving both as a featured soloist. She has traveled extensively with choral and instrumental groups, enriching her experience as a chorister and conductor. Recognizing the powerful connection between music and restorative justice, Sarah aims to help educators embrace restorative justice as a way of being and to foster deeper understanding and application of these principles in educational settings.
Elyse Buligan
Directrice des services du secteur de l’éducation – volet écoles sécuritaires et bienveillantes au Conseil scolaire Viamonde. Mme Buligan a plus de vingt années d’expérience en milieu scolaire ; plus de huit ans en enseignement, au Québec ainsi qu’en Ontario, avant de devenir direction de plusieurs écoles à l’élémentaire et au secondaire. Elle est passionnée par tout ce qui touche à l’amélioration du climat scolaire, l’harmonisation des pratiques, la diminution des problèmes de comportement ainsi que l’engagement scolaire et l’établissement d’habiletés relationnelles saines.
Olivia Stroz-Breton
Coming Soon
Dr. Muhammad Asadullah
Coming Soon.
Charles Dent
Born in Edmonton Alberta, Charles moved to Yellowknife in 1976 and began work for the city.
In 1991, Charles was elected MLA for Frame Lake, a position he held for 16 years. For 8 of those years he was elected to Cabinet, handling a number of different portfolios. During his time as an MLA, Charles worked to ensure the NWT Human Rights Act was passed. At the time it was implemented in 2004, it was the most progressive Act of its kind in Canada.
Charles retired in 2007 and since then has focused on volunteering in Yellowknife. He was appointed Chair of the NWT Human Rights Commission on July 1, 2012.
Raegan Mager, Deputy Executive Director
Raegan Mager
Raegan Mager has been with the Human Rights Commission since September 2014. She obtained a Law Clerk Diploma from Centennial College and Studied Philosophy and Sociology at the University of Toronto. Raegan has lived in the NWT for over 25 years and has 15 years of experience in various sectors of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Reagan has played a pivotal role in bringing the restorative practice into he work of the Commission and is a certified restorative practice trainer with the International Institute of Restorative Practice.
Jane Evans
Jane Evans is a Senior Researcher with the Department of Justice Canada. She holds a Master of Arts in Criminology from the University of Ottawa, Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Western University, and a post-graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Program Evaluation from Carleton University. Jane has over 25 years experience working in research and evaluation on issues related to restorative justice, Indigenous justice, victims of crime, access to justice, family justice, and the criminal justice system. She is a member of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group on Restorative Justice and its Research and Evaluation Subcommittee. Jane is also actively engaged in the development of a National Restorative Justice Research Network.
Pamela Buttery
Following a successful career in education, Pamela retired as an elementary school principal to become an instructor and implementation coach with IIRP Canada. In her current role, she provides training in many facets of restorative practices (relational practices, listening circles, and conferencing), supporting communities virtually and in person. In addition to providing professional development to educators and workplace organizations, she enjoys volunteering in her community and faculties of education. Pamela has shared her experiences with school implementation at conferences in Belgium, Alberta, and Ontario. She currently resides in the historic town of Port Hope, Ontario.