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About CJI

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Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) is a non-profit organization known world-wide for starting the first modern Restorative Justice program.

Restorative Justice is a way of addressing conflict and crime that engages the person who caused the harm, people who were affected by the harm, and the community.

During our 40+ year history, we have continuously responded to community needs by creatively, and innovatively applying restorative justice principles to new problems. We believe the only limit to the power of restorative justice is the capacity of the human heart to change and grow.

We provide conflict resolution services, support for people impacted by sexual trauma, assistance for families involved with child protection, reintegration support for adults returning to the community from prison or custody, and integration support for new Canadian youth.

Our restorative justice programs are offered in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, and the rest of the Waterloo Region and Wellington County in Ontario, Canada. Through research, speaking opportunities, and written resources our influence is global.

See our agency brochure here: CJI_MainBrochure

Read about our history here: CJI History

Our Staff Team

Rhonwyn Friedel

Financial Analyst

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Julie Friesen

Director of Programs  Conflict Resolution & Mediation Services

Trained in several restorative justice processes, I have many years’ experience facilitating situations of conflict and crime. I also have an MA in Sociology from the University of Kansas. During ...

Marie Jose van der Zande

Mediation Service Coordinator

In 2002, I heard the Elmira story, and haven’t look back since. Around that time, I was in a mediation course that focused on winners and losers in a negotiation. Now through my work with CJI, I se...

Peggy LaFlamme

Volunteer Coordinator

I have been CJI’s Volunteer Coordinator since 2007. Through my role, I recruit, screen, select, train and advocate for volunteers. My educational background is in Child Psychology and Early Childhoo...

Ryan MacTavish

Adult Victim-Offender Reconciliation Service Coordinator

I started working with CJI in 2016 as a placement student from Conestoga College. I have recently graduated the Social Service Worker program and accepted a part-time contract as a service coordinator...

Teresa Mayer

Restorative Schools Service Coordinator

I spent the first part of my life travelling and learning about peoples and cultures. Things took a turn when I moved to a small Indigenous community in Northern British Columbia. Through that experi...

Sheila Martin

Human Resources & Administrative Coordinator

I coordinate human resources and donor relations at CJI and oversee the administrative staff. Prior to working at CJI, I had 15+ years of office management experience in the private and not-for-profit...

Wendy Meek

Elder Mediation Service Coordinator

I was born and raised in South Africa when conflict and violence were part of daily life. I witnessed many unjust situations—which led me to search for a way to repair harm. When my family and I imm...

Our Mission

To inspire safe, healthy, and peaceful communities.

Our Partners

CJIWR Board of Directors

Officers

John Goodman, Chair (Waterloo Regional Police Service)
David Wigg, Vice-Chair (exactEarth)
Chris McEvoy, Secretary (Region of Waterloo, Community Services Department)
Carrie Boutcher Treasurer (Communitech)

Directors

Garth Cressman (WalterFedy)

Andre Rajna (Ministry of the Attorney General, Crown Attorney’s Office, Oxford County)

Adrian Ennis (Angstrom Engineering)

Denise Whitehead (St. Jerome’s University, University of Waterloo)

Bridget Davidson (Canadian Malnutrition Task Force)

Charitable Registration Number

106962707RR0001

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