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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

Ashley Nitz

Communications Coordinator

I stumbled upon CJI while I was in the Social Service Worker program at Conestoga College. At the time, I was set on working with at risk children and families and truthfully, not very open to other a...

Shelley Schanzenbacher

Restorative Workplace and Schools Coordinator

“Out beyond the ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field — I’ll meet you there.” Rumi Being a lifelong member of Waterloo Region, I have finally landed my dream job and havin...

Jason Spencer

Mediation Program Coordinator

Through living in community, I discovered two common responses to conflict. Resilient people build consensus as they collaborate to solve the problem. While others compete, generating mistrust and dis...

Julie Schelter

Revive Service Coordinator

My role as the Service Coordinator in the Revive program feels like a full circle for me. I began my career in social services at Community Justice Initiatives coordinating volunteers. I left to pursu...

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...

Our Mission

To inspire safe, healthy, and peaceful communities.

Our Partners

CJIWR Board of Directors

Officers

David Wigg, Chair (exactEarth)
John Goodman, Past-Chair (Waterloo Regional Police Service)
Adrian Ennis, Secretary (OTTO Motors)
Carrie Boutcher Treasurer (Ontario Drive and Gear)

Directors

Roxanne Chartrand (Executive Vice President of Strategy & Administration for the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan)

Ron Caudle (Caudle’s Catch Seafood)

Garth Cressman (Walter-Fedy)

Andre Rajna (Crown Attorney of Oxford County)

Charitable Registration Number

106962707RR0001

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